The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-04-04
A SENATE GALLERY VIEW.
THE NEW DRESS OF THE SENATE
CHAMBER.

1t Cost 55,OOO-An Interesting De-
scriptiOn of 1.-THE Gallery of the
Diplomats and of the Correspond
ents-The vice President-His Lack
o. reverence For Senatorial Fads.
other Matters of Special Interest.
Washington, April 3.-Readers of the
Morning News who have not recently
visited Washington, may like to know
how the Senate chamber looks in its
$4,000 new dress. Those who have never
been here, at all would better inspect this
wing of the capitol first; because after a
visit to the superb hall of representa-
tiyes, the Senate chamber looks so
small that even its golden walls and
emerald doors can hardly save it from in
significance. The former is 100 feet long
by SO feet wide. with 400 desks on the
floor, besides innumerable chairs and
couches, and surrounded by galleries ca
pable of seating $500 people; the latter
about half the size, with only 700 seats in
Its gallery. But it is a beautiful ROOM
nevertheless, in which Americans may
feel the utmost pride-especially since the
expensive improvements of last year re-
moved all its Anticipated features without
destroying its charms of age and hallowed
associations, and equipped it with a null
utude OF modern devices and conveniences
which are not only fully abreast of the
uay' but considerably in advance of 1t.
Perhaps the greatest beauty of the SEN
hle chamber is its ceiling-of cast iron
Pdheled with stained glass, the panes
bearing the arms of the different states.
SYMBOLS Of the army and navy and other
patriotic devices, bound by ornate mould
iinss. bronzed and gilded. BY day mel
low hght comes through this gorgeous
ceulhg by means of a skylight in the roof,
euu at night a softened illumination is
unused by multitude of incandescent
pectrlc lights, set in clusters above the
uolored glass. Before the recent i'm
iIoVement there were hundreds of gas
lamps, which at all times made the heat
ihtolerable, and unless carefully watched,
nose close up under the ceiling would
tolse the temperature of the chamber %
Uekiees N as many minutes; and some
''nle the sudden heat would shat
yer the glass. to the iminent
r+rii OF bald pates below. The
"aus are superbly painted and laid off
~ panels, with sunken nitches for statues
s.nisned with foliated bronze ornaments.
Inc hoor has been entirely renewed--first
~, IRON one laid. TO carry out the ingen-
ious Nentilatmg scheme, and this topped
Ny wooden one OF cherry. beautifully
tarpeted with crimson velvet There are
sedlS Tor ninety-one senator's arranged
~ four coneentric semi-circes facing the
zee residents elevated perch, the aisles
uNergins Ike radh from a center. Each
senator sits behind a small desk of highly
Ionshed old mahogany. which long ago
ook on the rich wine tlnts OF age, in an
armed chair luxurously upholstered In
led leather. These new chairs deserve
Hpeclal attention. not only as models OF
'olnlort, bat as parts OF an unique and
'iaEorate veuulailng system which has
"tely been carried out HI accordance with
sSienuhc plans prepared by Prof. S. H.
W oodhridge. Of the Boston Institute OF
technology. / am not scientist enough
70 give you more than a general outline
OF the scnome. First cold storage plant
wa established, az the cost OF $4,000. IN
nc ,erraee OF the west front OF the capt
sl az ~ operated by this usual ammonia
S'oeess and tncl92as resrlgeTating ma