The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-11-21
New System of Ventilation
-...~ Just Completed.
OLD FLOOR ALSO REMOVED
Air Will be Forced Up by Fans
and Heated in Winter.
WILL BE COOLED IN SUMNER
esuner;ntendent Woods Tells of Ar
grangsments--Eiect Lights Re-
ggs place Gas, and Ceilings Scrap
n: ed and Neatly Painted.

- ed and Neatly Patnteu.
Washington, Nov. 20.-lf the mem
bers of the Enited States Senate nnd
fault with the temperature and ventlia-
ton of their quarters at the Nauonal
Uapitel ia the future il will not be be-
cause Architect Edward Clark and ms
efficient superintendent, Elliott WOODS,
have not made an earnest effort during
vacation time to please them.
Before Congress adjourned last June II
appropriated $4,000 for new ventllat-
ing system in the Senate Chamber, be
sides new floors for the room and galier-
les, and new furniture. This has prae-
ficalIy been completed, and only shght
details remain to be finished. Ia regard
to the work, Superintendent Woods SAID
yesterday:
''The old yentilating system, devised by
Gen. Meiggs, for the Senate Chamber
has been removed, and q new and I'M
proved system of the same kind has
replaced it, under plans prepared by
Prof. s. III. Woodbridge. The horiZontai
gratings on the floor which supplied ar.
have been taken out, and now part OF
the air will pass through the legs of the
Senator's desks, besides the iron gratlngs
in front of the steps, in front of the Pres
idents desk, and also IN the galleries.
All of the old benches have been remoy-
ed with opera chairs, having yentilating
legs. These will supply air, which will
envelop the body of the occupant. This
movement of air is so slight, and the
movement the same everywhere IN the
Chamber, that no evil effects will be
caused by it. 1t goes Qnt at the ceiling
and through the roof. The constant ris-
ing of pure air from the floor and the
exit Of the impure air from the roof VIII,
exueeted, keep the Senate Chamber
perfectly ventilated.
sUnder the new arrangement IT was
necessary TO remodel the whole OF the
floor structure, as well as that OF the
gallery. the flooring being laid on iron
frames.
EXHAUST TAN IN THE TERRACE
an the terrace provision is made for
yentilating the corridors by an exhaust
fan at the northwest corner, which opens
into tie shruhbery The ventilation OF
the corridors in the Senate wing is eff
fected by suitable fan IN the north
side of the Senate attic. The ventilation
of the Supreme court has also been some
what changed by the substitution OF new
Aeating coils, a new ventilating fan,
and the Encouragement Of the air diffus-
ers on the floor.
sarhe machinery required for this work
comprises two fans, each ten feet iii di-
ametcr, in the Senate basement, each
driven by an eighteen-horse power elec-
trie meteor directly connected with the
shaft OF the fan, which will make 160
revolutions o minute. Each fan can sup
ply 10000 cubic feet of air n minute. The
fan in the terrace is FIVE feet in diameter,
and also operated by motor with the
velocity of 300.reyolutions a minute. The
principal outlet for the air is over the
document room, where a fan eight feet
in diameter running in vertical outlet
in the roof is driven by a vertical motor
of eight horsepower with direct connec-
ton with the fan. This fan will exhaust
10000 cubic feet Of air a minute The
corridor fan IS four feet in diameter and
is driven by connected electric motor
that has q capacity to exhaust all the foul
air I'm the corridors and stairways.
"An important point in ventilation is
the temperature Of the air and its con-
troll All Of the steam coils in the base
ment have been rebuilt to effect this pur-
pose The mir supplied by large fans to
these coils for the purpose Of committee
rooms ventiating reaches the coils at q
temperature Of 60 degrees. The coils
can raise the temperature to 10 degrees
or more. In each committee room and
at peinfs in the corridors and Senate
chamber is placed thermostat which
operates for each particular point
pneumatic damper.
DAMPER CONTROLS TWO OUT
LET'S.
"fFflis damper controls two outlets, one
directly from the hot air Of the coil, and
the other the supply from the G0-degree
air. If the temperature at any particu-
lar point rises above 20 degrees the ther-
mostat relieves the air pressure on the
damper, which closes the hot air flute and
opens the cold-air flute, and the tempera-
ture falls. When this is i'll operation the
temperature does not vary more than one
degree. All of the dampers are controlled
by an air pump and tank in the Senate
Basement with outlets of lead tubing
reaching thermostats in different parts Of
the building. The refrigerator which win
be nsed in summer TO cool the Senate
chamber, viii be put into position during
the winter The cold air from it will be
forced through the same apartments that
in winter is used to heat the place When
Congress meets the Senate chamber viii
be in readiness
eve have done much in the way of pro-
viding suitably for the Capitol build
ing and grounds continued Supt. Woods.
"The electric light is now being extended
wherever needed. the plant has been in
creased by the installation of a new en-
CINE and generator Of capacity to fur
nish 1000 lights in the Senate basement.
adjoining the dynamo in use. All Of the
gas light in the Capitol grounds will be