Evening star., 1909-04-11
South Wing Occupied.

and on October % following the House
in the first session Of the Tenth Congress
was there convened. Gen. Varnum being
the Speaker, though the chamber was not
completed. 1t was discovered at once
that there was so much echo as to rem
der it difficult to conduct business. but
this was partially overcome by the hang
stones" to which Capitol guides ale wont
to take strangers. now that the walls are
bare of drapery. are accounted for. the
discovery was then made. There were
then but seven standing committees or
the House, but the committee on the
District was added and needed larger
room, and there was demand for ac-
commodation for special committees. In
the north wing, after the House in 1907
had vacated the library, 1t was taken by
the Senate. and the work in the Senate
chamber, as we'll as on the rooms occu-
pied BY the courts, was completed. The
Senate. in the meantime. occupied the
library, but February 10, 1910 1t was
again in its chamber. In 1911 both wings
were reported substantially compete. but
subsequently appropriations were maze
for finishing the EOrth wing.
Thus stood the Capitol at the time OF
the invasion by the British August 3,
1914; two wings covered in ana occu-
pied, and across the foundation or the
center building. laid before 1903, was an
the war; while Congress occupied tenn
porary quarters. the damage was re-
paired and the central building erected,
being finished about 1928.
The grounds. really the east end OF
reservation. 9. included the territory
bounded by / street east and ninety-foot
streets north of squares 6SS and south
OF 6S7 A streets north and south. but on
the west the lines were underlined. The
hill was mostly covered with scrub oak
.,lo nxp0r yI.l1 doh
wagon tracks were worn. For some years
few houses stood north and south of
he Capitol buildings. in which some OF
he doorkeepers and other emploves
lived. Originally 1t was proposed that
the square east should be incOsed. that
The space now the plaza should be kept
open and separated from the building.
md that a semi-circular space should ex-
lend half the distance to 1st street west.
1t was not until 1916 that an appropria-
ion was made therefor and some work
1one. The ground. however. was so lum-
bered by shops and material that the
work was not completed. About 1860,
these shops and material having been re-
moved, the extension was proposed of
the semi-circular area to 1st street west
ing Seneca stone tagging and grading and
improving the grounds. but not Until 1886
were the improvements begun. About
he same time water was brought from
,mltn'S spring. Satemen ioQ8e stood
at the Pennsylvania avenue entrance to
the grounds. and the gates were closed
nightly at 10 O'clock when Congress was
not in session At times persons irf the
grounds. falling to hear the gaseman's
warning of Ten o'clock the gates will
close would be locked in. The reason
given for incIosing the space was to
keep the cows from browsing on the
shrubbery.
Enlarging the Capitol.
In 1873 plans were asked for enlarging
the accommodationsof the House, for the
number of members had increased three
eo.d. Several plans for new building
We're submitted. Later the Senate desired