Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-09-02
ARCHITECT CLARK'S REPORT
Tells Of the Work on the Capitol ant
Court House.

nouSes
Edward Clark. architect Of the Capitol.
submitted his annual report to the Secre-
tary Of the Interior this afternoon.
1t says: THE principal improvements
have been the extension of the platforms of
the hall of Representatives to give addi-
tional seating capacity for the increased
number of members. the extension CT the
Senate kitchen, the construction of addi-
tional coal vaults and the Encouragement
of the plumbing throughout the building.
The marble bust of Eldridge Gerry has been
received and added to the collection Of those
who have been Vice Presidents Of the
United States. The Senate kitchen las
been built under the pavement of the open
court at the east front; the coal vaults un-
der the pavement and grass plat at the east
front.
"The electric light system has been ex-
tended to the document room in the annex
of the Senate wing and to the various COM
mittee rooms; Again 1t is hoped that the
question of the governments owning the
electric light plant, instead of renting the
same, as at present, will be favorably con-
sidered.
AN unusual amount Of painting, plaster
ing and repairs has been made necessary by
the cutting of walls to permit the putting
In of the sanitary improvements. These are
set forth at length by Sanitary Inspector
NcOISc w dfIHiS, ne IOllOWln2 sum-
mary shows the amount of work lone in
connection with the sanitary improvements:
Galvanized steel piping, 5.l55 feet; plain
brass piping, 1.430 feet; nickel-plated brass
piping, rs feet; wash tubs 1g9; bath tubs
6: sinks, q: water closets, 81; urinals 81 In
the terraces steam coils have been placed
In the various corridors and rooms Conner
roofs have been built over the arches under
the north and south steps for the better
protection of the corridors below In the
grounds the artificial concrete walks have
been repaired and a quantity of asphaltic
roadway laid upon the west plaza. The
gravelwayS have also been repaired The
trees and shrubs have prospered Several
plants heretofore considered tender stood
last winter. Attention is called to the un-
slightly appearance of the lawn west of the
House wing. Each year that this improve
ment Is delayed will add to it's cost as the
public dumps to which the excavated ma
terial must be hauled are filling up In the
court house a toilet room has been fitted IN
at the room east of the Criminal Court for
the use of clerks. The wooden floor of the
western court room of the old building has
been extended. A platform for ,he Jury
and a witness box have been ,ddad
room at the south end of the cast wing ha 8
been prepared for the judges retiring room
The heating apparatus and other machinery
have been put in good condition The .x-
terror of the building is unsiyhtly for want
of paint and other repairs. At the botanic
garden two propagating houses and the cool
orchid house have been RECONSTRUCTED The
wings of the large conservatory nave been
reglazed and painted. A steam boiler has
been provided. General repairs have been
made to the heating apparatus of the gar
dens. New staging has been erected and
much other incidental work done. The
walks of the garden have also been repair
ed. At the Smithsonian Institute the main
roof has been thoroughly repaired and the
towers have been reroofed. The bay of
rooms at the southeast end Of The cellar
story are being rendered available for Office
purposes by lowering the floors, underpin-
ming the wall and enlarging the windows
The plumbing and drainage have hesn re-
arranged. The files room of ;he Court of
Claims. the erection of which was author
lied by the last Congress, has been COM
pleted."