Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-06-14


COLD IN suMMER-How THE ARTIFICIAL CIR
CULATroN Is KEPT UP-EACH SENATOR EN-
TITLED TO FIFTY CUBIC FEET OF FRESH AIR
EVERY MINUTE-THE HEATING APPARATUS AND
THE WATER SUPPLY.
Oft the many thousands of visitors who explore
the Capitol, from basement to dome but few
are aware that one of the most interesting
features OF the building lies hidden beneath
their feet In the endorsement. STAR reporter
followed Mr.. Jones, engineer of the Senate wing
down several flights of stairs until the precinct
devoted to machinery was reached. With the
exception OF comparatively small portion,
which is given up to the restaurant kitchen all
the endorsement of the wing is occupied by heat
ing and ventilatIng machinery. Mr. Jones first
led the reporter to the air duct through which
air for the cooling and ventilation of the Senate
wing is brought. 1t is small tunnel extending
under the terraces and grounds, with the out
side opening down near the Peace monument
TWO FORCING FANS,
one II and the other IA feet in diameter were
drawing a strong current OF fresh air through
the duct and driving it through pipes and enor-
nous hues into the upper regions of the build
ing. Within the duct was spraying fountain,
for moistening and cooling the air. The force
OF the current scattered the spray like mist and
thoroughly mingled 1t with the air The ID foot
ian was making 20 revolutions minute and the
larger one was going at the rate of 100 revolu-
lions per minute. Now" said Mr.. Jones, this
smaller fan Is for the corridors and committee
rooms, and the larger one there is for the Senate
chamber, but the air passages are so arranged
that we can turn the combined force of the two
upon the chamber and that is what we are doing
to-day. The weather was very warm and the
engineer called attention to certain little doors
winch were closed. These shut off the current
from the corridors and committee rooms and
forced the increased volume of air directly to
and within the Senate chamber.
LARGER DUCT NEEDED.
1.-THE first improvement needed" explained
Mr.. Jones, lis an enlargement and extension of
the air duct. 1t should be enlarged to seventy
five square feet in the cross-section; 1t Is now
only thrty-fve, and it ought to be extended.
for the further it runs the better wouldn't
care If they would run it half way to George
town. 1t opens way down in the ground there
and whenever they are spreading manure
through the grounds the air in the chamber and
corridors is impregnated with the unpleasant
odor. With an enlarged duct we could cool
the air as 1t comes in with ice which can't be
done now, for every square foot Of ice put In
now reduces my already too small supply of air
Just that much The fans are large enough for
seventy-fye foot duct
LII Wdlm Weather even tue hoatlng apparatus
is utilized In the effort to reduce the tempera-
ture. There are three and One-half miles Of one
lnch pipe. doubled back and forth in long coils
1or heating purposes. In cold weather steam
goes racing through the pipes. and heat Is driven
through flues into the chamber. corridors and
committee rooms; but In hot weather Mr.. Jones
keeps stream of Potomac water running
through the coils, and even packs the top of
them with ice. BY this means he forces through
the heating fues supply of moderately cooled
air, which is additional to the supply that goes
through the ventllating registers.
daily record of the temperature. the state
being taken every two hours, is kept On the
day OF the reporters visit, at noon the ther-
mometer outside the building marked SO. while
the temperature within the Senate chamber was
-. This reduction of 8 degrees was accom-
plished by concentrating all the powers OF the
ventilating apparatus and by utilizing the heat
ing apparatus also. Mr.. Jones' In reply to a
question, said that with an enlargement of the
air duct and few other Improvements he would
be able to bring the temperature of the entire
Senate wing down several degrees lower.
Yes" he said, after moments reflection. Il
could reduce it five degrees more, easily" As
it was, the Senators We're enioying a tempera-
ture of nine degrees less than the people of
Washington generally.
THE 'MIXING ROOM"
was reached, and here the engineer pointed out
another defect in his arrangements. This room
is just below perpendicular tunnel. seven feet
In diameter, through which the air, after being
driven from the fans. passes up to and through
the various registers into the chamber II is
here that the air is ''mixed," the proper humid
ity, &C., impaired; but the engineer complains
that 1t Is too small to admit of thorough work
The removal Of a heavy brick partition would
give the additional space desired. The dIstrb-
utlng apparatus is also defective. ave are
now" said Mr.. Jones, sending fifty cubic feet
min 70 no oI,o
son within it. but it is distributed at certain
points in rush like whirlwind instead of be-
ing disseminated equally throughout the cham
ber."
The reporter next visited the exhausting fans.
which draw the impure air from the chamber
and expel it through pipes that extend through
the root. The ceiling of the chamber is per-
fOrated, and the impure air is withdrawn from
above, while the fresh air is driven i'm from be-
low. The entire circulation Of the chamber is a
machinery and of the heating apparatus. there
are nTe boilers. but during the summer only
two are in constant use. Each boiler consumes
ton of coal per day when in operation.
THE BOILERS AND COAL VAULTS
are outside of the line Of the building, so that,
should an explosion or a fire occur there is COM
paratiVey little danger Of injury to the Capitol.
The first relief of men 60 to work at a m
and start the engines. The next relief
-" GU w anu IL 40 pdit vi tfitlI 10 SET
the exhaust fans in motion, and to turn their
power upon the lower as well as the upper
n00rs, SO that all the impurities of atmosphere
arising from the closed condition of the build
ing through the night are driven out. Next
the forcing fans are set to work. and supply Of
cool fresh air distributed
THE WATER SUPPLY
The Senate wing is supplied with water from
two tanks, of capacity of %. 900 gallons, which
are located just over the east portico of that
wing. These tanks are kept filed by steam
pump, In connection with which there is a
gauge that registers the quantity of water in
the tanks. Then there is the elevator pump.
which must be kept going. This pump is a
size too small for the labor eXacted of it. and the
engineer has asked for a larger one. The entire
which it requires no little skill and care to prop
erly handle and regulate. One little closet con-
tains group Of pipes Of different sizes, with
numerous cocks protruding from them. By
tsese cocks the flow Of water and of gas to all
the wings or any portion thereof can be stopped
throughout the whole range Of corridors and
rooms everything is as neat as a new pin The
machinery is all Of the finest order. and every
piece shines like mirror. Neatness and method
mark the whole system. One neat-lOoking room
attracted the reporters attention, and he
was invited to enter. 1t was shut off
from the outer space by partition
and Immediately upon passing the door most
refreshing change of temperature was observed
The heat of the machinery is almost oppressive,
and this room is relief resort for the assistant
engineers and workmen. 1t is newly carpeted
and comfortably fitted up, but. best of all, reg