The design chosen for the addition to the Treasury Building was by Thomas U. Walter. This design was changed under the various construction engineers in charge but is essentially as planned. It is unfortunate that Walter never supervised any of the work on this wing because there were some in charge of finances who double vouchered to steal from the Government and some who cut corners on plumbing or other features that caused terrible health problems that persisted for more than a decade. It is most probable that Walter would never have allowed these situations. Some construction supervisors were more interested in buildings they designed in other parts of the country leaving the oversight of construction to the other architects and draftsmen in the Treasury Department. With all of these troubles to the South Wing, it contains some of the most interesting and intricate interior designs in iron freeze work and decorative painting of the period of the early 1860s. Special effort was made to represent each State in native American agriculture, fauna, commerce, and populace (there were candelabra with Native American Indian motifs). Most of these were the design work of J. Goldboro Bruff. The only trouble with some of it was that it was so intricate that it was costly to cast or create in final working form. We are fortunate to have his fine work represented and restored in the Treasury building.
