The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-07-28


modern neth0ds Of ventilation anu liu-
mnation. Inc last sundry civii Di1 con.
tanned an Appropriation OF $oJ.vp 10 DC
expended on ghc Improvement OF the ven
tiation of the Scna.e wing, including inc
installation Of refr,gerating apparatus IN
accOtdance with plans submitted Oy lrof.
=. II. NoocDridgc TO tile senate COM
mittee on rules ana aiso an approp,ia'
tion OF <iJ,v~ for an extension oil the
electro hgnt plant at the capitol
Contracts Tor the performance OF these
works are now being let, ami BY the ISL
OF August all OF the WORK Will have been
apporuOned ana the actiye operations be-
gan. 10 IS confidently expected that
everything viii bee nnishcd long before
the meeting OF Congress N December.
ana wren the Senate reasSembles ~ VIII
iind itsef housed more comfortably ~
ever before. with great abundance OF
pure an aud with electric lights in place
OF the oid-fasnIoncd gas Jets between
the roofs. that have 80 long been a source
OF annoyance and even oil danger.
The plan Of ventilation ncccsLt lies the
entire removal or the present nOOrng OF
the Senate chamber ana the substitution
OF a new flooring OF cherry. The brass
semi-circles that now bound the various
tiers or terraces for seats surrounding the
Vice Presidents chair Will Doe cut down.
so that the vcutilating apparatus viii
only be on the vertical places instead or
both the horizontal and vertical. as az
present This viii add to the cleanliness
OF the space beneath the noor through
which thu air from the Nentilating fans
Is forced This AIR Will How through mo
brass binding from the vertical faces aud
also from the NentilatOrs on the walls. IN
addition, the legs OF each desk VIII DE
connected by pipes with the air chamber
and streams of air will meet beneath the
desks from opposite directions. Thus al
possible drafts Will be ncutrailIed. aud
there will be a greater supply OF fresh air
than could bee obtained through the low
or Ventilators.
The same system will be applied in
the galleries which are t0 boz rented with
opera chairs instead Of the benches now
I'm Use Each chair will Dee ventilated
through tho legs with neutralzng drafts
beneath the seat. as IN the case Ot the
desks II has been estimated that the
seating capacity of the gallery Instead OF
being reduced. would really he increased
by this plan Of giving TO each person
separate seat. and order can he nreserf-
81 in the galleries much more eifectuaily.
The work OF changing the system or IL
Illuminating will proceed simultaneously
with that Of installing the new yentilating
system Gas Will be abandoned entirely
and electricity will take us place. Around
the edge Of the ceiling about five feet
from the wall rs "A series OF ornaments
i'm relief representing wreaths encircling
large, silt stars. This is All in metal,
and the plan rs 20 place at each OF thesa
stars group Of ircandescent lights
thought that this system Will give an am
shielded by moons of ground glass. 10 Is
pie Illumination 10 the galleries, ana pro
I1nIA u
ter is not well enough lighted by moons
IL is designed 10 place group OF lamps
AZ the corners Of the great squares that
form the ceiling The stained glass roos
is supported by framework Of metal,
and there are enough points OF interser-
tiOn where these lights could Doe con-
ycnienty and artstically placed 10 give
a MOST brilliant illumination 10 every part
OF thu chamber.
Not only will the light be more gener-
Gus and pleasing than the old gas light,
but b. will he easier 20 manipulate. ~
present. when II is desired 20 llgnt me
chamber M night or during sudden speh
OF darkness In time Of storm, TOT instance.
there is always considerable delay while
tho orders for turning on tho gas pass
through the official channels ana the piu-
per fmctionary makes his way 10 the
lighting apparatus. Even after the eie'-
trio spark that ignitcs the gas mas htth
turned ON il is necessary lot Mtt 10
20 through the entire roof with lishteu
taper 10 set ahlaZe the scores or Jets ilat
did not ignite from the spark. lhdtt
the system about 10 be Installed the en-
tire chamber can be Hooded Win hsnl
within quarter OF minul" ailri tln
presiding officer. who Is usually th' lul-e
Of such matters. decides tnht li ~ l"P
dark 10 proceed further without arllhciat
illumination. mn,
Another gain would De slfeir. inc gas
.ienItcs with n considerable explosion,
that sometimes jars loose the glass panels
I'm the ceiling and ON more than one o,
casion fragments of glass have been nuli-
eg to the floor and serious actluthli
havr been narrowly ayerted.
IN rebuilding the floor of the senate pc
will boz possible TO gain five inches IN
the width of each of the tiers OF seats
without taking away any OF me 'htlr
room, behind the desks. Thus there VIII
H. a total gain of twenty inches, Whlch
viii be utilized I'm short time ny the
addition of short row OF desks al ~"
eonthoast and southwest corners OF me
chamber. and thus Increasing thc scat
ing capacity OF the Senate chamber IT,
sef. t,,t
This is an important matter ln"Smuct
as the admission or new Slt''1 - ~
sfautlv making demands upon inc 'apI,l-
~ of the senate chamber as Wen as t.e
House o. Representatives. ana new S'ii-
tors are inclined to protest agal-l u,lNI
placed al the extreme ends or ln' 7'ii'
circle. greatly preferrng the seats on
the curves from whicn they can Nl'l'
easflv obtain recognition. lh Itihp''Nll'
tho chamber h Is UNDERSTOOD lnat 'Hi'
will be- taken 10 provide only anou, lWo
sofas qt the walls for the accommodfiloN
of visitors who are entitled to the pnFl-
loge of the floor. This u ls tnoush1
viii tend 20 greatly decrease the ate
tendance Of committee clerks and otncf.
who use their privileges 90 crowd DID upon
the floor when sfncs ot more thth
usual interest are being enacted Ihs
has always been a source of great aus
noyance % the Senate. and 10 Is hoped ny
the officials that this opportunity may De-
seized 10 abate the nuisance. Nashlns-
ton S.ar.