National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1886-06-24
vENT1LAT1NG TIE TREASURY.


Assistant Secretary Fairohild Recon-
mends the Adoption Of Architect |
Bells Plan.
Acting Secretary Fairchild sent to the
Senate yesterday q communication from the
supervising architect In respect to the mat
ter Of the proper ventilation Of the treasury
building. MIR. Foirchild recommends APP
preparation for the immediate execution Of
the plans submitted by the architect the
estimated cost Of which for labor and mate
rial amounts in round numbers TO 500, 900.
Architect Bell suggests that, "a careful
reading Of the reports already made to you
cannot fail to show the lnhumaaity
OF further delaying provision so much re-
quired for the rendering of proper service
To the government as well as the health OF
the more than 1900 constant occupants Of
the building"
In conformity with directions given by
Secretary Folger, and afterward cOncurred
in by Secretaries McCulloch and Manning,
Levi X. Green, competent heating and
ventilating engineer, was employed TO pro-
vide plans, estimates, and specifications for
the proper ventilation Of the treasury build
ing, taking into account "the necessity OF
not interfering with the current daily work
Of the department
Mr.. Green's elaborate report OF his labors
and the results thereof is an interesting doc
umcut which shows, in substance, the fol-
lowing facts and conclusions:
doubt If so difficult problem OF the kind
has been presented to any engineer in this
county county a vs. ths' h OF ,he Ventilation or this
of the edifCe is peculiar, being entirely fire.
proof, its walls exterior and interior mostly
Of solid granite, its floors either "grolned' or
'barrel arches" and no nues whatever avail
able as vent lues. In fact, the building was
planned aud built Mt time when ventilation
was almost an unknown science, hence there
was no provision made for possible pppllca.
tion later.
The carrying out of the plan suggested will
result IN making the treasury building one Of
the most comfortable and best ventilated
buildings In the country, instead of being rs 1t
is now notoriously one of the worst.
The average number of officials and en-
| ployes In the building Is ascertained TO be
| 2.055 persons and II is estimated that the num-
| Der OF visitors TO the building, both for the
| purpose OF transacting business with the differ
| ent departments and from motives Ofcuriosity,
| is equivalent to population of one-half as
| many more-or l02j persons daily, making an
average population Of about $3.50 people. 1t Is
evident therefore. that the cubic sp ice pro-
vided per capita In the building Including
corridor space, Is the equivalent ofa room
| lOXl018Xi0 :hgh. The best known and stand
ard authorities upon ventilation and the sani-
tary condition OF buildings differ greatly as to
| the amount OF fresh air necessary TO be sup
| piled. but the minimum quantity Is generally
|
capita, and the maximum at sixty cubic feet.
| II, therefore, we take the mean of these calcu-
lation. or, say, supply OF about forty cubic
feet OF fresh air per minute per capita, y is
| the object sought.
| In the plans the building has been divided
into six separate sections for the supply OF
| fresh air. Each has Its separate fan for sup
| plying fresh air, receiving the same from the
| court, or whore no air can reach the supply
| fan except from that taken above the top Of
| hn ht1fl nd tuh folla ftatn OIn
| court covered by "a grass plot The decided
advantage OF such supply is so apparent that 1t
needs no argument.
From each supply fan controlling its system,
| the air will be forced through heating cham
| Der filed with steam radiatng surface, ar
ranged TO heat the volume Of fresh air as 1t
passes through, to any desired temperature.
| The air thus warmed Is TO be delivered In the
| several rooms in proper quantity for the space
and population involved TO make the change
| at the rate established. The delivery OF air
| will be made at or near the ceiling above the
| heads of any of the occupants, thus avoiding
the drafts incident TO the delivery of air under
| such pressure. The amount delivered will be
a measured, positive TACT beyond the control
OF caprice or curiosity, and regulated by che
| speed fthe fan.
| The positive delivery of such a volume OF air
| will put the rooms under the "plenum" or
| "plus' condition, making slight pressure
within the rooms, which will cause the air 70
seek nm outlet at every crevice, and entirely
| remedy the evil effects OF draughts at windows,
| The next question Is as to the removal of
foul or yitiated air By certain alteration OF
the eight main stairways, and the placing OF
| powerful exhaust fans at the bottom OF the
| stairway wells" the air from the corridors
will be exhausted and the corridors will be
| placed under the minus or attenuated condi-
| tion, and into these, with suitable openings
| provided near the floor. the air from all the
| rooms will readily flow. Tn Q yiuated air re-
| moved from the corridors will be delivered by
| the exhaust fans at or near the surface OF the
| ground on the outside ofthe building not COM
| ing in contact with the fresh air supply that
| enters the courts from above the building.
| IL will be readily seen that, owing to the fact
| of the numerous stairways the air from the
| several rooms on each floor has but short dis
| tance to travel before 1t must fall down the
stairway opening and go out through the ex-
| haust fan. And II is also evident that foul or
| impure air having left any room and entered a
corridor or any floor 1t cannot possibly find its
| way to any other room or go in any other di-
| rection than to the openings under the base.
| ment sand-box at the bottom of the stairway
| wells and out through the fan.
II is designed TO control tho inlet of fresh
air and outlet of yitiated air by adjustable
| registers