OCTOBER 1, 1881. SIR: When the new wings of the Capitol had been built, much of its due value was evidently lost because of the incongruous objects by which it was surrounded and the unfavorable circumstances under which it had to be observed. Congress then ordered the demolition of the nearest adjacent buildings and a design to be prepared for a suitable laying out of an enlarged Capitol ground. At this time the earth thrown out from the foundations having been heaped up within geometric outlines and grassed over, had begun to be known as the terrace. In the climate of Washington a semblance of turf laid on a steep formal bank is often for long periods as devoid of verdure or of any quality of beauty or architectural dignity as a dust-heap. Under the most favorable circumstances it must appear but a shabby make-shift for a terrace suited to the situation and adapted, as such a terrace would be, to support and augment the grand effect of so august a structure as the Capitol. The term thus rather suggests what is left lacking than what is supplied by the earthwork in question. At once impressed with this consideration, when I had the honor to be asked to prepare a plan for laying out the ground my first step was to ask your assent, as Architect of the Capitol, to the introduction of a feature at the base of the building designed to remedy this defect. Your assent having been promptly and cordially given, and the general character of the structure for the purpose provisionally agreed upon, the entire plan of the grounds was afterwards worked out with constant reference to it. Before presenting the plan to the joint committee of Congress having oversight of the work, scaffolds were set up to indicate the dimensions of the proposed terrace and to aid judgment of its effect on the building. The committee, after taking counsel with you, called in, also, with reference to the particular question of the terrace, your venerable predecessor, Mr. Walters, and the then Architect of the Treasury, Mr. Potter, both of whom warmly supported the proposition. After prolonged consideration the entire plan was approved and favorably reported by the committee without a dissenting voice and subsequently adopted by Congress. Photographic copies of the plan and the prospective sketch of the terrace have since been widely distributed. In the several years that they have been under review but one criticism is known to have been drawn out. It assumes that the terrace would injuriously intercept views of the lower part of the Capitol building as it now stands. If the assumption were sound it should have condemned the entire plan of the grounds, since mainly carried into execution. To understand its unsoundness it needs to be considered that the full proportions and beauty of a great building like the Capitol can only be comprehended from a distance at which its various parts will fall into a satisfactory perspective Accordingly, in planning the grounds, after determining as before stated upon the general character of the terrace, the next step was, again in consultation with you as the Architect, to fix upon twelve points of view from which the Capitol would be seen to advantage in as many different aspects. The route and grade of the various roads and walks leading in from the several points of entrance determined by the abutting streets; the shaping of the surface elsewhere and the disposition of the trees and shrubbery upon it, as well as the planning of the terrace in more detail, was then determined in studious adjustment to these points of view, care being taken, of course, that no part of the building should be undesirably obscured from any one of them. To accomplish the object the terrace was so designed that its upper line would, at critical points, be a few inches below the height of the present earthworks, and these, from any point at which a pleasing full view of the Capitol can be had, will be found to barely obscure the granite base stones upon which the marble walls of the Capitol An examination of the premises can thus easily be made by any one interested which will show the alleged objection to be groundless. rest. Considering that the motive which has mainly controlled the outlay of more than ten millions of dollars on the Capitol is that of investing the Halls of Congress and the Supreme Court with suitable dignity and beauty, it will be found that the sum required for adding the proposed terrace will, as the entire structure now stands, accomplish more to that end than an equal amount has done anywhere heretofore expended on it. For example, the terrace being supplied: First. The western front of the building will appear as standing on a much firmer base, and thus gain greatly in the supreme qualities of stability, endurance, and repose. Second. The marble mass, being larger in all its dimensions as well as more firmly planted, will no longer be overpowered and as it were put out of countenance by its crowning feature, the dome. Third. The opportunity of the higher relative elevation, the more genial exposure, and the far-spreading, varied, and charming landscape of the Potomac front, now lost to most who visit the Capitol, will be turned to profitable account, and the more so because of the freedom of the west side from the disturbance of carriages, and the imme diate presence of a foreground harmonious in forms and color with the distant Virginia horizon. Fourth. The larger part of the city, the Executive Mansion and the other government buildings will no longer appear to tail off to the rear of the Capitol, but what has been considered its rear will be recognized as its more dignified and stately front. Fifth. Yet another gain is to be accomplished by the terrace, the value of which is not perhaps as readily to be appreciated in advance as those above enumerated, but which is assured by much experience. It is the augmentation of architectural effect in a structure of classic style, where there stands interposed between it and the adjacent ground a considerable feature, partaking of its leading characteristics and extending its material, yet carrying up toward it some outgrowths as it were of natural decoration. So seldom has anything been done with us to secure this advantage, and it seems so little a matter of familiar knowledge, that it is available that I will add to my assertion of it, in a note at the end of this report, the evidence of two out of many masters of art who might be quoted for that purpose. Of the advantages of the terrace as planned otherwise than with a view to architectural effect, I will briefly refer to two only: First. The increased convenience which it will offer to all visiting the Capitol, coming from the west on foot. Second. The provision which it will afford of spacious, dry, fire proof, and otherwise secure and suitable exterior vaults for the storing, handling, and using of coal and all other supplies needed for the business of the Capitol, but which cannot be brought within its walls proper, without also bringing dirt, noise, and confusion too near its halls and offices. Sir Walter Scott (in the introduction to Quentin Durward) observed: "In by far the greater number of sites the intervention of architectural decoration seems necessary to relieve the naked tameness of a large house planted by itself in the midst of a lawn, which looks as much unconnected with all around as if it had walked out of town upon an airing." And again: "I am content to subscribe to the best qualified judge of our time [he refers to Twedale Price], who thinks the neighborhood of a stately mansion requires some more ornate embellishments than can be derived from meager accompanyments of grass and gravel." Robert Kerr, professor of architecture in King's College, lays it down as established, that "for a building of classic design on a grand scale, a considerable amount of Italian landscape gardening ought to be introduced in order to carry out the principle of stately severity which is enthroned in the building as the center of the composition. "The essential character [of good work in this respect] is always the same-that of a symmetric composition in which the architecturesque principle governs the primary features. In other words, the primary features will be terraces, flights of steps, basins, fountains, sculptures, &c." 53 S I OCTOBER 1, 1881. SIR: When the new wings of the Capitol had been built, much of its due value was evidently lost because of the incongruous objects by which it was surrounded and the unfavorable circumstances under which it had to be observed. Congress then ordered the demolition of the nearest adjacent buildings and a design to be prepared for a suitable laying out of an enlarged Capitol ground. At this time the earth thrown out from the foundations having been heaped up within geometric outlines and grassed over, had begun to be known as the terrace. In the climate of Washington a semblance of turf laid on a steep formal bank is often for long periods as devoid of verdure or of any quality of beauty or architectural dignity as a dust-heap. Under the most favorable circumstances it must appear but a shabby make-shift for a terrace suited to the situation and adapted, as such a terrace would be, to support and augment the grand effect of so august a structure as the Capitol. The term thus rather suggests what is left lacking than what is supplied by the earthwork in question. At once impressed with this consideration, when I had the honor to be asked to prepare a plan for laying out the ground my first step was to ask your assent, as Architect of the Capitol, to the introduction of a feature at the base of the building designed to remedy this defect. Your assent having been promptly and cordially given, and the general character of the structure for the purpose provisionally agreed upon, the entire plan of the grounds was afterwards worked out with constant reference to it. Before presenting the plan to the joint committee of Congress having oversight of the work, scaffolds were set up to indicate the dimensions of the proposed terrace and to aid judgment of its effect on the building. The committee, after taking counsel with you, called in, also, with reference to the particular question of the terrace, your venerable predecessor, Mr. Walters, and the then Architect of the Treasury, Mr. Potter, both of whom warmly supported the proposition. After prolonged consideration the entire plan was approved and favorably reported by the committee without a dissenting voice and subsequently adopted by Congress. Photographic copies of the plan and the prospective sketch of the terrace have since been widely distributed. In the several years that they have been under review but one criticism is known to have been drawn out. It assumes that the terrace would injuriously intercept views of the lower part of the Capitol building as it now stands. If the assumption were sound it should have condemned the entire plan of the grounds, since mainly carried into execution. To understand its unsoundness it needs to be considered that the full proportions and beauty of a great building like the Capitol can only be comprehended from a distance at which its various parts will fall into a satisfactory perspective Accordingly, in planning the grounds, after determining as before stated upon the general character of the terrace, the next step was, again in consultation with you as the Architect, to fix upon twelve points of view from which the Capitol would be seen to advantage in as many different aspects. The route and grade of the various roads and walks leading in from the several points of entrance determined by the abutting streets; the shaping of the surface elsewhere and the disposition of the trees and shrubbery upon it, as well as the planning of the terrace in more detail, was then determined in studious adjustment to these points of view, care being taken, of course, that no part of the building should be undesirably obscured from any one of them. To accomplish the object the terrace was so designed that its upper line would, at critical points, be a few inches below the height of the present earthworks, and these, from any point at which a pleasing full view of the Capitol can be had, will be found to barely obscure the granite base stones upon which the marble walls of the Capitol An examination of the premises can thus easily be made by any one interested which will show the alleged objection to be groundless. rest. Considering that the motive which has mainly controlled the outlay of more than ten millions of dollars on the Capitol is that of investing the Halls of Congress and the Supreme Court with suitable dignity and beauty, it will be found that the sum required for adding the proposed terrace will, as the entire structure now stands, accomplish more to that end than an equal amount has done anywhere heretofore expended on it. For example, the terrace being supplied: First. The western front of the building will appear as standing on a much firmer base, and thus gain greatly in the supreme qualities of stability, endurance, and repose. Second. The marble mass, being larger in all its dimensions as well as more firmly planted, will no longer be overpowered and as it were put out of countenance by its crowning feature, the dome. Third. The opportunity of the higher relative elevation, the more genial exposure, and the far-spreading, varied, and charming landscape of the Potomac front, now lost to most who visit the Capitol, will be turned to profitable account, and the more so because of the freedom of the west side from the disturbance of carriages, and the imme diate presence of a foreground harmonious in forms and color with the distant Virginia horizon. Fourth. The larger part of the city, the Executive M ansion and the other government buildings will no longer appear to tail off to the rear of the Capitol, but what has been considered its rear will be recognized as its more dignified and stately front. Fifth. Yet another gain is to be accomplished by the terrace, the value of which is not perhaps as readily to be appreciated in advance as those above enumerated, but which is assured by much experience. It is the augmentation of architectural effect in a structure of classic style, where there stands interposed between it and the adjacent ground a considerable feature, partaking of its leading characteristics and extending its material, yet carrying up toward it some outgrowths as it were of natural decoration. So seldom has anything been done with us to secure this advantage, and it seems so little a matter of familiar knowledge, that it is available that I will add to my assertion of it, in a note at the end of this report, the evidence of two out of many masters of art who might be quoted for that purpose. Of the advantages of the terrace as planned otherwise than with a view to architectural effect, I will briefly refer to two only: First. The increased convenience which it will offer to all visiting the Capitol, coming from the west on foot. Second. The provision which it will afford of spacious, dry, fire proof, and otherwise secure and suitable exterior vaults for the storing, handling, and using of coal and all other supplies needed for the business of the Capitol, but which cannot be brought within its walls proper, without also bringing dirt, noise, and confusion too near its halls and offices. Sir Walter Scott (in the introduction to Quentin Durward) observed: "In by far the greater number of sites the intervention of architectural decoration seems necessary to relieve the naked tameness of a large house planted by itself in the midst of a lawn, which looks as much unconnected with all around as if it had walked out of town upon an airing." And again: "I am content to subscribe to the best qualified judge of our time [he refers to Twedale Price], who thinks the neighborhood of a stately mansion requires some more ornate embellishments than can be derived from meager accompanyments of grass and gravel." Robert Kerr, professor of architecture in King's College, lays it down as established, that "for a building of classic design on a grand scale, a considerable amount of Italian landscape gardening ought to be introduced in order to carry out the principle of stately severity which is enthroned in the building as the center of the composition. "The essential character [of good work in this respect] is always the same-that of a symmetric composition in which the architecturesque principle governs the primary features. In other words, the primary features will be terraces, flights of steps, basins, fountains, sculptures, &c." 53 S I |