The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1907-07-10
LETTER
ESPECIAL Correspondence

north of the Congressional library.
possesses much historical interest
from a national as we'll as local view
point. With the library and the o.tice
buildings for the senate and house OF
representatives the area known as the
capitol grounds Is inclosed by marble
walls, with the exception Of that por-
ton fronting on First street between
East Capito: and B streets, northeast
Doubtless at no distant day the gov
eminent will take the squares first
named as the site Of a temple of jus
tice for the accommodation Of the su-
preme court Of the United States.
Historic Ground.
Should a building be erected there
for the highest judicial body It would
be peculiarly appropriate. for after the
burning Of the capitol in 1914 the head
Of the judicial system sat for q number
Of years In the building at First and A
streets. The quarters mentioned we're
thus occupied from fs16 to 1890. The
old circuit court Of the District was
also In this building from 1916 to 1926.
when quarters were provided in the
city hall for the local court, together
| with Offices for the clerk, the marshal
| and OTTER officials.
During the civil war It became, under
the name of the old capitol prison, a
noted place, and here not a fey execu-
tons, some by galfows, others by
| shooting, occurred. Captain Wiz Of
A%ndersonville was hanged there. All
traces Of it are now obliterated, and
instead is a block Of fine residences.
In one OF which the late Justice Field
long resided.
The New Railway Station.
Washington's new Union station.
erected Jointly by the Pennsylvania
and the Baltimore and Ohio under GER
tain concessions granted by the gov
eminent, Is now more than three
fourths completed. and Baltimore and
| Ohio trains will run into the new struc-
ture within a short time. Architectur-
ally the building will be one Of the
most magnificent In the city. Its d.
mansions are truly stupendous. Alto
gether 100 acres will be occupied by
the new terminal facilities. The north
approach includes a train yard Of thir-
ty -three tracks, power plant, express
building. coach yard having a capacity
for about $50 cars, engine and repair
yards, with engine house and shop ia
~cilities.
Finest Building Of It's Kind.
The tunnel under Capitol hill Is the
feature of the south approach. The
station site when the work began was
on ground less than twenty-five feet
above the tide Of the Potomac. More
than 100000 cubic yards Of material
were excavated and deposited to trans
form it into m eminence nearly sixty
feet above tide, with gently sloplng ap-
proaches. If this material were depos-
tied on an average size city block 1t
would form Il shaft higher than the
Washington monument. To move ali
this material would require about CO.,
900 standard gauge commercial cars,
which, If coupled together in a single
line, would extend 600 miles, a greater
distance than from washington to Co
|lumbus.
The general waiting room Of the new
depot will Of itself cover 100 by 22(
feet, or twO-thlrds Of an acre, a greater
area thar is occupied by the average
city station. The roundhouse, shops
and engine yards will V tifty-iv'
acres, the coach yard sixty acres, tn
train yard thirty-one acres. the station
, proper and Il portion Of the plaza min
, acres.
Professional opinion has 1T that l
. will be the most beautiful station
building In the world.
A Remarkable Structure.
Within Il few weeks the Connecticu
: avenue bridge will be completed an
= opened to the public. In fact, there r.
G mains unfinished little more than th
;, decoration Of the bridge. The brldg
o Itself is Il remarkable structure.
eel 1t is 1,42l feet long. 50 feet wild
and consists of five 15O-foot archie
and two So-foot arches. 1t Is built G
~unreenforced concrete throughout. TIL
stone for the concrete work was take
from Il quarry about 400 feet from tt
Is site Of the bridge, which saved n hal
II Of $1,000 cubic yards of stone.
l. Largest Concrete Bridge.
v This Is the largest concrete bridge
y the world and Is unique, In that 1t
not re-enforced with steel. The brid.
\ is apparently trimmed with grant
These trimmings are made Of concret
~ cast In blocks on the ground. and |
ot stead Of using sand for the mort
e, stone dust was used, which, VIII
s. dressed down, gives an appearance
'e- granite. The main false work Of t
tie structure. which consisted mostly
or Georgia pine lumber, cost the Distri
I'D $4,000. 1t required 100000 boa
feet Of lumber for this work alone.
- Is probable that the entire amount
lumber required to complete the bird
was In the nelghborhood Of 10000
board feet.
CA.>>A S:..