Mr. TRUMBULL. IfI can have the attention of Senators, as this is a matter in which all are interested, I will try to explain what this proposed enlargement is. I have a map here which shows it precisely. The streets imme diately' north and south of the Capitol are known as A street north and A street south. A street is the nearest street to the Capitol. The embankment reaches over into A street at the present time; and so also south of the Capi tol. The Government now own all the land west of the Capitol building between A and B streets, so that we have to purchase no grounds in order to extend the present grounds to B street north and B street south. There are in the grounds as now inclosed about the Capi tol 26 iicres. If the extension recommended by. the committee this bill comes from the ComPubBldg and Grounds, and is approved by that committee, both of the Senate and House takes place, there will be in the Capitol grounds 41 acres, besides the 2 blocks, the dimensions of which I do ‘not'know exactly, known as squares 687and 688, which are the blocks lying north and south of the square east of the Capi tol. The block upon which the houses are where Mrs. Carter lives is one block, and the other is the block corresponding to that on the south side of the s uare. There will be 41 acres of grouu beside what isin those 2 blocks; and I suppose in those blocks there are 4 or 5 acres probably, so that there will he say 45 acres in the inclosure. The committee recommend the purchasing of those 2 blocks and closing up [I streets north and south, leaving the inclosure just as it now is on 1st street west, and extending the square to B street both north and south, and then run ning on B street a to 1st street east, which is the street direct y east'of the public square lying east of the Capitol, and which runs between the s uare on what is known as Carroll Row and the Old Capitol. We repose to remove the railroad of the Washington and Georgetown company from A street, and let, them run on B street, and then on 1st street east over to Pennsylvania avenue and to the navy yard, as at present; and the other railroad of course will stop on B street, instead of coming up to A street. In connection with this plan it is proposed by the committee torgrade down the grounds lying east of the Capitol. The ground cast of the Capitol, from the steps east, now rises; and the e ovation of 1st street cast, which is over here by the Carroll block, is a little over 8 feet higher than the foot of the Capitol steps. This gives a very low ap earance to the building from that direction. tis thought it would improve the building very much to grade that square down so as to bring 1st street east one foot lower than the lowest step of the eastern front of the Capitol. Then the ground will be drained north and south. As all will recollect who have any knowledge of the ground. it declines very rapidly north and south. It will require no grading on B street north or B street south; there is a sufficient descent to take off the water. We have had this ground all surveyed by engineers detailed b the engineer dept, and also by the are itect in charge here, Mr. Clark, who have measured the quantity ofearth which is necessary in order to extend theter race. The terrace on the west front of the 'Capitol, according to the proposed plan, is to be extended around on the north and south ends of the Capitol; and it will reguire a large amount of cart upon the south of the Capitol to fill it up to B street and to grade B street. The quantity of earth which may be obtained by grading down the square east of the Capitol, as proposed, will not be sutficient to fill up what will be requisite to extend these terraces and make this improvement; so that it will cost nothing to grade the block east of the Capitol. We can get earth there cheaper than anywhere else, and we shall need twice the amount that will be furnished by this grading. The 2 blocks of ground to which I have referred, the one on which Mrs. Carter’s is and the DistCol, who was charged the one corresponding to it on the other side, are known as squares 687 and.688. In 1860 the title of the different owners to the property in those s uares was examined, and have in my hand the report of the district attorney for with that dut, showing who owns each lot, and tracing the title of each person to the property which he claims, and also the assessed value of these 2 blocks, and their estimated value b 9 gentlemen selected for that purpose. will read the report of these 9 entlemen as to the value 01these lots, as the ‘enate probably would like to know something about what the expense of purchasing these squares will be: “ “WASHINGTON, January 21, 1861. In compliancewith the request of Robert Ould, U.S.attorneyfor the DistCol. that the undersignedshould appraise the fair cash value of t 9 several piecesof real estateembraced in a certain proosed enlargement of the public groundsaround the Capitol, we respectfully submit that after a personalinspection of the premisesand a careful consideration of the value thereof, in our judgment the some are worth the several amounts tnifaymedin the aforesaidschedules. We further eer “ that we haveno interestin the said property. Given under our hands? I will read the names. They are all citizens of Washington and known to many members of the Senate, and I presume the valuation at that time was a fair one: "Thomas J. Fish" Charlesw. Boteler.jr. Gcor e W. Riggs, Samuel neon. Richard Walluch. B. Ii. French. J. You Riswick. J. M. Brodhoad, John D. Brandt.” The estimate of these 2 blocks which we propose new to purchase at that time was for the value of the ots in square 687, $87, 933, 1md for the value of the im revements upon that square, $47, 150. The vs no of the lotsin square 688 was $97, 754, and the value of the improve ments, $57, 550, making the whole value of the 2 squares, as estimated b this commission ot 9 gentlemen an each particular lot is calculated for as well as the improvements about 360,000 dollars, I think. The bill under consideration provides that the SecyInterior may purchase this property by private contract with the owners at a price not exceeding that named in this appraisal made in 1861; but in case he cannot:1 rec with the owners as to the price, then the bill contains a provision for the condemnation of the property under the direction of the supreme 'court of the DistCol. I believe I have presented to the Senate all that is necessary to an understanding of the matter, and I shall be happy, so far as I can, to explain to any member of the Senate who may desire itvanything further or communicate any information that I may have in explanation of the bill.