Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-02-23
The Relation of House Construction
to the Climate.
EFFECT CT qHE RECENT COLD SNAP
Spreading Broadcast Valuable In
formation About the City.
SOME IMPROV ENTS

er COMMON amCng residents of the city that
houses as constructed in this city are
adapted for higher temperature than
Washington has recently experienced. With
but few exceptions citizens found 1t inlpos-
s.b!, 20 maintain a temperature that was
comfortable at all times, and while this
result may be due in part to inadequate or
detective heating apparatus, still it re-
mains true that the builder of the average
house In this cisy has in view less arctic
winter than has been the character of the
present one.
In a northern climate more attention is
paid to certain details of building than is
the case farther south. For example, where
blasts of winter are remembered in the
building season, provision is made for dou-
Bile ssShes and the thoughtful brick or
stone mason is apt to 50 carefully lay the
mortar beneath the Sill of door or window
that the opening is completely closed and
there is no opportunity for the cold air 10
tind an entrance. In extreme weather such
apertGrcs although apparently insignificant.
nave great zeal TO 90 with the tempera-
tIra OF d room. Where such precautions
are not adopted IL is almost impossible to
sit near window in cold weather. The
same care is exercised n regard to the
Gor-s ana other uTen.n IS
There Is probably another difference be-
tween private house built in this latitude
ana one farther north in that the heating
aI.aratuS IN The former is calculated to
90 d less amount Of work There is no
question bat that in the construction of the
otiter walls house is built as substantially
and with much care in this city as in
any city in the north. in fact, il may be
said that the character of the building
here is superior. for the reason that our
bus l!r. regulations are in points of con-
str:c,.oE calculated to produce better re-
suits.
Frozen Gas and Water>Pipcs.
Perhaps the greatest inconvenience dur
Ing tie recent cold weather experienced by
huuseholiers arose from the freezing OF
the water ana gas PIPES. 1t was found
that IN h.sny eases The service pipes, espe-
cially fer water, were buried only about
a foot beceHth the ground. In ordinary
seasons st that depth they would have been
out OF the reach OF Jack Frost, but the
present proved to be an exceptional season
and consequently The pipes fell within the
clutches of the frost king.
In nOItEern ATTITUDES il would not have
been thought of for a moment to leave
pipes at such a shallow depth, but here 1T
can be done with impunity and probably
there WI not be a similar freeZe-up In
years % come. These unusual spells OF
weather are apt to influence the builder
during the season following, 10 adopt extra
precautiors about the protection of pipes
frcm the weather. and consequently any
suggestion on sanitary grounds for plac-
ing the pipes outside of the house is apt
to be rejected ON account of this apprehen-
sion.
large number of houses in the city
however are so constructed that all p'9es
connecting with the sewer run up outside
of the house. This is done so as TO prevent
the bad results of an accidental leak era
in order that the pipes may be examined
at any time during their entire length.
Al ingenious plan is in operation in one
residence by which the pipes from the
dressing rooms attached to the bed rooms,
containing only such fixtures as bathtub
ard a stationary wash basin. are carried
down ard brought out through the wall
of the house three or four feet from the
area pavement. where there IS sewer trap
In this way there is no direct connection
with the sewer. and bathing facilities can
be attached to bed rooms without the lear
of conta gion from sewer gas
Posted About the city.
Facts about the city. its government
and its relation to the general government
are getting a more thorough circulation
through recent publications. The Star
almanac gives valuable data and the board
OF trade has brought together in con-
venient handbook a good deal of informt.-
ton. Believing that the members OF the
next House VIII have more opportunity 10
learn about the District and their relations
10 il in the quiet of their homes than in
the ghirI of public life, the secretary of
the board. Mr.. John b. Wight, has caused
to be mailed to each member of the new
House a copy of the boards handbook.
He has also written a letter to each one
calling his attention to the handbook.
and also to the fact that as members of
the House they are the representatives of
the people of the District.
Information of this kind, thoroughly di-
gested by members of Congress, would
save an immense amount of time. il is
thought and would render unnecessary
the campaign of education which IT seems
must be inaugurated at the opening of
each new Congress in order that the men,
bers should be prepared to vote even the
legislation
the opinion that the bulk of the opposition
and criticism about the District which is
heard annually is the result of ignorance
rather than actual hostility to the District.
OF course. there are some members of the
House who. for the sake of political capt.
tai. array themselves in opposition to the
interests of the District, but these are
comparatively few in number. and their
opposition may be expected even under the
most favorable conditions.
Some New Houses.
Sidney Foster will erect three houses on
North Capitol street between and e
streets northeast from plans prepared by
N. L. HalIer, architect. They will be three
stories and cellar. 2UXiJ, with fronts OF
Hummelstown stone and bun brick, square
and octaSon bays. The same architect has
designed block of six residences he Will
build for himself on Willard street between
1Ith and 18th streets. They are TO be three
stories and cellar. lSxfU with bases and
front OF bun brick, square and octagon
bays.
Plans are being made for nine two-story
and cellar ana one thTee-story and cellar
dwellings, that D. b. Groft Will build at
the corner OF Sd and + streets northeast.
They are TO have frontage OF l6 feet by
depth OF II and % feet, respectively, and
VIII also have square bays, Hat and pedi-
ment Hnish, preSS-brIck and brown-Stone
fronts.
block OF thirty-one houses Will be built
on Quincy street between LIST and North
Capitol streets by W. L. Hopkins.
Garfield Hospital Buildings.
Plans are being prepared by a. +. Clark.
Jr.. architect. Tor several buildings soon
to be erected at Garfield Hospital. The
principal of these is an annex of brick and
stone, three stories and cellar, 10, thor
ouEhly nre-proof. 1t Will be used for serv-
ants quarters, and Will have completely
equipped laundry. dining room, general
kitchen, nurses training Kitchen ice stor-
age room. steam d1SInfecting plant, power
lifts and other modern conVeniences. An
other building, one story, JDXJU, also of
- u