The Washington times., 1901-10-21
/ OBJECTS TO CONDITIONS.
The Capitol Architect FavOrs a
Detached Building.
Carrying ConI and Food Into the
Legislative Structure ObncSious-
Offices Needed for Coagrcssmen-
The Work OF Repair and Care.

The Work OF Repair ana tare.
Secretary Hitchcock has made public
the annual report OF the Architect Of the
United States Capitol, 10 the Interior De-
partment for the fiscal year ended June
30, 1901, relative to the care and repair OF
that structure. -s-.---s..
The report reproduces the joint resolu-
ton approved June 6. 1900 by Congress,
relative to the repairs of the rooms oc-
cupied at one time by the Congressional
Library. All the work authorized by the
resolution the report states, with the ex-
I ception of the space to be set apart for
use as reference library. was completed.
ard ready for occupancy in case of emer-
/ gency. one day before the meeting of
! Congress. Continuing, the report says:
I 1T was a work of some magnitude, con-
! sidsring the time allotted for its compile
! tion, and could never have been accom-
plished but for the unfailing interest of
foremen and employees, who devoted every
/ energy to its accomplishment.
The character of the resolution was
J extraordinary, inasmuch as the amount
appropriated was not specified, but was
set forth as the sum necessary The
! additional specification that the money
| should be expended under the direction
| of the Architect of the Capitol, left 1t to
! the discretion of that officer to provide
| everything which, in his Judgment. was
| fitting accessory to make that section of
/ the Capitol building as completes as pos
sible. What the generosity of Congress
has brought forth must be left to other
iu'e~--nt based on the work as islands
to-day What has been carried out has
a... one with the paramount idea to
r- -y, the sentiments and ideas of the
u.H and historic central building. For
.hrl rea son solid masonry is the rule.
Arches rornice, and holdings are copied
-rrn L-aae in other parts of the build
I ing. IL only remains to decorate the
rooms and committees of the House and
| Senate will be housed therein, it is hoped,
with pleasure and comfort"
! Under the head of annual repairs the
Supervising Architect says:
THE general repairs to the Capitol for
the last fiscal year amount to about 800
/ in number. of which about 47O are repairs
of minor character About 100 door frames
and windows have been painted, the win
dows being glazed wherever necessary.
All of the fireplaces and fiues in the build
ing oVerhauled, and plumbing work and
roof kept in good condition and the sky
light free OF leaks. 4 considerable amount
Of shelving was provided for the various
folding and document rooms throughout
the building. and several new doors and
frames made and put in place one OF
the most important branches of the work
has been the painting done throughout
the building.
AT a cost OF Si2. .65S. So, two new electric
elevators have been installed TO take the
pace OF the old elevators in the House
wing. These elevators were operated dur
.1,.
or two slight mishaps, which were of no
consequence, and did not affect the SAT-
! ETY. of the same. These mishaps were
due simply to inexpeIience in handling
! the new machinery. the completion of
! which was not effected until u few hours
| before the meeting o. Congress.
The working force of the engineer de-
! partment of the He use wing has been
/ increased by legislation, facilitating the
work of repairs and improvements. The
r:achinery OF this department was in con-
| stSnt operation during the past year
/ without accident In connection with his
/ work the chief engineer and his force
/ removed from the space over the ceiling
] of the House all old and unnecessary gas
pipes. The water supply in the House
/ wing was increased by connecting the
Z pressure tank Of one of the old hydraulic
{ elevators with the storage tank. The ele-
I VatOr tank referred to was one put out Of
I operation by the installation of the new
! electric elevators.
Under the appr )priation for steam
( heating and machinery in Senate the
( chief engineer reports a thorough over
! hauling of all machinery and Ventilating
appliances in his department He states
! that the air ducts in walls over the cell
! ing and under the Senate chamber have
/ been cleaned and whitewashed. The west
electric elevator was lifted with new ca
! bles thoroughly oVerhauled and repair
! ed OVerhauling and repairs were made
( to the hydraulic elevator landing near
! Senate restaurant. The control valves
! were renewed and new lining placed liz
| the main valve.
New return pipes have been run from
| the steam coils in the west terrace The
steam coil used for heating the office of
| the Secretary of the Senate, financial
| room, and public buildings and grounds
( was increased to twice Its former ca
/ pacity.
! The legislative bell system of the Sen
/ ate has been increased to cover the new
cOmmi tee rooms IN the old library space,
! and the old lines have been overhauled
/ and put in first-claSs condition. All gas
pipe and other pipes not in use over the
/ ceiling. Senate chamber. were removed 20
| the betterment of the conditions there.
! Formerly the Napor escaping from the hot
/ well Of the boiler room was let out near
| the balustrade on the Senate roof As it
| produced some annoyance a change was
! made whereby the vapOr now discharges
| In the main smokestack.
| "In previous reports | have called some
| attention to the subject Of heating and
| ventilation in this building. pointing out
/ the condition in the House wing which 1t
I was desired should be corrected. l am
/ happy 10 say that at the last session of
! Congress an appropriation was made for
I the ventilating of the House Of Repre-
scntatiyes, including the House restaur-
I ant At this writing the work is pro
/ crossing satisfactorily and every effort
will be made to correct the faults Of the
/ ola system.
! The commission appointed by the
House 10 supervise the expenditure Of the
! appropriation for ventilation has placed
! in the hands Of this office the procuring
! Of the new desks for the Hall Of the
/ House. II IS probable that a radical de
! p5rture Will be mace I'm the character Of
/ the desks for the han. and that much
! of the air distribution for the desks will
! he made through the appliances attached
/ to the desk body. The commission has
| already decided that the individual desk
that Is, desks running in "A solid body
from aisle to aisle. Ii is believed that
! this method Will ensure more comfort in
! the desk arrangements to individual mem
| bers and besides will provide a sufficient
number to accommodate the increase Of
| the membership of the House which will
| take effect two years hence.
! Congress has provided an appropria-
! central portion of the Capitol and this
work is now under way. AS Is well
1 known. the roof Of the entire central por-
| tion OF the building is of wood. covered
| with copper, and at the time of the Su-
preme Court lire was in great danger and
| barely escaped destruction. The new roof
| Will be ilreproof in character. and all
| wood construction will be avoided The
| plans. so far developed. are very salts
| factory. as the results will carry the roof
| rangement. This method will be in har-
| mony with the original plans of the late
| Thomas L. Walter and with any eXten-
| sions to the Capitol which may hereafter
IL 4