Page:U.S. Department of the Interior Annual Report 1877.djvu/54

LII

The incidental duties of the Census Office, caring for its files, answering inquiries relating to the census, and, whenever required, stating and restating accounts of United States marshals and assistant marshals connected with the taking of the census, have been satisfactorily performed by the chief clerk of the office.

The taking of the census of 1880, for which provision must soon be made, will be the subject of a special communication to Congress.

The Architect reports that the entire building has been kept in good condition, and that new boilers and an elevator have been put in the Senate wing.

He also states that important changes and improvements in the heating and ventilating apparatus of the House wing have been made, as recommended by a commission, consisting of Prof. Joseph Henry; Col. T. L. Casey, Corps of Engineers, United States Army; Mr. F. Schumann, engineer; Surgeon J. S. Billings, United States Army, and the Architect of the Capitol. He states that these improvements have been considered satisfactory, and gives a detailed description of them.

The work on these grounds has been carried on under the plans of F. Law Olmsted, landscape architect, and satisfactory progress made.

The principal roadways of the eastern grounds have been paved, and a low granite-wall and coping placed around the northern half of the east park. A screen-wall, with ornamental piers and lamps, has been placed at the circle at the head of Pennsylvania avenue and along First street.

In relation to the proposed new terrace and stairways of approach at the western front, the Architect says: “The rustic terraces at that front have a plain and unfinished appearance, and show clearly the necessity of the proposed terrace-wall in order to connect the grounds with the building in a harmonious manner.”

Mr. Olmsted says, on this subject, “that attention should be called to the great defects of the present arrangement for entering the Capitol from the west. The present stairway was designed with reference to the original small central building, and was architecturally inadequate even for that. It now seems as the only direct means of access to the Capital from all the western part of the city, and is not only awkward and mean in appearance, but exceedingly inconvenient, and rapidly approaching a dangerous condition.

“The obliteration of the central walk and the completion of the entrance to the approach of the Capitol from Pennsylvania avenue