Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-02-02
FRESH AIR FOR THE HOUSE.
Its Need Was So Great That n Nll to
Remedy 1t Has Been Introduced.

It's Need Was So Great That n Dali to
Remedy 1t Has Been Introduced.
Persons who entered the House wing of
the Capitol today by way of the lower floor
were greeted by a most offensive odor,
which permeated the entire place. The air
reeked with fouiness, and although every
one asked what caused it no able
to answer beyond venturing the SUPPOSE
ton that it was due to the lack Of ventila
ton and an unusual accumulation of foul
air.
The air is always bad in the House wing,
but at times it is worse than at
others, and today was one of those occa-
sions. The senators have appropriated
enough money out of the public funds from
time to time to supply the Senate wing of
the Capitol with fresh air while senators
are engaged upon the nations business,
but members Of the House continue to SUI
fer from insufficient ventilation of their
part of the building.
The insanltary condition of the House
and it's corridors has caused Mr.. Skinner
to introduce the following resolution:
THAT the officer now by law in charge of
public buildings and grounds be instructed
to execute. without delay, in behalf of the
United States, with some reputable person,
firm or corporation now engaged in bust
ress as heating and ventilating engineers,
a contract for increasing and improving the
ventilation and heating of all that portion
of the Capitol known as the House wing,
ing: The contract shall require the intro
duction of fresh air at such rate as will
supply at least ten cubic feet thereof per
minute for each person present when the
various apartments herein included are
crowded, and the exhaustion of at least an
equal quantity of foul air from points in or
near the ceilings of said apartments. 1t
shall require all materials used to be of
such character as shall be suited to the ar
chitecture and finish of the building. The
apparatus, when finished and installed,
shall be tested by actual measurement of
the quantities of air exhausted and ad-
mitted. The fresh air shall be admitted
at such places, near the floors, and in such
direction, as shall avoid unpleasant and in
shall be capable of warming the air adj
mitted at the coolest season to a tempera-
ture of 20 degrees Fahrenheit.
THE contractor shall guarantee that the
apparatus installed shall well and success
fully accomplish the purpose herein set
forth or included in the contract. He shall
give bond in a sum sufficient to cover the
removal of the apparatus, should the same
not be successful. and the replacing of the
building in its present condition. OF the
sum to be paid for the work, be the same
more or less, one-fourtn shall be retained
and not paid until, ty actual test of meas
urement. the appc ratus is found to be sue
cessful and adequate.
Each proposing bidder shall be required
first tc refer the officer in charge of public
buildings and grounds to some work of
similar character successfully executed by
him on like plans and on a large scale. The
plans Of each bidder shall be completely
set forth in drawings attached to the pro-
posal. The construction and installation
the supervision of the officer herein in
Structed.'