Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-04-30
BAD VENTILATION.
What Experts Say Of the system EN-.
ployed I'm the House.

For several weeks a surgeon from the
marine hospital and a sanitary expert from
the Treasury Department have been making
an examination of the ventilating system
of the House. with the object Of ascertain
ing II the supply of air Is defective, or II
the ventilation Is poor. and to recommend
such changes In the present system as are
necessary.
The experts reported to the House COM
mittee on ventilation and acoustics today
that the ventilation Of the House is decid-
edly bad the system imperfect, and that
foul air Is present in a degree likely to
er danger health. Dr. Kinyoun of the ma
rlne hospital service made his report to
the committee.
First. He described the chemical tests
which he had made Of the composition of
the air which occupants of the hall Of the
House and the galleries breathe.
He had found various impurities in the
air OF varying degrees of intensity at DIFF
ferent times. The air in the cellar was
worse than anywhere else, caused by de-
composing matter in different places. This
foul air reaches the basement and subse-
quently the hall of the House. The ventila-
ton of the water closets and bath rooms Is
defective. The method of introducing the
air into the hall OF the House through
gratings in the floor Is exceedingly faulty
The air Is compelled to pass over masses
of filth, as the grating is ideal dirt trap.
Under the grating is collected expectora-
ton, sweepings, cigar stumps and refuse
of all kinds. The air which the people
breathe is compelled to filter through this
masr and carries upward the bacteria and
disease germs. Illuminating gas from leaky
fixtures also communicates the atmosphere
When the galleries are full the foul air gen.
Grated in them is. by the present system,
| carried down on the floor of the House
DR.. Kinyoun recommends frequent sanitary
inspections. and that the ventilating ma
chinery be run continuously, that fresh
air can be supplied the hall during the
night.
Mr.. Adams Opinion.
Mr.. Henry Adams, the sanitary expert
from the Treasury Department reported
that the method Of getting the air into the
building is all right. The trouble arises
after the air reaches the building and Is
distributed, and this trouble Is serious
one. The cellar Of the Capitol Is practically
not ventilated. The only pure air reaching
the cellar is that which comes in from
windows and doors, and the only escape
for foul air is through the elevator shafts
and stairways of the building whence n
goes to contaminate the atmosphere of the
basement corridors and the hall of the
House.
He estimates that 100000 cubic feet per
hour Of foul air is distributed through the
basement and halls from the cellar The
foul air is generated in the cellar By the
vast quantities of decomposing matter
from the storage of books condemn ed pron
erty, wood and rubbish.
Mr.. Adams was vigorous in his denunc ta =
ton Of the method of introducing air into
the hall Of the House through the gratings
on the floor. He demonstrated that these
gratings are cuspidors and dumping pla ces.
upon which decomposing matter of ali kinds
collects. and through which every cubic
FOOT OF air that is breathed must pass The
system is defective and should no longer be
used He recommended dispensing with the
plan or distributing air through the floor
and using the downward system. that IL
the Introduction of air from above
The committee will take the reports of the
experts under consideration, and will decide
al future meeting what action to recon-
mend.