New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-05-30
SANITARY CONDITION OF THE CAPITOL.
4 BAD STATE OF Affairs REVEALED BY THE
FXpERTE EXAMINATION.

FXPERTS' EXAMINATIONS
Washington MAY o0.-The experts employed To in
vesiigatc the sanitary condition Of the Capitol. Dr.
John 5 Billings of the Surgeon-ticneras ONCE, and
Colonel George warlng IT, OF Newport r. l.. after a
searching examination with the help Of trained as
sistants during the last six weeks have handed In
their report II shows that tho elaborate appliances
for mechanical heating and ventilation are In the
main satisfactory. though minor notifications ana
cancellations are suggested In the Senate wing. The
drainage Of the building Its sewers and Its plumbing
appliances are, the contrary, extremely defective
and faulty The examination has Included the search
Ing ont Of obscure lines Of piping OF the most comph
Gated character; the locations Ut the pipes OF
the various fixtures. and the Investigation Of tue char
acter OF traps pipcc connections, etc. mud the clear
representation OF all parts Of the work. md old
by plans diagrams, sketches, and minute detailed
description. This Is the first time that any one has
known the character, condition and arrangement Of
this work Now that ID Is known. the knowledge IS
says Colonel Warlng, by no means reasHrlns. lie
continues, In part: 1.-THE sewer Of the old Capitol
the central building-is about nine y years DID, and
tho principal pipes OF the drainage system nearly
old The original work Of the wings is about forty
years old Most Of the drainage Of the Capitol was
pu1 In at "A time when no one knew how the work
ought to be done. The result is n condition which IL
would not he fair to crtcisc. but at which We may
well stand aghast The recent extensions OF the
plumbing have, naturally been made little By LITTLE
general system. The experts recommend the renewal
OF The en- ire plumbing. except the water supply pipes
The cost Of this is estimated at under $40 600 which
surely is reasonable price TO pay for transform
Ing the National Capitol from OF the worst
drained buildings In the country 10 ono OF the very
lest There are. In all, nearly $50 plumbing fixtures
water closets. bowls, etc. and there about 100
vertical soil pipes and waste pipes. Most Of these
are built into the walls many Of them, put in forty
years ago or more, have probably been eaten BY
rust leaving only unprotected holes In the masonry
ihe branch PIPES aic Of infinite variety, and ara
largely built Into the solid arches supporting the
noors Every waste pipe In the building i trapped at
It's lower end. with no inlet rr fresh afr. Not one OF
the waste PIPES extends above the roof for vcntiln on
The supreme Cont toilet room Is sanitary curiosity.
Under sink In the kitchen three-inch branch pipe.
In full connection with the waste pipe has been thrown
out Of use cut on and left open. In preparing for this
examination, hve whecioariow leads Of grease were
taken out Of twofoot brick sewer that IS used as a
kitchen drain.
:" II the Capitol were private building and we're I'm
it's present condition as 10 its plumbing the BOARD oh
Health Of the District would probably oder II closed As