Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-10-08
PAINTING THE CAPITOL
improvement Being Wrought by Architect
Clark.
Frightening Up the Dark Places
Decorating the Corridors and COM
mittec ROoms-New Lights.

When the senators and representatives
come back to the Capitol at the assembling
of Congress they will hardly be able to
| recognize the old building at first glance
Architect Clark is spending about $50,00d
| in painting and decorating the exterior and
interior of the Capitol
The work was begun on the dome before
Congress adjourned AID has been going on
ever since throughout the building. The
entire dome has been painted and the old
portion of the Capitol lying between the
Senate and House wings will be given a
coat of white to correspond. 1t will re-
quire about seven tons of lead for this
Part of the building.
The crypt on the basement floor in the
center Of the Capitol has been enlarged by
tearing out the partitions which were put
up to accommodate old books and papers
This makes a great change in the appear
ace of the place. The crypt really is beau
tiful from an architectural point of view
and the thirty large piers which stud il will
be adorned with electric lights tastefully
arranged.
Electric lights will be extended all
through the House wing, and in those
places where the wires have been strung
outside the walls and ceilings they will be
placed inside and covered from sight.
ihe Senate wing shows 4 number of i'm
provementS. The corridors on the main
noor have been painted ana decorated The
walls and ceilings are done in light colors,
ara the effect is noticeable Immediately in
a general Frightening ard lighting of places
mat have heretofore been dim. The cor
hlIes nave been touched up in gilt and
colors, and the irCn work around the win
aOWs painted white.
Ihe corridors in the House wing have
oeen decorated and painted and the yesti-
ouie OF the Supreme Court has been SINH
N hns 4
ltouse wings a number of committee rooms
nave been reprinted and touched up Sew
eral OF the committee rooms were very
handsomely decorated many wears ago
ana little touching up here and there
brings out The old colors in marked de-
gree.
The Vice Presidents room, on the Senate
SIDE, will be treated to decorations in ivory
ana gold and when a new set of furniture
ana carpets are put in will be one of the
handsomest rooms in the building
me only nnsisntly part of the building
now is the great fotunda, with its dirCy
walls. the unfinished frescoing and the
cumbersome scaffoldiDg and ladders hang
ing against one side of the rotunda 1t is
sald mat as soon as the committee ON H.
brary makes up its mind what figures shall
De put IN the vacant space in the uncom-
pieted circle of frescoing that work will
be hnished promptly. and the interior of the
dome repanted and decorated.
The old elevator in the Senate wing on
the west side is being replaced by a mod
ern electric elevator, which. it is said will
be one Of the best of its kind i'm use in the
country. "
Inc Capitol police force has been both
cred great deal lately by the vandalism
OF boys, who roam about the place. strik-
ing the marble with sticks and chipping
off corners. There has also been complaint
OF the blcyciists riding down the steps, over
the sidewalks and across the terraces. The
police warned a number of boys and sent
notices to the families of others This did
not have any effect, however, so several
arrests were made yesterday and today.
and every boy who is caught trespassing
after this will be taken to the Police Cour.
and fined.