Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-06-14

Aued Wat the great WlnuOWiess Hail OF REPRE-
sentatives is oppressive in its box-like closed
| up appearance. But such is not the case, for
| it is conceded by eminent scientists that under
all climatic conditions it is one of the best ven
tilated public buildings in the world. 1t is
true that it has cost years in experiment and
thousands of dollars in arranging and altering
plans and devices, but the result is a great sue
cess. The chief engineer in charge of the
ventilation of the House stands In the relation
OF family physician to that legislative body,
for 1t is the duty of that officer to take fire.
quent diagnosis of the sanitary condition of
the hall and surrounding conditions and not
only temper the winds to the congressional
lambs, but to detect and destroy the impuri-
ties in the air on its passage through the great
air ducts.
THE CRYPT OR sUBBAsEMESr
In order to more readily obtain a practical
idea of this system of ventilation q STAR rep
resentative visited the chief engineer the
other day in his cozy gas-lit Office far down
below daylight IN the crypt of the building
To reach this office on the House side (both
the Senate and House endorsements are used
as ventilating departments, being but slightly
different in constructlon) the visitor passes
through the small vacant room Just under the
western basement stairway to the House floor,
and descends a half-spiral granite stair that
terminates in the first of the series of
whitened vaults, when he filds himself in a
labyrinth of vaulted tunnels and air ducts,
with an occasional space walled off for engine
rooms and offices. Fastened to the walls of
the engineers Office great variety of
highly polished steam and other gauges, auto
matte regulators and annunciators of the most
sensitive construction, whose almost infallible
exactltude keeps the engineer in charge re-
ilabiy informed of every throb of the engines,
the revolutions of the air fans and the exact
measurement Of temperature and volume of
D4aS1nP thr0nUh ant
almost to the minimum the volume of each
respiration OF tho occupants of the hall. These
mechanical devices are simply automatic mar
wells for ingenuity and accuracy. This sub
basement is perfectly dry, and the great cav
ernous air ducts, 60 to 65 square feet in dimen-
sion are passageways between massive brick
walls leading to the hues that conduct the air
to the perforated openings in the floor of the
hall.
THE AIR FAN,
by means of which the volume of air is sup
plle6, Is 16 feet in diameter, driven by a steam
engine of corresponding capacity. When the
fan is running at the rate of 80 to so revolu-
uons per minute 1t gives 80. 900 cubic feet of
ar and has n maximum capacity of 100, 600
cubic feet per minute. The fresh air supply
was formerly taken directly through window
IN the angle Of the building next to the fan.
but few years ago granite tower was erected
III the grounds west OF the building, open at
air ducts in the crypt to the large fan. 1t was
found that this tower and tunnel had chemi-
ca!ly beneficial effect upon the air, and also
that the atmospheric pressure down the tower
increased the volume of air, which, together
with the propelling motion Of the turban fan.
met every requirement.
AIR RADIATOR OR HEATER.
For the purpose of heating and modifying
the condition OF the air a group of cast iron
rndIatQra hnr t.Ii,
across the air tunnel. filing the space within
several feet of the top, which upper space is
arranged with trap to regulate the passage
OF the air above the heater. The air passing
through the heater is made to any desired
temperature, and the flow of fresh cool air
above the heater mingles with the heated air
on the further side of the heater and tempers
it as desired.
THE MIGRATING TANK.
I, Immediately beyond the coil of heaters is a
shallow tank or basin forming a depression in
the floor of and longitudinally across the air
tunnel. This basin is supplied with steam
pipes for the purpose Of heating the water in
the basin to a temperature sufficient to vapor-
ize the water. This is intended to hydrate or
suppty moisture to the air, which has been
rendered dry or burnt in its passage through
the heater. Care is taken that the water is not
heated sufficiently to produce steam, which
would lmpregnate the air with an odor pecu-
iiariy offensive The air passing through the
vapor arising from the tank acquires the sum-
mer condition of humidity.
THE HALL OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
After examining the machinery down in this
veritable 'cave of the Winds" The STAR rep-
resentative returned to the Hall Of Repre-
sentatives to ascertain its requirements and
conditions. The hall is 1879 by 80 and 36
feet high, with galleries and cloak rooms I'M
derneath. always open to the hall. The cubic
contents are about 5000 cubic feet of air
space. The capacity of the floor and galleries
is estimated at ! 600 individuals and the ouan-
tity OF air determined upon for each individual
is 80 cubic feet per minute in the coolest
weather and 60 cubic feet at other seasons
making the minimum ventilation $1,000 cubic
feet and the maximum 100000 cubic feet per
minute. The total of openings for the adj
mission of fresh air on the floor of the hall is
about 300 square feet, and the gal
leries about 125 square feet. The
total openings in the ceiling for the
discharge of foul air is about 67O square
feet The apertures for the admission of fresh
air are in front OF a continuous air passage
under the floor. The entering currents are 60
arranged toward each other that they en-
counter and neutraiize each other, and the
intermingling air assumes the desired upward
direction. Flreplaces were introduced in the
cloak rooms and under the galleries so that
any one entering the hall chilled from out of
doors IN winter might more rapidly acquire
warmth than would be possible in the ordinary
temperature of the hall-70 degrees
HOW 1T is MANAGED.
The success Of the most perfect ventilating
apparatus is in Its manipulation. The chief
engineer, during the sessions of the House, is
almost always to be seen upon the floor taking
notes OF the ventilating machinery and making
observations of the condition and volume of air
supply. Hanging against the Speakers desk
inclosed in wooden case, is @ very delicate
instrument for the measurement of tempera-
ture. technically called thermostat, by means
OF which the least variation in the temperature
OF the air is noted, and by means OF an auto
matte electrical attachment connected with
register or gauge hung in the engineers office
down In the crypt the attendant on duty is
notified OF the variation in the condition of the
air. BY means of another equally sensitive
and ingenious piece Of mechanism called an
thermometer the volume of air is measured.
The anemometer is a small piece of delicate
mechanism somewhat resembling an old
fashioned silver "turnip-watch" with a very
sensitive air wheel attached to one side. the
shaft OF which operates the inclosed mechan-
ISM The air passing against and through the
blades OF the wheel propels the instrument
which registers the volume OF air passing
through in given time. With this instrument
the engineer is always kept advised as to the
volume OF air passing through the House and
thus Is enabled to intelligently incre ase or
diminish the now OF air to suit the condition Of
crowded or empty hall, always aiming to keen
the supply for each individual at from 40 10 en
cubic feet per minute, as the season NAV re-
quire. az
sILENCIN9 COMPLAINTS