National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1873-09-09
THE NEXT CONGRESS.
PREPARATIONS FOR ITS RECEPTION

improvements Mt the Capitsi-Chauses In
the Senate Chamber and tho Represent
atives HaiI-Incrcased Accommodations
for tho Newspaper Men-Ncw Desks,
New Carpets, and Other improvements
a Son Time for Cengressmen.
II IL customary previous to the assembling Of
Congress to give both legislative halls q thorough
| overhaullng, and at the same time touch up the
committce-rooms and corridors. A REPUBLICAN
reporter yesterday made a tour OF the building,
and found great activity prevailing among the
different tradcsmen In their respective lines OF
work towards the completion OF the same. In
the Senate Chamber but few changes have been
made. The reporters gallery, on the north side,
has been extended ten feet, and desks will he
plsced In tho front, thus anordlng additional
facilities for the newspaper fraternity. The
| corridors around the gallery are being painted
| In light pearl color, while the panels are bor-
dcred with narrow stripe OF black, The ladies'
| retiring room and commlttee-rooms on the gal
lery Moor have all been repantcd, AMI present q
| nsw and fresh appearance. As the carpet on the
door OF the Chamber was sew last session It was
thought unnecessary to purchase another this
year, and consequently tho old one will be re.
TuE ELEVATOR,
which Is situated az the west cnl OF the north
cOrfi'or, Is In readiness for the machinery, the
walls having been cut to the proper dimension.
AMI the slides being already Ia position. IL will
run from the foundation moor TO that OF the
| passengers, A dispatch was received Yesterday
| by the architect OF the Capitol from the Mcssrs
| Atwood that the machinery had been shipped,
| aud would be placed In position Immediately on
Its arrival at the building.
For some years past considerable trouble has
| been experienced from the coal dust arising
| frOu hn which halnQ al nv ha Inn.
mense pressure OF air through the Corridors,
| datkened the ceilings, and even found It's way
| into the Senate chamber, thus communicating
y; atmosphere in iGe hall q; well as ina, q ne
fect-which was also experienced In the Hall OF
the House Of Representatives. change In the
vaults was decided upon. Accordingly, new
ones were built on the east side running out to
the front line OF the building, with capacity To
hold 900 tons Of coal.
Heretofore the coal was cmptled on the north
and south sides OF the building, and wheeled
through to the furnaces, thereby creating dust
that circulated through the upper halls and
rooms. BY this recent I'm provement this trouble
Is avoided. As an additional safeguard, how
ever, q bulkhead will be put IN the passage.
way opposite the exhaust-fan, thus completely
separating the vaults from the other portions Of
the building.
The Jllers In the nreinlus room, which have
been In use for the past twelve years, were In.
specied n short time since, aud pronounced un
sound. They have undergone the patching pro
cess, and are now declared a. for service.
Changes have been made from the steam. pipes
In the Introduction OF new nues, whereby 4
| greater quantity and power OF air than hereto
, fore used eau be secured. By this new process
cold air Is forced into the gallery, to count Bac
, the impure air. the air heretofore received int
, the fans came by means OF inlets IN the norti
side OF the wing but which were found at TIT
time to be mixed with smoke and featfully hot
, This was accounted for By the fact that tn,
sun played gu the dome all the afternoon, an,
, the afr being driven down between the malt