The United States Capitol

ington is one of the most majestic buildings in the world. It was first begun in 1793, when the north wing was founded. This was finished in 1800, and the scrath wing was begun in 1811. The building was biirned by the British in 1814, and rebuiluing did not begin until 1817. In 1851 the newextensions began, the house of representativos first occupying its present hall in 18-37, the senate its present quarters in 1809. The dome was constructed between 1856 and 1865. The cost of the building has exceeded $30,000,000. The dome is 307 feet high and 135 in diameter, contains 4,000 tons of iron. arranged to move during atmospheric changes ltke the unfolding of a lily. The rotunda beneathis 96 feet in diameter and 180 feet high. The extreme lengtb. of the building is 751 feet; extreme breadth, 324. It covers 153,112 square feet of ground. The architecture is of the Corinthian order; the material of the central structm-es yellowish sandstone painted white; of the wings, white