The state herald., 1892-06-10
BENEATH THE CAPITOL.
TOUR OF THE suBrERRAnEAN
PASSAGES.
Tho Creipt Which Was Built For Wash
ington's Dust-Mties Of Iron Pipes
and the Great veHtilatins
Apparatus.

Oh DrlRut SUNSHINE intO tuo cuVoi"Se"
depths and subterraneous ramifcations
81 the vast region beneath the great
white Capitol building as Washin~
ton Post reporter did, Is in some re-
spects like entering the immense UNI
foreground caves pictured In the fiction
OF tho ancients. The average visitor
10 passing over the tiled floors OF the
aboveground portion OF the capitol has
little conception Of the vastness OF tho
region Of perpetual gaslight below and
the many Interesting sights to be seen
down there.
The reporter entered the central
portion OF the section under the new
terraces on the senate side, and pro-
ceeded first up two flights OF dusty and
age-worn stairs TO small apartment
directly under the crypt which has
IN interesting history. The little room
was clearly whitewashed. and in Its
center was large catafalque or fu-
neral bier covered with black broad
cloth. in striking contrast with the
snowy-white walls and ceiling.
There were three deep old-fashioned
alcoves and the single gas jet flick
cred and iluttered In the draught caus-
ing ghostly shadows to fit about the
weird apartment while musty odor
filled the atmosphere. This Is the
chamber in which 1t was proposed by
congress many years ago TO place the
remains OF George Washington and
keep him forever lying in state Tho
opposition OF his family prevented the
contamination OF this. and the Father
OF His Country was inferred at his.
tsrlc Mount Vernon. At the time the
sepulcher was selected for General
Washington's body congress- also by
act appointed keeper OF tho vault.
and 1t is related that he drew his sal
AIRY regularly for several years with
out rendering any service therefor I'M
til the act was repealed
Tho black covered catafalque is
taken up Into the rotunda and used on
the occasion Of the death Of any great
man. Among those who have lain in
state upon 1t were Presidents Lincoln
and Garfield. Senators Sumner Logan
and others
Along the west front OF the capitol.
beneath the terrace, there are over
1900 feet OF space devoted to sub
terranean rooms, vaults, and passage
ways In these are stored hundreds
OF thousands OF public books and
documents On the senate side alone
8. 900 feet OF steam pipe are employed
to keep out the dampness and con-
sequent mildew.
At the extreme north OF the terrace
Is the entrance to the senate engine
room and elevator the whining and
whirring sounds produced by the
machinery causing strange and ghost
ly echoes to fill the dimly-lighte
region. Near the central portion Is
tho official reporters file room. which
has been made rs dry us chip by
means OF steam coils and a rapidly
revolving fan.
At the air duct near by Is n great
fan at work drawing fresh air through
the duct from the great gray shaft in
tho ground and forcing It into the
Senate chamber. Tho curved mp
pronch to the lower duct Is queer
looking place resembling mlnia-
ture Niagara Falls In concrete.
Further along are the dynamo-r rooms
filed with whirr!ng sounds and
flashes OF many colored lights and
reminding one OF tho regions informal.
In that portion devoted TO the COM
mittee.rooms OF the Senate IN ingen.
ious contrivance is employed to show
tho circulation OF fresh air therein
Feathers nre suspended high up on
the walls In front OF the ventiiating
huos. and their luttering In tho
artificial breezes Indicates tho rcgu-
larity or irregular.ty and force OF the
ventilation.
Passing over TO the house side the
darkness decpens and ono has 10 al.
most gropo his way along under tho
great brick archways After passing
the House engine rooms and tho great
air duct you como to the coil room.
queer looking apartment Tor heating
the house OF representatives and puri-
,, flying tho air which Is forced into tho
chamber Although tho coil room
Is II small apartment 1t contains seven
miles OF steam pipe through which tho
air passea In tho summer these
pipes are filled with cold water 10 cool
tho atmosphere above, and during tho
winter they AFRO heated by steam.
Tho air Is moistcned In tho adjoin.
ing cooperating room or mixing
chamber whore the cold tho dry
aud damp moisture aro all mixed DO.
fore being forced into tho chamber of
tho house whore II passes around tho
seat OF each member through perior-
ated brass Tho mixing chamber was
filled with great clouds OF steam.
which arose from heated pool on tho
floor, through which nil tho mir passes.
In warm weather this chamber has nm
arrangement which causes water 10
fall from overhead like n perpetual
shower, and tho MIR coming In con.
tact Herewith. Is made cool and no.
freshIng.
Nonr this apartment IL n hugh fan
sixteen feet In diameter. revolving
rapidly and producing what rcscmbled
n stiN sen breeze This fan throws
$40 cubic foot OF mir Into tho upper
duct Mt every revolution. This air IL
drawn through 800 fcot OF due, from
the large gray shaft In tho ground.
which Is often mistaken for monu.
mont sacred to tho memory OF somo
great man. Birds nrc often drawn
Into tho duct through tho shaft by tho
| suction and nro found ihoro BY tho