Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-09-05

Wnlch they VIII De furnlShed give SOOQ
idea of the improved appearance that the
hall will present when the overhauling
process under way shall have been
fully completed
What was a few weeks ago one of the
most primitive and sn.iquated legislative
chambers in the civilized world will be
charged into perhaps the most modern one,
equipped with a multitude of devices and
c0nvenienceS that no. only fully abreast
of the day. bat considerably in advance of
It. Aged and wh:tc-hairei Senators, like
the venerable Morrill, Of Vermont. who has
occupied seat n the chamber for thirty
years may be led 20 wor,ler somewhat
when they first see it's newly acquired
sLleHdOrs- And the younger and more fes-
tive Senators. whose eyes so often revert
to the galleries 70 catch the smiles and
glances of their fair occupants, will see the
Spectators. not crowded in old painted
wooden benches as OF yore, but seated
lt,Nuriously in rising tiers OF opera chairs
richly cushioned and upholstered in dark
red leather, AMI constructed after unique
design.
They will See the walls renewed and
lrSSh and at night the chamber will be
Illuminated brilliantly with beautiful clus-
tiers OF 1ncandeScent electric lights above
the tinted glass ceilings. and not only in
IN" galleries. but on the Senate floor, every
body VIII be more comfortable by reason
reconstruction. heating and ventilation of
the restored chamber. AS stated hereto
fCr' in The Star. the temperature in sum-
r!er VIII be kept cool and equable by means
OF coid-Storage system. and at all times
ann seasons the personal comfort and well
lar" OF the Senators will be promoted by
TIE best modern agencies that money can
buy And thus greater Inducements and
Incentives than ever will be present to
prompt aspiring statesmen to attempt to
break into" the United States Senate.
The Chamber DismnntIed
Just now the old chamber, that has not
been materially changed for forty years
is completely Quilted. and the interior is
flied with confused litter of mingled
bricks. mortar. lumber, iron and flying
Gust The entire floor and all the brick
walls and piers beneath il have been taken
OUT , De replaced by new iron floor top
PSI ny wooden one of cherry. The home
~ o!d-faSHioned galleries have been utter
y demolished, and will be superseded by |
handsome balconies like those of orr hest
Gp-tc-oiate theaters. The seating capacitv
OF the old galleries accommodated 5O0 |
PEoPif. nut IN" arrangement of the benches |
d. ii."StSs Resulted in jarming and disorder
!! cfoWdlng on great field days There will |
Dc oliy iD chairs in the new galleries hut
e2ch one viii be sort of reserved scat
ara v hen they have all been filled the limit |
OF "artcltF cannot be stretched and tbs
oyercroHding will be avoided ~
lheSe gallery chairs will he ram,rL,h,
rom Inc TACT that they are to he sunnIia5 |
with an original ventiIati0e device ~
chair will have two mahogany los or 90.
por's and under these. forming a mart If |
tiie ieSs VIII De an apparatus for difrusinp
an tfuabie current of fresh air of the ripht
temperature in and around the cIoth HING 81
body of the occupant. This air viii he
supplied continuously from shafts unaar-
meath the floor. and will be sfte1 evenly
I'm I'm apertures in the supports. so that |
there VII be no drafts. The cost of these
ventilated chairs will be $4,000 or s31
apiece The Senator's mahogany desks
down on the Senate floor will also be fitted |
with similar ventilators.
Plan for Ventilation.
The ventilation scheme is elaborate and |
ingenious 1t is now being carried out I'M
uer 'he direction OF the architect Of the
Capitol, Mr.. Edward Clark, in accordance
WIN scieh'ihc plans prepared by Prof s.
H. Woodbridge. professor of phys,ca IN
the Massachusetts Institute of Tsc,,oI,,,,
al BOSTON The need Of improved ycnriIs
uoh IN the Senate does not strike the aver
ass visitor in the galleries as urgent hut
ever since one lordly and reverend Son
etor. d few years ago. removed one of bis
summer shoes to ease a lacerated toe and |
placed the wounded foot on a colla1p 1es
desk, there has been deal of joking In !
the Senate on the subject of ventilation
and there are officials in the Senate who
remark that the present ventilation pro- |
ject is the sequel Of that jocular and good
First cold storage plant to cost $4,000. |
VIII be established in the terrace at the |
west front OF the Capitol. II will be ope- |
rated by the usual ammonia process and |
VIII include refrigerating machine a tank |
an lnsulator and an engine. Exceedingly |
cold brine will be supplied to the air In |
the system of air ducts reaching from the |
terrace TO the distributing shafts This
will abstract the humidity from the air
and reduce Its temperature and can be |
controlled so that the requisite supply of |
cool air can be given to the Senate even
IN the most torrid Washington summer
weather. Associated with this cold storage |
plant will be fresh air and steam heating !
systems The steam heating plant In the
Senate basement is undergoing recon- /
struction. and suitable ARRANGEMENTS viii
be provided to furnish this steam heated
air to automatic fans at definite TEMPER
ature- The old fans and steam engines
have been removed, and newer and more
efficient fans will be substituted, to be
driven by electric motors directly connect
ed with the shaft fans.
Where They Get Air.
The pure outside air supplied to the
steam heating coils will be brought from
the stone tower at the northwest section
OF the Capitol grounds, and. after being
properly warmed will be difrused through
the heating shafts. The temperature will
be regulated by a special automatic device.