The daily gazette., 1883-07-17
wANAMAKER's OWN BoREAs.
A Novel Arrangement by Which the
Temperature of the Grand Depot is
Regulated.

A Novel Arrangement by Which the
Temperature of the Grand Depot is
Regulated.
philadelphia Press.
Perfection in ventilation has been reached
at Wanamaker's Grand Depot. Customers
may now stop at any counter in the vast
establishment and order SO much cool air as
they would order SO many yards of dry
goods, the difference being, however, that
the refreshing zephyrs are net put up In
packages, and therefore cannot be carried
away. The system by which the place is
ventilated is as simple as it is effective. On
the Kelly street side-tbat is the small alley
way that runs from Thirteenth to Juniper
streets, between Chesnut and Market
stands wooden box, or hue, rising 10 feet
above the level of the pavement Going
below the ground this fue terminates In q
large pipe, which communicates with three
large copper fans in the celia, revolved by
$50 horse power Corliss engine. Pass
ing through the centre of the box, out
side. is a perforated metal pipe which sends
out continuous spray of water. The action
of the fans in the cellar draws air into the
box, cooling and purifying it in its passage
through the water and sending it into the
pipe to the cellar. There the current reaches
the fans or blowers and by their powerful
pressure is forced into labyrinth of circu-
Iutiug pipes, iniIve in Ionesh, ~ad by ho
means of nearly thousand little openings
is distributed in every portion of the build
ing. In this way 100000 cubic feet of
pure air is introduced every hour into the
place, maintaining perpetual circulation OF
refreshing currents. As a consequence the
temperature of the Grand Depot is at all
times, during the warm weather, from IL
to Is degrees cooler than it would otherwise
be.
A novel feature of the system is the
method of regulating the temperature, in
case of change of weather. The piping
through which the air passes is distributed
in every portion of the building and is
usually elevated back OF the counters. AT
close intervals along the piping are small
tubes through which the refreshing current
finds outlet. These tubes can be pointed in
any direction required, so that the air can
be sent in whatever quarter it may be
needed. Moreover, a stopeock on each tube,
that can be operated by any one, gauges the
current to any force desired. For example,
a lady, on seating herself before a counter
on very warm day, has simply to request
one of the salesladies to turn one of the
tubes toward her in order to find relief. If
he current of air be too sirong, she has
simply to ask that it be moderated, which is,
of course, done by means OF the stopcock.
When allowed full play the current is so
strong as to render one absolutely chilly;
therefore, there is no fear OF complaint that
it lacks force.
In addition to the tubes, metal fans on
revolving piyots have been attached to the
piping in various portions of the building,
and SO powerful is the current arising from
the cellar that the fans revolve very vapidly,
creating, as they whiz around, healthy
atmosphere, and at the same time distribut-
ing from nozzles at either end constant
draught of cooling air.
The system is the invention of John
Fernie, who states that 1t is as easily util-
ized in the Winter in heating the building
as it is in cooling it in the summer. a.