Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-12-30
The Interest Which Railroad Enter
prises Arouse Here.
NEED OF MORE And BETTER FACILITIES
Soft Wood Taking the Place Of
Hard in interior Finish.
MODES OF VENTILATION

ties needed by the growing population of
this city have not as yet been supplied.
Public interest in this subject is manifest
by the frequency with which rumors are
| started in regard to new enterprises of
this character. both inside and outside Of
the city.
The ambitious citizens who are ever on the
outlook to turn an honest dollar by the
promotion Of enterprises. which give prom
Use of money return, also appreciate the
attractions of railroad schemes. During the
past week there has been some talk of the
alleged intention of the Norfolk and West
ern railroad to make arrangements with
the road running between this city and
Round Hill. Va. so as to use the tracks
as far as Falls Church, at least and from
that point build a line to the Virginia side
of the Potomac opposite this city. 1t is
impossible to say what foundation there is
for this rumor, as those best posted won't
talk. The Norfolk and Western failed to
get the bill through Congress at the last
session authorizing its entrance into this
city, and IL has not been announced that
the attempt win be renewed at the present
session.
Then there Is talk of building an electric
road to Falls Church and surveys have
been almost completed for the route of an
electric road between this city and Balti-
more. There are several new street rail-
roads proposed to be built on the streets
OF the city, to say nothing of the proposed
extension of existing roads 1t is therefore
evident that the need for increased facili-
ties in the way of railroads, both inside
and outside OF the city. is looked upon as
sunclently imperative to warrant a return
upon the money invested in such enter
prises, otherwise IL would hardly be possible
that men could be found VINO would pc
Wiling to go into them.
Laughing Public Work.
There is not much outdoor work going
on here this winter. which is rather unusual.
because In this climate especially, when
there Is what Is known as an open winter.
building can be continued practically all
through the season. If there was work to
De done the building trades would be well
employed. Contractors who have a Job of
pudding here do not consult the calendar
10 determine whether the weather is SUIT
able for building. They rather look at
the thermometer and act accordingly. 1t is
therefore matter of a good deal Of sur
prise IN the building trades in this city that
the work on the new post office building
has not been pushed during the fine
weather that has prevailed. The workmen
are still more interested, for il is practically
the only job of work in the city. and if
those In charge saw fit good-sized army
or men could be earning their daily bread
on this building. 1t might be we'll for the
citizens central relief committee, which
Is interested In putting the idle people in
the city at work. to inquire at the office of
the supervising architect why more activity
Is not displayed in running up the walls of
the building. 1t Is true that the construc-
ton Of public buildings is proverbially slow,
but as this building Is located right under
the eyes of the supervising architect HIM
self he could correct the difficulty IL IL lies
In the department of superintendent, or,
In fact. In any other department Of the
work.
The Air We Breathe.
A system of ventilation which Is looked
upon as a tribe more satisfactory than the
oid-fashioned mode. which consists in OPEN
ing a window when it is too hot and clos
ing the door of the stove when 1t is too
cold. seems to be coming into use in the
buildings used for public purposes, and after
a while, perhaps, 1t will be introduced into
private residences. The indirect system of
heating and the general adoption of open
hreplaces In the rooms of private houses
have done much toward securing better
ventilation. There are ventilatins methods
beautiful in theory. which 1t is claimed
accomplish this purpose. but they do not
seem to have absorbed any large amount
of the confidence of the public, at least to
the extent of bringing about their general
use in private residences. good deal Is
done in this line in churches and in
school houses and in other places of public
assemblage and more might be done with
advantage to the public health. AS COM
pared with the old-fashioned methods the
new improved systems cost more money,
and so this consideration often outweighs
that of health.
Many Of the school rooms are supplied
with means of allowing the exhausted air
to escape, but in others 1t il necessary to
resort to the old style Of opening the win
dows. which results In an uneven tenn
perature throughout the room and exposes
the children to rather violent changes In
afmnSnharn N NO If oh hos
recently erected here's the Church of the
Covenant and the Gunton Temple Me-
mortal Church, provision is not only made
for filling the edifices with hot air, but also,
IL the occasion arises, cold air drawn from
above the roof can be thrown into the
auditorium with as much ease as the hot
air. There Is also an arrangement for
drawing the exhausted air from the audi
torium. Without the latter feature the
system serves a good purpose in making 1t
possible by the forcing of cold air into the
room to prevent the violent change in the
temperature which is bound to take place
where provision is made to prevent it.
The science of ventilation of buildings is
not as yet fully perfected in its practical
details, but enough has been accomplished
to make life more endurable for those who
have suffered from the bad and defective
ventilation of places of public assemblage
Hard Wood Finish.
The recent private residences that have
been put up mark the change that is talk
ing place in the style or interior decoration.
The fashion of using soft woods for the
finish of rooms and then painting in shades
to suit the general style of the decoration
of the walls and the furnishings is be-
coming more general. 1t is not supposed
that hard woods, which have been in such
common use for a number of years past
will be entirely given UP, for their practical
value for wainscoting and for other places
where the walls are liable to be knocked is
appreciated. Hard wood is still employed
for the finish of the first or parlor floor as
1t is called, but the general adoption of the
style of having the parlor in white and
gold is paving the way for the coming of
the soft woods back again to the principal
floor of the mouse. Already 1T Is supreme on
the upper floors and has been for some
years Fast in the higher class of residences
1t is thought that the interior finish of
houses has been overdone, that there is en-
tirely too much wood carving and screen
work and mantels laden with carving In
private residences, and that people want
something that is not quite SO obtrusive
and that is constantly forcing the visitor to
wonder how much II all cost. The influence
of the colonial style of architecture which
Is so popular just now, Is in the direction
OF simplicity of detail and plaiuness of out
line.
New Houses.
During the week Mr. c. W. Needham
began the erection of handsome three
story and basement dwelling, with man.
sard roof. at 1870 10th street northwest
The cost is to be $4,000.
Mr. Jacob Jones has commenced the con-