elusive of the porticoes and steps ; the corridors
consist of passages leading from the centre build-
ing to the wings, of 21 feet 4 inches in width,
with outside colonnades, which make the entire
width of each corridor 56 feet 8 inches.

The wing buildings have porticoes on the E.
front, extending the whole width, with a flight of
steps to each, corresponding to the steps of the
present Capitol. Each of these porticoes has a
centre projection of 10 feet 4 inches by 78 feet in
width; thus forming a double portico in the centre
of the facade, similar in general design to that of
the present eastern portico. There is also a por-
tico on the W. front of each wing, 105 feet 8
inches in width, projecting 10 feet 6 inches; and
on the N. and S. fronts, porticoes of the same pro-
jection, each of which is 121 feet 4 inches in
width.

The whole extent of the buildings, from N. to

S., when finished, will be 751 feet 4 inches, and
the greatest width from E. to W., including
porticoes and steps, 324 feet.

The ground actually covered by the buildings,
including the porticoes and steps, and exclusive
of the court yards, is 153,112 square feet, or 652
square feet more than three and a half acres ; of
which there is covered by the present building
61,201 square feet, and by the new wings and
corridors 91,911.

The architecture of the exterior is designed to
correspond in its principal features to that of the
present building, and the disposition of the vari-
ous parts is intended to present the appearance
of one harmonious structure, and to impart
dignity to the present building, rather than to
interfere with its proportions, or detract from its
grandeur and beauty.

The principal entrance to each wing is on the
eastern front; the approach to it is by means of a
flight of 39 steps, flanked by massy cheek blocks,
similar to those of the present building, with a
vaulted carriage way below to enter the basement.
The front door opens into a vestibule of 27 feet in
width, leading into a hall 55 feet square, lighted
from the roof, and embellished by 20 marble
columns, supporting an entablature and balus-
trade ; this colonnade will support the galleries
for approaching the offices in the second story.
These halls will be enriched with marble ant*
against the walls in both stories, and lighted by
ornamental stained glass skylights, supported by
iron rafters.

Erom each hall a vaulted passage, of 26 feet 10
inches in width, leads into a corridor of 23 feet 6
inches, running across each wing from N. to S.,
and uniting it with the centre building.

The Hall of Representatives occupies the west-
ern half of the S. wing, and is lighted on 3 sides
by 50 windows. Its dimensions are 130 feet from
N. to S., and 97 feet 10 inches from E. to W.
The ceiling is 35 feet in height, deeply panelled
and ornamented with brackets, pendants, and
enriched mouldings; the panels will be filled in
with ornamental glass, through which light will
be transmitted from skylights in the roof.

The floor of the House is large enough to ac-
commodate 400 members with separate desks,
and allow ample space for lobbies and seats for
distinguished visitors, while at the same time it
may be conveniently adapted to the number of
representatives which at present constitute this
branch of the legislature.

The galleries for spectators extend around 3
sides of the hall, and are designed to accommo-
date 1200 persons ; they are approached by 2
spacious flights of marble stairs.

The southern and western porticoes open into
the hall, and will be appropriated exclusively to
the use of the members, and such as have the
privilege of the floor of the House.

The Senate Chamber is located on the western
half of the N. wing, and is lighted on the N. and
W. by 26 windows. Its dimensions are 70 feet
6 inches by 97 feet 10 inches ; the ceiling is 35
feet in height, with sunken panels and ornaments,
similar to those of the House of Representatives
already described. There is ample room in this
hall for separate seats for 100 senators, allowing
at the same time all the space that will ever be
required for lobbies and the accommodation of
distinguished visitors.

The galleries, like those of the Hall of Repre-
sentatives, occupy 3 sides of the chamber, and
contain accommodations for 1200 persons ; they
are approached by 2 flights of marble stairs, like
those of the S. wflng. The galleries of each of
the halls have Jive spacious doorways, which will
afford ingress and egress without crowding, or
causing inconvenience to the audience or disturb-
ance of the members.

The Senate Chamber and the Hall of Repre-
sentatives are both designed with reference to the
principles of acoustics. The magnitude of these
rooms, especially the latter, and the fact that they
are to be constructed for speaking in from every
point, render it necessary to avoid all forms that
would produce echoes, and at the same time to
present reflecting surfaces enough to give power
to the voice without resolving the sound with
greater intensity on one point than on another.
To attain these objects, the rooms are made rec-
tangular, and the ceilings comparatively low
and flat.

The whole number of rooms in both wings, ex-
clusive of the legislative halls, is 101; all of
which are vaulted with bricks, and rendered
completely fire-proof. 95 of these rooms are
lighted directly from the outside, by one or more
windows, and the remaining 6 depend on second-
ary light, and are designed for the storing of doc-
uments, stationery, &c.

The warming of the buildings will be effected
by means of hot-water pipes enclosed in chambers
erected in the cellars, and connected with boilers
for heating the water; the external air will be
admitted into these chambers, where it will be
warmed and conducted by flues to all the halls
and rooms in the buildings. An artificial draught
will be created by means of fans placed at the
bottom of the air shafts, and worked by a small
steam engine erected in the cellar of the centre
building, and kept continually at work during
cold weather. By these means, a constant breeze
of warm air will be thrown into every room, by
which a corresponding volume of air previously
in the room will be displaced; thus assisting the
process of ventilation, and creating a circulation
of the atmosphere which could not be attained by
any other process.

The time required for the completion of the
additions is five years, and the estimated expense,
$2,575,000. The architect is Thomas U. Wal-
ter, Esq.

The grounds about the Capitol, 22 acres in
extent, have been enclosed, beautifully laid out,
and ornamented with walks, fountains, trees,