The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-02-06
$4,000 A YEAR FOR REPAIRS.
That is the Amount Uncle Sam Pays 10
Keep the Capitol in Condition.
IMPROVEMENTS VERY COSTLY, TOO
Congress Has appropriated Much to Rev
oiutionize Ventilation aud Hlumins-
tion-Something Always Unhn-
ished About the Building.

WASHINGTON. II. c. Feb lit costs
$4,000 a year 10 maintain Uncle Sans
100000 building on Capitol Iill That
Is the amount which Congress allows
every year for mechanics and labOrers
for brushes and hardware and lumber. FOR
tiles and CRATE bars and all the other
supplies necessary TO keep the Capitol in
repair
For Improvements Congress has appro-
priatcd an average of $4,000 year in tho
ten years just past. and much of that has
been spent in the last twelve months. Fiji
ty-fve thousand dollars hos been used TO
transform the Scnatc's system of ventila-
ton. and $4,000 10 Introduce electric light
in the building and grounds. For tho cur
rent year other changes and Improve
ments are planned but they depend on
the liborality Of Congress.
There is always something unfinished
about the Capitol 4 few years ago tho
most noticeable Incompetence was IN
the terrace ON the west front of The
building. That is completed now. Bur
tho painters ugly scanold hanging in
the rotunda draws attention 10 the stu
unfinished Brumidi frlezc, and I'm the
basement of the Senate wing the abe
lupt termination of the brilliant trop-
ical wall decoration b. constant source
OF surprise.
lNNnfo lr ffrnoNriUie TOT iNF illfNltr
7leteness OF the wall paintings. They
were begun many years ago by an artist
Of rare merit. lie grew tired Of the work
or he died-no one about the Capitol can
saw accurately which At ali events. he
disappeared from the scene, and the walls
Of the Senate wing remain beautiful IN
some spots and bare I'm others. The beau
tful spots have been cleaned and removed
recently by W. H. Duckstein by "A pro-
cess which has restored them 10 their
original condition. MFR. Duckstein has
added also 10 the cleanliness OF what Us
known 20 the irreyereut as the Chamber
Of Horrors 10y cleaning the marble statues
there.
The delay I'm completing the frieze is
not a matter of chance. 10 Us due TO d
dispute I'm the Committee on Library
over the Importance Of certain events
IN national history. This frieze. begun
bv BrumidL an Italian artist. in 1873.
was only partly done at the time or
his death i'm 1852. The hanging scat
FOLD on which Brumidi did his last
work remained in place a long time, I'M
tu another Italian. Costaggini was en-
Moved 20 carry ont Brumidis designs
The frioze was intended 90 Illustrate
events I'm the history Of America, begin
Ming with the discovery 10y columbus.
There was no dispute about any OF lne
snccesslvo cartoons until the last two sub
4sct. v,ere 20 be chosen. Then occurred a
decided difference of opinion. Some sug-
ge.ted the driving Of the last spike In tho
br,Idinq of the Pacific railroads as an
.nnronriate subject. but objection 20 mat
mas made because 10 would introduce the
nrpye Of C. L. Huntington. and TO many
,nennhers of Congress Mr.. Huntington mas
,o,g baen A bugbear. From Democratic
eonrce came the suggestion that picture
=, president Cleveland touching the put
con n start the machinery al the Worlu >
Fair would close fittingly the Co'uih"uH
,cvcle. but this met prompt republican
onnosition. The Library committee ~
atm seeking acceptable suDl.'''- VI.
u,aoas ~ Architect Ciark's Office thinks
"oyra ,,,,os,ins. oThe Union OF the Cen
,,,,ics'' as appropriate 20 the temporary
.r,n,e,iop Of the frieze. for IL looks now
-, ,houuh some one will have 10 dle nc
60 an accountable permanent cartoon can
80 found. Meantime the rotunda reiha'"s
a. h,ngv contrast with the corrloors OF
enc building approaching the chain o'i
=, che senate and House when nave h"u
. r,esh coat Of paint since Congress LOON
a recess. ,-,,.o. f.,,l,e
,rhe paint with which Archtect Clarhe
,reshens The Capitol every year "ou'u
mako quite a pond. II Mr.. tlarhe W.
Zee "a nm the air with turpentine wneh
congress was in session he could Keep
sorce OF painters at work the year
round. as is done on great rai n,ol.,'
bridge IN Scotland. Last year MI OiaIk
,a,rted ana restored $1,000 square yards
OF wall and ceiling. exclusive OF com.
rn,,tee rooms. There are nearly wv OF
these committee rooms In the cap'o''
sveraeing coo square feet OF wall space
asa ~ these Mr.. Clark freshened up ABOUT
twenty last year , ,...,
This .rsshenins an snnuni re
cnsmbsrs OF the Senate and House OF
me restoring OF the Speakers desk,
shattered by blows from MT Neeos
asvsl. Il occurs at regular intervals.
= special work which has been done