The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1905-10-25
WASHINGTON LETTER
Especial Correspondence

many changes in the capitol to gree
their eyes. The principal alteration.
have been made in the rotunda. Fol
the first time in fifty years the dome
has been painted, while the side walls
and columns have been scraped and
cleaned. This course of scraping and
cleaning has brought the stone back t.
its original condition. Tie side walls
We're constructed Of Virginia sand.
stone, and the process Of cleaning with
an acid preparation has laid bare the
character Of the material, and in many
places stones of an entirely different
nature from the sandstone have been
disclosed. The pictures throughout the
rotunda will have received a thorough
renovation.
Capitol Improvements.
The skylights on the senate and on
the house have been enlarged by exten-
sions Of ten feet or each side. The eff
feet has been to afford more light in
each chamber, which will be particu-
larry noticeable from the galleries, for
the extensions completely cover them.
Superintendent Of the Capitol Elliott
Wood concluded that the chimneys,
which have long been noticeable pro-
jecting above the roof, were unsightly,
and 50 much Of them as projected
above the roof have been taken away,
and a forced draft IL created for the
f1ues by electric motors.
New Carpets In House and Senate.
Whom 0onupooo ssoOccos,10or %h4 soo,,
bronze doors at the entrance to the
house wing will be in position. The
doors for the main entrance and the
senate wing We're hung in 1853, but
b house doors We're not authorized
until 1903. They cost $4,000 and were
cast ut the same foundry in Chicopee,
Mass, where the other doors were
made before the civil war.
Throughout the interior of the CAPT
toll building all traces Of calclmining
have been removed as far as possible.
and the Italian renaissance has been
restored. The senate will have q new
green carpet and the house Of repre-
sentatives one of red. No readjust-
ment Of seats has been necessary in
the house. The last time the hall of
representatives was remOdeled space
was afforded for placing 400 seats, and
these are not all occupied.
Treasury Building Crumbling.
The soft walk. pillars. cornices and |
'ther portions Of the east front Of the
reasury building have been slowly
rumbling for years, and it is only a
of time when that part Of the
building will fall to pieces.
Various officials Of the treasury de-
'artment are urging Secretary Shaw to
commend to congress ut the coming
ession an appropriation to replace all
he sandstone used in the east front Of
he structure with granite, and Secrc-
Shaw has the matter under ud-
visement. The supervising architect of
the treasury has been consulted, and
lis estimate is that 1t will take $780,
100 to do the work. His opinion is that
+ the sandstone Is not replaced before
great while some serious accident
nay happen. as the sandstone crum.
oles away in big pieces ut times.
BY replacing the sandstone east front
With granite the entire outer portion Of
he treasury will then be Of grauite
Ind will last almost as long rs time.
Famous indian Relics.
Miss Fannie A. Weeks, Ill employee
Of the treasury department In Wash
who died Of scalds received
from falling into the boiling Grand
pool ut Yellowstone park, own
ed one Of the finest collections Of In
dian relics mt the capital. The collec-
ton will probably go to the Smith
sonian institution.
Included In the collection Is the pipe
Of peace, "stirrer" and tobacco pouch
used by Red Cloud. the famous Sioux
chicftain. who, with Sitting Bull and
Spotted Tail. visited Washington dur
Ing the spring Of 1875 and interviewed
General Grant concerning II favorite
hunting ground upon which the United
States government had fixed II covet-
II eye. The pouch is Of buckskin,
finished at the bottom with II deep
fringe OF the same. ornamenteu with
brilliantly dyed porcupine quilts. the
upper portion being richly beaded. The
"Stirrcr' Is merely Il long rounded
stick, pointed at the end and used for
stirring the tobacco in the pipe. and
the pipe, which is Of red clay. with Il
Tat stem upward of two feet long
and wrapped in scarlet %porcupine
quilts, was smoked in council by Red
Cloud for many years. Another relic
Is Il rawhidc quirt (whip) used by An
trio, the Uintah wal chief, Il blow
from which would raise Il welt on Il
horse as large as IA mans finger.
An Indian Dandy's Lcgxing..
There are also gayly embroidered
money bags from Snake John and
Bull Of the Woods. The latter was
taptain of the Indian police at the
Uintah agency, and both served rs
scouts under General Crook. The
most gorgeous Of the war relies, how
ever, is Il pair Of elkskln leggings
which belonged to Paddy Cap, chief Of
~ Is,,A, r. A. AT