1st Session.

No. 145.

IN SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES.

MAY 28, 1850

Submitted, and ordered to be printed.

Mr. HUNTER made the following

REPORT:

The Committee on Public Buildings have had under consideration the memorial of Robert Mills, in relation to the enlargement of the Capitol, which was referred to them by the order of the Senate, and report thereon as follows:

They have come to the conclusion that there is a necessity for the enlargement of the present building. A larger Senate chamber has become almost indispensable for the convenient transaction of further business. It is already too small for the present number of senators, and that number is increasing. Nor does it afford sufficient accommodation for spectators and citizens who desire to witness the proceedings of the Senate. The same may be said of the Hall of Representatives, which, besides being too small, has been proved by experience to be unfit for purposes of deliberation. The Supreme Court, too, requires a larger and more comfortable apartment in which to hold its sessions. The library room is insufficient for the books which have been accumulated already, and without additional space it will be impossible to make a proper disposition of the future additions which will be annually made to the Congressional library. Nor have we rooms enough to afford even the various standing committees one apiece, it often happening that there is but one room to accommodate two committees. By the addition of two wings of a suitable size-one to the north, and one to the south of the present building-we may afford ample accommodations for the two houses of Congress and their officers, and also obtain the use of much of the existing building for the other purposes which have been indicated. The whole of the western projection of the Capitol, with some change in_the interior of the building, may be devoted to the library. The present Hall of Representatives might be used for the exhibition of paintings and objects of art, and for the accommodation of visiters, many of whom throng the library room for other purposes than those of study. That room being thus relieved, the library would be used with more convenience and quiet for the purposes for which it was created. The present Senate chamber, with its offices, would accommodate the Supreme Court with all the room which would be necessary for the discharge of its functions, and furnish, perhaps, not more than enough for the comfortable despatch of public business. The room now occupied by the Supreme Court would probably be found suitable and convenient for the various commis

sions which from time to time are created to decide claims arising under treaties, or it may be hereafter in other modes. Looking to these various objects, your committee have concluded to adopt a plan for the extension of the building originally suggested by the topographical bureau, but altered by Mr. Robert Mills, the memorialist, upon whose suggestions this committee are now reporting. This plan proposes to add a north wing. 100 feet north and south, and 200 feet east and west, forming equal proportions of 40 feet, and also a south wing of similar position and dimensions. Your committee recommend the plan of Mr. Mills just referred to, so far as the exterior, the position, and dimension of the wings are concerned; and they submit the whole report of Mr. Mills as a part of their report, and one which should be referred to the joint consideration of the committee hereafter proposed to be appointed in the event that the two houses of Congress should authorize their committees to act jointly upon this subject. But as the interior arrangements concern both Houses, it seems proper that the plan for their arrangements should be determined upon jointly by committees of the two Houses, and reported to them for their final action upon it. Your committee, therefore, beg leave to submit the following resolution to the Senate for its adoption:

Resolved, That the 33d rule of the Senate be so amended as to insert in the clause providing for the appointment of a standing Committee on Public Buildings, after the word "members," the words "who shall have power also."

Report on the extension of the Capitol of the United States, with plans; by Robert Mills, architect.

CITY OF WASHINGTON, May 1, 1850. DEAR SIR: Your favor of the 3d instant was duly received, and at your request I have prepared the requisite drawings to exhibit "vertical and horizontal projections (sections,) and estimates, connected with the details of arrangement for an extension of the Capitol by north and south wings, showing the proposed change in the domes," &c., and have the honor to submit the same for consideration.

Drawing No. 2 presents the general plan of the entire building, with the proposed wings north and south, and relative position of the Senate chamber and House of Representatives, the Library and Supreme Cour rooms, besides other accommodations growing out of such extension of the Capitol.

The extent of wings projected on this plan is as follows: North wing 100 feet north and south, by 200 feet east and west, forming equal projections of 60 feet east and west from the line of the present building This will afford ample room for the demands of each House, both in their halls of legislation and their offices and committee rooms, on the same floor-an essential provision for facilitating the public business. The space allotted in each wing for the two halls is in the centre or axis of the Cașitol, divided or separated from the present building by a spacious court, necessary for light and ventilation, both to the wings here and to meet the same wants of the entrances, &c. north and south of the present building; thus, none of the rooms at these ends will be injured in usefulness by the annexation of the wings.

The new Senate Chamber.-The dimensions given this room are equivalent to accommodate one hundred senators at their separate desks. The general form of the chamber corresponds with the present one; the diameter, however, is increased from 75 feet, the present, to 90 feet, the proposed room, by a depth of 60 feet, besides the logia behind the president's seat. The presiding officer's seat is placed on the north side, or in the diameter of the room.

The height of this chamber does not exceed that of the present chamber, but the curve of the ceiling is much flatter and better adapted to the speaking and hearing; in this way it will be a better speaking and hearing room, though larger than the present chamber. Ample room above this ceiling is provided for a thorough ventilation; and a system of warming in winter, and cooling the atmosphere in summer, provided for below. The windows lighting this chamber are placed on the north and south; the last in the court, where the light can be softened equally with that on the north. This offence to the eye of senators now, who have to look to the east, where the windows are placed, will be done away with in the new chamber, looking as they will to the north.

Beyond the logia, back of the president's chair, you pass outside of the room into a spacious and lofty portico of 10 columns, gracing the northern façade of the building. This portico is especially appropriated for senators, there being no access to it from without. There are four public entrances to this Senate wing, namely:

1st. The central one, leading through the centre or axis of the Capitol, across the grand rotundo, to the hall of the House of Representatives. 2d. The eastern entrance, by means of the colonnade on this front, which reaches from wing to wing, 360 feet long.

3d and 4th. By two grand stairways east and west.

East and west of this, on the same floor, are eight rooms for the officers of the Senate; as many above, and eighteen below, for committee rooms; in all thirty-two rooms, all made fire-proof, well lighted and ventilated.

The floors of the wing buildings are on the same level with those in the present building.

In giving the dimensions of these wings, (proposed for the accommodation of each chamber,) I have assumed a spacious area, equal to 24,000 superficial feet for each wing, for the purpose of securing a sufficient number of rooms for the officers of each House on the same level with each hall, to facilitate the transaction of the public business. The present deficiency in such rooms is now severely felt, and the inconvenient location of many of the rooms properly complained of. In the House of Representatives, the space required for business rooms is much greater. than required by the Senate, and this is endeavored to be met by the proposed extension of each wing. When we look from the north and the south upon the façade of these wings, we will be satisfied that the extent assumed is necessary on these fronts for the architectural effect of the building. The drawing No. 6 will exhibit this effect, as also No. 7.

Whether the present dome be altered or not, this extent of wing will be required to give the proper proportion to the building-(see No. 7, by comparison.)

Hall of the House of Representatives.-In the plan this is located in the south wing, which corresponds in dimensions with the north wing. The same general accommodations are furnished here as in the other wing,

before described. The dimensions of this hall, however, are greater, suited to the present and future demands of the House. The general form of this room is the same with the Senate chamber-the height of the ceiling the same-namely, 45 feet. The diameter of this hall is one hundred feet, its width 70 feet, capable of containing with comfort three hundred members. It is well lighted, north and south, and ventilated, and an equal temperature preserved, winter and summer, upon the most approved plan. The same number of rooms for offices and committees are provided in this wing as in the other, and the same number of public entrances within and without; also a spacious portico to the south for the sole use of members, having no access but from the hall.

Adjoining this hall is a spacious room for a House Library, capable of containing 50,000 volumes, or more; this space is obtained from the square recess of the present Hall of Representatives, and when taken off leaves a handsome room for public purposes. The communication with this library is by a gallery leading across the court from the centre of the hall, on the same floor.

The internal communication with the rotundo, from this hall, will be outside of the columns of the present hall, which space will be enlarged by the removal of the present staircases leading up to the south galleries.

The Congressional Library room.-In the plan the same position it holds now is preserved, the space being greatly enlarged, occupying the whole of the area furnished by the western projection, which will give a room of 155 feet from north to south, by nearly 60 feet from east to west, and 45 feet high; a space which will accommodate over 250,000 volumes, being capable, from its elevation, to have four tiers of alcoves. From the courts within, the means are provided to give light to the al

coves on each side.

In connexion with this library room, it is proposed to bring in the aid of the circular part of the present hall, where miscellaneous subjects of art, &c., now deposited in the library, may be removed to, and thus relieve the library room proper from the crowd of visitants who come here more for amusement than study. This would be a great relief to the studious, and to members from either House, coming here to collect inform ation. The proposed new room, additional to the library, would make an admirable audience room, where works of art may be displayed to great advantage, and would relieve the House from applications of public bodies for its hall, as here would be a room which may be used for such special

purposes.

its

The new Supreme Court room.-When the Senate shall occupy new chamber, the Supreme Court could be comfortably and elegantly ac commodated in the present chamber. The members of this court have suffered much from the inconvenience of this room, and from its location, which has proved injurious to health.

The death of some of our most talented jurists has been attributed to this location of the court-room; and it would be but common justice in Congress to provide better accommodations for its sittings, and an opportu nity will be offered by the proposed plan.

The room then (now occupied by the court) will be well adapted for the law library room, or any other public purpose.

Drawing No. 2 B, presents a geometrical elevation of the entire front of he Capitol, with the proposed wings, showing the architectural effect of

the plan of extending the Capitol. This drawing exhibits no change in the surmounting domes now on the building; but presents the simple addition of the wings. All the different details of the architecture of the present building are carried out around the wings; the porticoes north and south, ornamenting the façade of the wings, are also shown in the drawings by their projection from each wing.

Drawing No. 3 presents another elevation of the Capitol, with its wings attached, but in its surmounting domes entirely different from the present finish.

The central dome assumes the architectural character of that crowning St. Peter's Church, at Rome; St. Paul's, London; the Church of the Invalids, Paris, and other like buildings. The elevation assumed for our dome is 210 feet, 70 feet higher than the present dome.

The colonnade extending round and resting on the present base of this dome will, independent of its utility for prospect and light to rotundo, produce a grand effect, and will make a total change in the architectural effect of the Caiptol.

Drawing No. 4 presents a longitudinal section through the centre of the Capitol, including the wings proposed, passing through all the legislative halls, present and proposed, including the rotundo and embracing the architectural changes in all the surmounting domes, corresponding with elevation No. 3.

This also shows the courts between the wings and present building; the form and elevation of the new and present halls, with their galleries, skylight, lanterns, &c.

The total length of the Capitol, with its wings and porticoes, will be 580 feet.

The drawings are so explanative of the general details of the buildings proposed, that further description seems unnecessary.

Permit me to refer you accordingly to these drawings, for further particulars on the interior sectional arrangement of the entire building.

Drawing No. 5 presents a more detailed and enlarged plan of the new Senate chamber, showing the arrangement of the desks of senators, the president's and secretary's desks, and the galleries for the audience in double tiers, with the reporters' galleries. The outer circle in this chamber is described by a radius of 45 feet, making a diameter of 90 feet. The desks are all disposed within this circle, in parallel or concentric lines.

The 1st or outer row, or section, will accominodate 28 desks, all separated by a passage way; the 2d section, 22 desks; the 3d section, 18 desks, the 4th section, 16 desks; the 5th section, 12 desks; in all 96 desks. The width of 5 feet is given for each desk and chair. The width reserved for the central walk is 6 feet.

The outer lobby, 8 feet in the clear. The area of this chamber equals. 5,761 superficial feet.

The area of the present Senate chamber equals 2,791 superficial feetdifference of superficial feet in favor of new chamber, nearly 3,000 feet. Then, if 2,791 superficial feet will accommodate 60 senators with the requisite free space, 5,761 superficial feet will provide for 123 senators, with the same privileges-(each senator requires 20 square feet.) This number multiplied into 123, the number of senators, gives 2,460 square feet; which deducted from the entire area of the room (5,761,) leaves 3,301 square feet for passages, lobbies, &c.