REPORT OF ARCHITECT OF UNITED STATES CAPITOL. 5 



ELECTRIC LIGHTING. 



As relates to the machinery for electric lighting, Mr. A. B. Talcott, 

 electrician of the Honse of Eepresentatives, states that on entering upon 

 his duties February 1, 1882, he found the coils and burners over the Hall 

 of Eepresentatives in excellent condition, and says in his report that — 



Through long use the switches had become so burned and oxydized as to be wholly 

 unreliable. It being impossible to make the necessary repairs while Congress was in 

 session, a temporary system of connections was improvised which proved satisfactory 

 for the time being. New switches, less expensive and more readily accessible, will be 

 put in before the reassembling of Congress. 



The electric valves, by which the gas is turned on and shut off the burners, have 

 become worn, causing slight leaks. These are now being changed so as to place them 

 under control of the operator at the- switch board, and prevent leakage. From long 

 use and frequent temporary repairs the connections between the burners in the Rotunda 

 have become bared so as to form ground connections on the slightest movement of the 

 glass globe. These will be renewed with new coils and supports for the same during 

 the coming month. 



The engine, dynamo-machine, and other apparatus are in good condition. During 

 the months of March, April, and May a series of experiments was made by the Amer- 

 ican Electric Light Company in connection with their incandescent light, but through 

 imperfections in their machinery no results were reached that would furnish data of 

 any value. These experiments were conducted at their own expense, the use of the 

 government engine being allowed them for motive power. 



CAPITOL GROUNDS. 



Relating to the Capitol grounds, Mr. Frederick Law Olmsted, land- 

 scape architect, furnishes the following report accompanied with an ap- 

 pendix, forming an index to trees about the Capitol, with advice to visitors 

 interested in them. He says : 



The principal construction works upon the Capitol grounds during the fiscal year 

 ending July 1, 1882, have been the following : 



PROGRESS OF CONSTRUCTION. 



(1.) The southeast entrance-way, which is uow completed, except in respect to 

 lighting arrangements. 



(2.) The entrance to the southern system of wheel-ways and walks from Maryland 

 avenue, the stone work of which is complete. 



(3.) The wall and coping on the east and south border by which the iuclosure of 

 the ground is completed. 



(4). The walls, coping, stairs, and drainage arrangements of the direct approach 

 from Marylard avenue to the west entrance of the Capitol. 



(5.) Foundation work of the parapet wall bounding the platform between the base 

 of the Capitol and the central field of turf on the west. 



(6.) Twenty-four thousand square feet of plain and 10,000 square feet of "mosaic" 

 artificial stone flagging. 



The ground adjoining the several new works of masonry, heretofore temporarily pre- 

 pared, has been broken up, regraded, with improved modeling of the surface, and 

 sodded or planted. 



INCOMPLETE WORK. — THE TERRACE. 



In reviewing the present aspect of the Capitol it should be borne in mind that the 

 area within a distance of from 100 to 150 feet of the Capitol, including the slopes 

 beyond the high earth works, remains as it was temporarily prepared twenty years 

 ago pending the design of a general plan for the improvement of the ground. The 

 more nearly the improvement beyond this space is brought to realize its local inten- 

 tion, the more unsuitable, shabby, and disorderly must the central and more conspic- 

 uous ground appear, so that the better the work done the less satisfactory is the 

 result as a whole. The anomaly will be more and more marked until the terrace and 

 western stairway shall have been completed and the adjoining ground graded and 

 finished in adaptation to them. 



The present Joint Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds have reviewed the 

 plans for these structures adopted seven years ago by Congress, on the recommenda- 

 tion of their ju'edecessors, and it is understood that all its members are convinced that 



