Mr. HENDRICKS. I rise simplyto answer one or 2 points made by the Senfrom Maine. The present ComPubBldg and Grounds has, to some extent, examined the question of the extension of the Capitol groan s. In so far as I know, that committee is only divided in regard to one question, and that is, whether it is well to take in the squares immediately north and south of the grounds east of the Cu itol. I do not think it is proposed by any member of the committee now to extend the grounds on the west to 3rd street. So far as I am concerned, although there is great weight in the name of Senator Douglas brought in in favor of that enterprise, I should not think it proper to entertain the proposition now. The cost of securing these grounds would be enormous. They are not necessary, and I do not believe that the greatness of this country consists at all in the extent of the pleasure ounds for the accommodation of the people of the city of Washington. My judgment is that one line of railroad connecting the North with the South, even through the great city of Washington, is worth 100 or 1,000acres of pleasure grounds. I do not know anything about this particular bill;Idid not know it was here; but I should dislike very much to see us return to the old reposition of being carried from the depot liere across the Potomac river in carriages or in omnibuses. I never saw anybody inconven ienced by the running of these trains along the public grounds. This is a great matter, the connection of the northern and southern rail ways. At the last session of Congress, or at the session before, you granted the privilege of constructing a bridge across the bio river. You were content that the steamboat navigation of that great stream should be obstructed to some extent that you might make one connected line of road between the North and the South, connecting the Indiana roads and the Kentucky roads. I favored it, although to some extent it interfered with the navigation of that great river; and why? Because it was of prime importance as a public measure to comnect the great lines of railroads of the southern States with those of the northern States. So here, the road between this city and Baltimore is. to some extent, a trunk road, connecting the State of Virginia and those lying to the south of it with the States lying to the north. This is a question of commerce, not a question of pleasure rounds, not aquestion whether the people of “r ashington can come and hear the music on Wednesday and Saturday evenings. I think that is unimportant. I should like to see this elegant building surrounded with sufficient and suitable grounds. We all agree about that; but that we should cut off a great lipe of commercial communication for the accommodation of a few people in this city is a proposition that to me has no force. I live in a city of a good deal of progress, which within 4 or 5 years has doubled its poulation, and why 2 Because there are 8 1st class railroads that concentrate there, and we have furnished a union depot almost in the very heart of the city, where the traveling community from all portions of the world can come in and step from car to car without expense or delay. In that city there is no delay in transhipment, no hack hire, no omnibus business, but the old and the young can step rightin that splendid de at from one train of cars to an other, and t. ey come in and out of the city by steam power running through the main streets of the city of Indianapolis, and there is no in convenience about it. At the crossings of the streets we have men stationed to admenish the people of the approach of the cars. I say that that railroad connection in the city of Indian apolis is worth 100s of 1,000s of dollars to the city and to the whole country, and the advantage to the traveling community of all sections of the country is incalculable. It is a great thing to make these connections and what is it to run through these broad streets? Our streets in Indianapolis, where the trains run at the rate of 6 miles an houriare narrow compared with these immense avenues. Our streets are thronged with people pursuing commerce, trade, and manufac nres, and yet there is no serious inconven ience. The cars go along, and the people look out for them. The avenue here proposed to be used, Maryland avenue, is comparatively ade serted street. It looks well enough; we keep it up; but if we put a railroad track down there, more people will go over that street in the railroad cars in a week when properrelations are restored, than now travel for months on the avenue. You scarcely see anybody on the avenue; and yet we keep up this broad avenue; we pay the expenses of it as a promenade, I suppose, and we are not to allow the channels of commerce to pass through it. I do not think it is good for much else than to lay down a 1st class railroad on. I have a little objection to the railroad passing by in front of the public grounds, but not much. If people want to come up here and listen to the (Fcbates of Congress, let them look out for the cars; lct boards be put up, as they are with us, to admenish the people that trains are coming. There is no great inconvenience about it. Mr. GltIMES. This railroad company is not renired even to do that.