The Evening critic., 1881-11-11
The white House Cooling Appnr-
afna.

The report of the Board of Naval Engi-
neers appointed by the Navy Department
to control the working of and experiment
with the cooling apparatus placed in the
White House when the wounded President
was suffering from the oppressive weather
as we'll as from the effects Of the assassin's
fatal bullet, has been completed, and 1t Is
interesting, not only because Of the associ-
alton with the painful illness of Gen. Gar,
field, but also from the results deduced from
the experiments. 1t states that II has been
proved that air which had been cooled by
direct contract with the damp ice surfaces,
may be delivered into rooms in dry and
healthful condition.
This result follows from the operation of
q law of physics by which air
Is deprived Of its moisture in
proportion to its reduction in tcmpera-
ture. 1t was ascertained by the use of
hygrometcrs that the air, which contained
q certain per cent of humidity before ii was
drawn into contact with the cooling sur
faces, contained another and smaller per-
centage after leaving these surfaces, and
when allowed to escape into the room 1t was
intended to cool, it received, as its tempera-
ture increased, the percentage of moisture
1t lost in tho cooling apparatus from the
atmosphere of the room, so 1t is apparent
that the cool air has drying effect upon
the air in the room rather than tendency to
deposit moisture. Air has a greater capacity
for moisture at high than Mt low tempcra-
lures, and consequently 1t deposits moisture
upon cooling surfaces, which will reduce its
temperature below the dew-point. In tho
apparatus employed at tho White House
the air, after being cooled, could not re-
gain the moisture it lost in the ice
box until it escaped into the Presidents
;ps
moisture by having its temperature raised
by tho higher temperature of the air that
filled the room, but the air in the room, be-
ing required to give up a part of its heat
and moisture, was reduced in temperature
and relative humidity, its hygrometric con-
ditiou being sustained within agreeable
and healthful limits.
The report of the board gives full de-
scription of the apparatus used in cooling
the bedroom of General Garfield, and gives
credit where credit is due to those whose
sympathy and patriotic zeal induced them
to bestow their time and attention to the
purpose of reducing the suffering of the
wounded President, or at least to assist in
making tho long, dark hours of his ill
ness as comfortable as possible. The
report is accompanied by plates and tables
showing tho temperatures, relative hu
Nudity and dew points observed at different
points in the circuit of the cooling air
These experiments were made under con
ditions which made them, of course, Sec
ondary in Importance, and were interrupted
whenever it was necessary to stop running
the blowers. Economy was not considered
the time not being sufficient to arrange so
that there might DO no waste of cooling ma
teral. The attending physicians expressed
themselves rs satisfied with the character o.
the air supplied from the cooling apparatus
and tho first effect observed was q pleasant
change in the condition of the air, even be
fore a sensible reduction of temperature wal
effected. This was due to the drying cffec
of the cold air entering through the register
The general introduction of cooling up
paratus into public buildings and hospitals
is only question Of time. Ice may moi
and probably will not be used, but some
method Of making our houses, &C., com
Portable in summer rs well as in winter
and ,:n fact, under all conditions Of the out
side atmosphere is practicable, and in ordel
to keep pace with the advancement o
science in other directions, it is desirable t.
obtain such experimental data as will lead
to the completion of an apparatus that, no
only in practical efficiency, but also il
economy, will be within the reach Of those
engaged in the construction Of modern
buildings.
The report Is made to Commodore Shock
chief of the Bureau of Steam Engineering
who will submit it to the Secretary Of the
Navy, to be embodied in his annual re
MORT