Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-03-24
Proposed improvements I'm and About
the Capitol Building

ments i'm and about the Capitol building. Mr..
Clark, the architect, is already at work upon
his plans preparatory to active operations when
spring fairly opens The defects in the heating
and ventillatiDg apparatus are being remedied
from time to time, and with the contemplated
changes on the Senate side especially, that i'm
portant part OF the service OF the building will,
be much improved by the next session. The
House did not make the necessary appropria-
tons for several changes in the ventilation on
that side, but no dou6t will do so next winter.
When the great advantages of the alterations in
the Senate wing are shown, the rrst of which il
THE PUEIFICATIoN OF TIP ATMOSPHERE
in the building. The fresh air inlets are now
located in the space between the two buildings
on the south side of the corridor joining the
center building with the wings and surrounded
on all sides by the marble walls and stone pave
m,nts. In the summer time the air before en-
tering the duet becomes heated by the walls
ana at all sea ons OF the year Is liable 10 be
made impure when the wind blows i'm certain
directions, forming eddes about the dome.
which take the smoke and gas emanatlng from
the Hues around the base vi The dome anu bring
such impurities back to The opening in the
space above described, where thew are taken in
again and poison the atmosphere throughout
the building. To remedy this ar. Ozark PRO
poses to make cold air duct underground from
the building to the foot of the lower terrace in the
west PARK, and to draw all the fresh air from
that point instead of by the side of the buii,i-
ing as now. An underground duet not only
coos the air In summer, but warns il in win
a. much TO do of course when the air s,nop
reaching 1T is warmer than thu. On rha outside
Inc senate made az appropriation for this inn
PIC; .irsnt; eiiu work upon IL on that side OF the
ohllding will he commenced soon.
Another plan OF Mr.. Clark is to tunnel as far
as the east park, and draw the supply OF fresh
AR from there, covering the opening OF the tun-
rel with fountain, the spray from which viii
remove all impurities from the air as well a.
cool IL i'm summer. This will not be carried ont
now, however, as the tunnel to the west park.
above described, answers the purpose.
THE NEW COAL VAULTS
on both the House and Senate sides, authorized
at the last session, viii be another great i'm
trovement. The work upon the one on tn
House side has been commenced already. These
vaults are 10 be constructed by digging ont the
space between the center building and wings on
the east front, and constructing "A cellar upon
each side, each with capacity for 1000 tons OF
coal, which is about the quantity used on ca ch
side during season. The vaults Will be fitted
up with compartments, each one holding "a
stated quantity, 50 there will be no chance tor
the contractors to give short weight. Hereto
fore on the Senate side, the coal has been deliv-
cred at the northeast corner of the buldin-
where it was dumped in the cellar, and bad 20
I've wheeled from there to the heating depart
ment, located in the southwest corner. The
ansIoTtatiOn OF II from oHy corner to another
raised some dgst. and the tendency OF tue at
moSpheric current being upward oy the halls
and stairWays, by reason OI tile exhaust over
the Senate chamber, this coal dust was carried
up stairs, and some of the Corulces in the lower
corridors are a. black as ink with ii. when
the new coal vaults are finished the fuel will b.
but few feet from the boilers, and but little
dust viii be raised by handling il.
THE ADDITION TO THE GROUNDS
VIII give employment to many workmen this
spring and summer. Work upon the coping
walls enclosing the extension of the west PARK
has already commenced, and in few month,
the northtr I'm and southern additions to the west
ern park will be enclosed by this coping. l. j.
the Intention of Mr.. Clark this season 20 grade
and sod the addition above referred TO, AMI To-
move the Old railing and coping together with
the cobole stones and brick psvements now
surrounding the enclosed portion of the
ground. The appropriation last session was iU-
improving the western park only. 1t has not
yet been determined whether the Old railing
will be replaced OF the coping now being
erected, Or whether any railing will be used
but il Is probable that the railing viii be dis
Carded entirely. The coping which will be OF
cut granite two feet wide and 20 inches Hugh.
VIII keep all dust and trash from blowing on
the grass from the streets. In New York and
other large cities iron ratings are being dis
cardt entirely, and public squares look much
bett without them. If our Board OF Health
will only keep up their vigilance in preventing
cows, hogs, goats, and geese, from running the
streets, there will be no necessity whatever for
iron ratings about any OF our public squares.
ADDITION To THE EAST PARK.
No appropriation for improving the Eastern
Park was made last session beyond the neees-
sary amount TO complete the purchase of prop
erty on the south sde and nothing will be done
there this season after removing the houses aud
grading the space now occupied by them. No
change in the grade already established will be
made, but only the cavities filled up and mounds
removed. The occupants of the houses on the
northern addition have been notified to vaeate
the IN by the LIST OF April. and the material IN
the buildings will be sold at public auction ON
the 10th OF that month. Thirty DAYS will lie
given from that date to remove the buildings.
The balance of the property on the south viii
be purchased Immediately, and the occupants
of the houses there will be notified to yacate hy
e LIST of May. Those houses will be sold nd
demolished by the middle OF June and the new
squares will then be ready TO inclose.
THE RTrrfe