Richland beacon., 1885-10-03
WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON. ID. G.

who, through modern plct'll'A 'i'
arc known almost as well III the ham
lots of this vast country as at the
capital itself, indicate the not remote F.;
approach of the fall political opening.
The city is alert with preparations
Hotels and boarding houses, private I
residences and shops, streets ana
sidewalks. are receiving the touches
of renovation, and are having th"lr
youth and freshness renewed with
such cosmetics Us paint. white WASH
wallpaper and pavinS-stonc7
The most conspicuous improve
meut is that which has been made III .
the Capitol. Marble terraces have
been built about the North and the I
West wings with the result OF I'M
proving the sy metrical effect OF the
building by reducing the dispropor-
ton of the dome.
Between forty and fifty workman
are now engaged in the work sheds
opposite the South side OF the Capl-
tol preparing the marble and gran
ito blocks for the terraces. Tins
: work is being pushed along rap
idlv. The terrace work has advanc-
, ed 50 far as t. enable one to see the
beauty and value of the improve
I ment. There are $50 men employed
! at the work. These include laborels,
!. brick-layers and well-diggers' lie
latter are employed III sinking
V wells down some twenty-five feet
below the present surface OF the
d oround. These wells are flied up
d with concrete and stone masonry
and between the wells massive brick
ce arches are constructed to support the
m walls. This method is adopted t'
ou save expenses, time, and to secure
solid foundation. To excavate tn
- entire foundation would be danger
ous. The contractor feels assured
- that he can finish tho North an
South parts of the terrace before I'll
close of the present building seaSol
Preparations are now beng mac
to lay the tagging Of the North tel
n ,oce which also form the roofs OF IL
\ vaults. There Will ne twenty iar9
rooms on the North side. Some
them will be ready for occupation
about two weeks time. These room
will relieve the interior part OF u
Capitol of a vast number OF doc
ments.
In the building itself much
being done to prepare for the COZ
;no CONGRESS. Some Of the Comm
q tee rooms, particularly that OF col
~: merce. claims and library on t
yer House side, and privileges al
om- elections on the Senate, are Dei
I'D: handsomely fitted up, and the C
also ;no and walls fre5coed. The pan
. incs, "The Battle of the Thames
~. and the "Capitulation of the City
Mexico" have been finished and
T. soon be placed in position IN the
tunda. Such is the pressure
Committee rooms in the bmldi
that the document room had to
removed to an interior part, VII
there is but little ventilation, and
room surrendered to the Commit
on Foreign Affairs. The Secret
of State when conferrinG with
committe does SO in secret
, clerks, therefore, to carry on u
work are required to seek g
- rooms in other places. The &c
Y ment room was seized upon to O
ate this difficulty.
RS A large force of men are pam
the interior Of the dome, Prep
t;ons will soon be made to lay
ings 'io'' A. cono+e and ~,
chambers. The Supreme =
tic. chamber has been painted, and
Office. marble cleaned down. On all
the busy workman is seen len l.,
his hand to beautify the bun
{ of all r., . oo,xapac