Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-07-05

moved o. essential to the publication Of
the atmosphere of the building, where in
spite Of the good general ventilation there are
not few places pervaded by distinct drain
age smell. They report that the method of con-
Meeting fixtures With waste pipes, traps, &C., Is
also defective, and give many illustrations Of
this in different rooms. There is no thor
ough pipe ventilation, and the traps
are generally defective. In some of the COM
mittee rooms the air seems to be tainted and in
one committee room, that Of public buildings
and grounds, the water closet is in q tight
closet and necessarily produces foul odor. The
urinals are SO arranged as to make it impossible
to prevent bad smells and foul air.
BETTER on THE HOUSE SIDE.
Sewers on the House side of the Capitol are
in better condition than those on the Senate
wing, but the experts recommend repairs
where the branch sewers enter the main sewer
In the west cloak room Of the House
very effective, there being only one trap used
for two or three fixtures, leaving a considerable
length Of Shiny waste pipe free to exhale its
odors in the room. In the east cloak room
1t is still worse, as the connecting
surface. In the closet adjoining the room Of
the military affairs Of the House the urinal and
water closet are defective and there is q
very bad smell. In the room adjoining the
committee room Of foreign affairs the fittings
even in a well-ventilated apartment.
The same defect as to want Of ventilation as
to waste pipes is found on the House side as on
the Senate wing, and the defects are specially
pointed out by the experts. The
traps and pipe connections are better
experts suggest that the House restaurant hav-
ing been once used as bath room and all the
fixtures having been cut of except the basin it
would be well to make sure that they are all
properly closed, which could only be done by
taking up the floor.
the sewerage Of the central or old Capitol
building, except as contained In their
general remarks ON the whole sewerage
system Of the Capitol. OF the Supreme Court
toilet room the experts say: at is q sanitary
curiosity" After briefly describing the fix
lures the report goes on to say: 1.-THE amazing
feature is that the waste of this toilet room is
delveredinto vertical shaft at least thirty
five feet deep, connected with the head
OF the old sewer. A ten-inch rail leader
pipe also enters into the top of this shaft.
During rain no doubt portions of the walls and
the floor Of this shaft are cleanaed but in the
absence Of rain the walls, the floor and the con-
Meeting sewer must be in q very foul condition.
The effect of this condition is doubtless miti-
gated by ventilation through the rain leader,
but the whole arrangement SO far as outlet is
concerned is as bad as well can be.
The sewerage and plumbing Of the rooms
wing are thoroughly discussed by the
enough to say that while improve
ments are suggested the recent date at which
the terrace work was done has secured the mod
ern and improved conditions which were not
possible when the main buildings were con-
structed.
1t is earnestly recommended by the experts
that the kitchen Of the Senate restaurant be en-