Historic sketches at Washington : containing a full record of the origin and early history of Washington City and its founders, together with a detailed account of its growth, its public buildings, the style and extravagance of living there, and a description of the inside workings of the lobby, and the various departments of the government . all the states multiplied Congressmenso that in 1850 it was determined to extend the old wings bygreater wings named extensions, to be constructed of moredurable materials and upon the original plan. Proposals wereinvited and the fortunate architect was T
Historic sketches at Washington : containing a full record of the origin and early history of Washington City and its founders, together with a detailed account of its growth, its public buildings, the style and extravagance of living there, and a description of the inside workings of the lobby, and the various departments of the government . all the states multiplied Congressmenso that in 1850 it was determined to extend the old wings bygreater wings named extensions, to be constructed of moredurable materials and upon the original plan. Proposals wereinvited and the fortunate architect was Thomas W. Walter. He held and keeps the rank of the foremost classical archi-tect in America. The corner-stone of the additions was laidby President Filmore, July 4, 1851, more than fifty-nine yearsafter Washington laid the south-east corner stone of the oldCapitol. Mr. Walter was born in Philadelphia, September 4,1804, and was the son Of a builder. In 1819 he entered theoffice of Mr. Strickland and, working with the trowel, supportedhimself and became a fair artist in colors. In 1830 he becamean architect on his own account and the following year designedMoyamensing Prison. His plans for Girard College wereaccepted, and from 1833 to 1847 he superintended its construc-tion, visiting Europe in 1838 to make studies for that SENATE CHAMBER, CAPITOL, WASHINGTON. COST OF THE CAPITOL. 57 In 1843 the Venezuelan Government employed him to con-struct a mole and port at LaGuayra, and from 1851 to 1865he was the architect of the Capitol and had an influence in theTreasury, Patent Office, and Post-Office extensions. Mr. Walterwas accused of influencing contracts on the public worksin Washington, and the disposition of funds on the Capitol build-ing was mainly committed to an able engineer officer, Mont-gomery C. Meigs. The first estimate for the Capitol extension was two millionsix hundred and seventy-five thousand dollars and five years 1856 Captain Meigs called upon
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Keywords: ., bookauthortownsend, bookcentury1800, bookdecade1870, bookyear1877
