National Republican., 1877-09-18
AT THE CAPITOL.
LATEST IMPROVEMENTS FULLY EY-
Planned.

A NEW STYLE OF REGISTER OR WARMING
PAN ron CnRoNICALLY COLD CONGRESS
MES-TIIE HALL OF THE HOUSE OF REPRE-
sENTATIvE,s TO RE sCUTrLED.
The principal feature In the changing Of
the heating and vcntilating apparatus of the
House Of Representatives has been the moving
of the steam ooils-about fve miles of pipe
from q remote corner Of the building and the
placing Of them near tho centre Of II. They
are 80 arranged that hot, cold or temperate air
can be thrown into tho hall in great abund-
ancc, and consequently the temperature can
bo kept at any degree desirable. Ono diff
Guilty In keeping this hall at q comfortable
temperature at all times was that 1t had TO be
heated to such degree In tho morning that
few persons might do their writing there, that
WHOM between noon and l p. M, from fifteen
hundred to two thousand persons entered the
hall and galleries, each one Of whom was
heating apparatus up to ninety-eight or one
hundred degrees, the temperature was raised
to an uncomfortable height. Under the
former arrangement there were no means OF
speedily cooling down this temperature. The
usual plan was to.
SHUT OPT THE STEAM
running through the pipes, and even then the
cold air, coming in contact with these pipes,
would obtain heat from them sometimes half
All hour after the steam was shut or Hence
~ Was EeuuCo
quickly. Under the present arrangement the
air coming to tho heated pipes can bo inter
copied and thrown into the chamber from
these pipes without coming In contact with
the heated surface. There arc eight valves,
80 arranged that Ave eights Of warm air and
three Of cold, or any other proportion, can be
supplied IS necessity may demand. To insure
PROPER DIFFUSION OF AIR
throughout tho hall four main outlets have
hear, or oanh aida ~ ths lv,oa srtu
chair. Small openings admit tho air from here
under the floor Of tho hall, and special ducts
allow 1t to ascend to each Of the galleries. The
necessary pure air can now be furnished both
floor and galleries so greatly needed there bo-
fore. 1t Is well known that one Of the galleries
In particular was often crowded by persons
not tidily clad, and from whom anything but
mosphere of tho lobby back Of the galleries
having exterior windows, which are cooling
surfnces, was In cold weather heavier than the
sir in the hall, SO that when door from
THE CORRIDOR OF THE GALLERY
was opened the cool air would flow In and
across the gallery, coming in contact with the
unsavory persons there and the air which
they vitiated, and flow over the front of 1t like
q waterfall. To prevent this the floor Of the
hall has been pierced along the walls and else
where to insure an upward current Of pure.
warm air, which will intercept any descending
column of foul air and force II up and through
openings in the ceiling. As the space under
the floor is an air chamber, the floor can be
scuttled or perforated anywhere for the ad-
mission Of additional air to the hall; and to
facilitate this object novel kind of register,
which II might be irrevorent to style warm
ing-pan, has been provided to be used under
the desks of any member who may become
clamorous for more fresh air. The large pen
dentive arrangements over the galleries, parts
of some of which had fallen, whilo other parts
wero in state Of imminent dissolution, have
been taken down, and in the openings which
they covered ground glass will be inserted in
frames raised few inches above the ceiling
so as not only
TO OBTAIN MORE LIGHT
in the gallery, which Is needed particularly at
night, but also an additional amount Of
opening in the ceiling for ventilation. 1t is
presumed that these arrangements, IL in
tclligcntly operated, will prove as satisfactory
rs the needs of the case will permit. 1t Is not
claimed that the atmosphere Of the hall will
be at oil times what is required for all its oc-
onpants. Persons Of different ages, stages Of
health and temperament require different de-
grces of temperature TO make them comfort
able. In fact tho same person often requires,
| at different times, . different temperature for
his comfort. The great aim has been to ar
| range an apparatus capable Of controlling the
atmosphere as may be desired, and to furnish
q sufficient quantity Of fresh air and maintain
It within the hall In the same chemical condi-
tion as the exterior atmosphere. As an
enormous quantity Of air will be required for
this purpose drafts may be apparent in some
parts of the hall, and as the problem is to force
In given quantity Of fresh air for each indi-
vidual In the hall this evil Of drafts becomes
inevitable. The only remedy would be to
limit the attendance In the gallery, as Is done
| in the Parliament at Ottawa, by the iudicious
distribution and issuance Of tickets Of admis.
sion. Tho heating apparatus having been
completed on Saturday, the upholsterers were
yesterday putting down the bcautiful new car
pet In the hall Of the House Of Representa-
tives. Several no less industrious than inter,
esting ladies were assisting. The general
scene was that of great sewing circle.