The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1892-02-24
DOWN In THE CRYPT.
sgS
Oneef the Interesting Noeks in the
! Capitol at Washington.
now the senate chambers and the Halls
4of the House of Representatives Arc
Heated, Ventilated and Kept
Cool in Summer.
Especial Washington Letter. |

fog bank and to the house OF represen-
tatives as the cave of the winds. There
was great deal more truth than mere
sarcasm and wit in the epigrammatic
illusions of the distinguished writer.
1t was his intention to indicate in q
word the density of dignity in the SEN
ate chamber, and the laxity thereof in
the house of representatives where SO
many windy wars occur. But, dur
ing the executive sessions of the SEN
ate, when all of the doors and air cham
bers are closed, that body becomes in
deed a fog bank of foul air and an I'M
wholesome place in which to spend
even an hour. It is like being locked
up like steamed oyster in a super
heated chest. The house Of representa-
tiyes, however, is a veritable cave of
the winds, by reason of the constant at
mospheric circulation and changing
temperature through that chamber.
Not one visitor out of ten thousand
land probably not more than one or
two members of the house of represen-
tatives who sit there daily has any
idea or knowledge of the great pneu-
matte laboratory which has been grad
ually built and brought to perfec-
ton, away down in the sub-basement
of the capitol building. have often
heard visitors wonder how it were pos
sible for people to live in the great
windowless hall, which is box-like and
oppressive in it's closed-up appearance.
As matter of fact, the house of repre-
sentatives and the entire capitol may
be said to be the best ventilated public
building in the world.
Far down in the crypt of the build
ing, where daylight never comes and
never can be expected to come, is the.
Office Of the chief engineer, man who:
has brought to perfection this pneu-'
matte machinery and who presides over
its operations. To reach this Office on,
either the house or senate side of the.
capitol, for they are both built alike.
one must pass through small vacant
room in the basement stairway at the
western end of the house of representa-
tives. There half spiral stairway en-
ables the visitor to descend into the
first of series of chambers, which con-
sist of almost q labyrinth of vaults:
channels and air ducts, with occasional
rooms walled in for the use of engines
and offices. Upon entering the room Of
the chief engineer, the unscientific Wis
itor is greeted with surprising variety
of automatic regulators, annunciators,
steam guages, whose sensitive con-
struction and infallible exactitude en-
able the engineer to know precisely
from every throb of the engines the.
proper measurement of temperature
and volume of air passing through the
channels as the result of the revolu-
lions of the air fans; so that he can
supply almost the exact quantity of air..
even unto the fraction of cubic inch,
required for the respiration of each in
diyiduaI occupant Of the hall Of repre-
sentatives.
The fan which draws in from the
outer regions fresh supplies of pure
air, and forces the same through great
cavernous air ducts of the perfectly dry
sub basement, is sixteen feet in diam,
eter and is kept revolving by the power
Of steam engine Of corresponding d.
ameter, strength and capacity. The
engineer says that this fan will supply
fifty Thousand cubic feet of air
per minute and when it is revolved to
the height Of its capacity it supplies a
hundred thousand cubic feet of fresh
air per minute. len years ago, ana
previous to that time, the fresh air sup
ply was taken through window in an
angle of the building near the fan, but
it was impossible to obtain satisfac-
tory supply in that manner. Conse-
quently, granite tower was erected
at the north and south ends of the cap
itoi on the west side; these towers be-
ing open at the top and having tunnel
connections between the air ducts in
the crypt and the pure air of heaven.
These towers were built in compliance
with the scientific principle well-known
to the reader that the air nearest the
ground is charged more fully with car
bonic acid gas, while above the trees
the air is better charged with oxygen.
The window in the capitol, from which
the fresh air supply was formerly
taken, was beneath the ground, and
hence the air which was supplied to
the building was not entirely of that
quality most desired. These towers
not only produce chemically bene-
fetal effect, but the atmospheric pres
sure down the tower increases the vol
ume of air and thereby aids the great
fan in it's work of purifying
the atmosphere of the great building.
OF course it would never do to fill
the capitol with cold air during the
winter months. On the contrary, it
would scarcely be beneficial to pump
into the building the heated air of sum-
mer. Therefore, it is necessary to
modify the condition of the air as it
passes through the great ducts on it's
way to the house and senate, rotunda,
dome, corridors and committee rooms
During the winter a group of cast-iron
heaters or radiators are placed horizon
tally across the air tunnel, filling the en-
tire space, except few feet at the top,
where trap is arranged to regulate
the passage of the air above the heaters
BY automatic mechanical devices the
n