Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-03-20

the rotunda, and are satisfied that It win
bs practicable to put staiasA s4iaas behind
the great srchsd windows, aA shove the
moor. that give the illumination. This OBJ
struction. It has been estimated. win
amount to taking away just the light Of
matter. one cloudy day not lpne ago. q
sheet OF canvas was drawn Nightly across
one OF the windows so adj to Exclude the
light entirely. It was found then that
mere was great plenty OF illumination in
all parts Of the room. The chief advantage
OF having the windows on all sides and
high above the floor Is that the light casts
no shadows. but Is equal n 81 directions
ana !. thoroughly diffused. Ufs will great
~ aid the readers and writer's In the main
room. and will prove great advance over
the present conditions In 4he >old library,
which is dark and difficult Of effective use.
The stained glass will be ornamented with
coiored reproductions of the seals of the
various states of the Union.
beneath the rotunda the workmen are
now engaged in laying the flooring, beau
tifui form of mosaic that. when finished, Is
an exact imitation of a fine variety of
ana the laymen "pudding-stone." 1t is
solid and compact, and promises to wear
eternally. There are no large stones 10 be
kicked loose by the careless foot. SO that
holes Will doubtless be rare as the teeth Of
hens. After the floor Is laid and smoothed
with stone brushes. 1t is polished until It
looks like marble.
Beautiful Floors.
In the outer spaces, toward the west en-
trance, the work of setting the ornamental
thing in the floors is in progress. This is
delicate work and requires high degree
Of skill, and is necessarily performed slow
1y, and after all the heavier work has been
done. The patterns used are fine and deli
cate, and these floors will be worthy of an
international reputation when they have
been given over to the general inspectio
of the public. 80
Some of the ceilings in the main lobby
are yet undecorated. the contracts not hav-
ing been let as yet. These ceilings are
groined, and will present most beautiful
appearance when the delicate colors of the
designs have been laid on in mosaic. There
Is large room at the right of the entrance
as the visitor approaches the rotunda that
Is yet to be finished in the decoration.
Some of these designs have not yet been
prepared, but as all of the other work is
now out of the way there Is no question
but that every stroke of decoration will be
completed before the 9th day OF February,
1897, the day on which Gen. Casey years
ago promised to deliver the building to the
government in finished condition.
The Day of Completion.
When Star reporter asked him the other
day on this point the veteran engineer de-
clared with pride In his voice: ION the 9th
day Of February, next year, this building
will be placed in the hands of the proper
officials of the government, whether it is
finished or not. But" he added. with a
twinkle in his eye, Il have no doubt that 1t
will be finished"
There are many details yet to be ar
ranged. About nine contracts have to be
let before the'work Is all done, in addition
to the labor that is being constantly ex-
pended under the direct supervision Of the
officers in charge. MIR. Greene says that
when the building is finished there will
have been about 2O0 contracts awarded and
performed. This represents a vast amount
of clerical work, of drawing and of esti-
mating. 1t covers several million dollars,
and the present showing is g building that
is declared by many travellers to be the
finest structure of it's kind in existence.
The unfinished building Is already an OBJ
ject Of great interest to tourists. and even
to resident Westinghouse. Every day
scores wander through the completed Sec
lions and admire the portions Of work that
are exposed to view. Probably more would
visit 1t If it were more widely known that
many portions Of 1t are open 20 all who
may desire to enter from o'clock in the
morning until in the evening.