The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-01-14
lights IN THE CAPITOL
Enormous Electrical Plant in the
Big White Building,
Su iiicient Power Could Re Drawn
From 1t to supply IA City of Fifty
Seventeen Thousand Incandescent
Lights, il Worked TO Full Capacity.

Hidden away in the depths of the Capt.
tol is an electrical plant which not one in
thousand visitors to the great building
ever sees OF hears Of II is one of the
most complete of its kind in the world 1t
could supply light to the average city Of
$4,000 population without employing its
full capacity. Its function is to supply the
Capitol with lights and with power for
elevator service. and it forms one Of the
most interesting mechanical exhibits in
country
This model plant could not be duplicated
by an individual or corporation for less
than $20O. 00O It's component parts are
models Of their respective classes. There
are engines with total of 5000 horse
power. gigantic boilers and dynamos and
powerful steam pumps Two of the dy-
names have a combined capacity of 6.00O
incandescent lights, and two more of equal
range are being installed. It would cost
the ordinary electric light company s16,-
600 10 secure one Of these monster ma
chimes, and the cost OF installation would
be additional When the new engines are
ready this electrical combination Will be
capable OF generating $500 amperes. The
ordinary sixteen candle power fncandescent
light is the equivalent OF half an amrere
II is calculated by C. P. Glen. Supe-in-
tendelt of Lighting of the Capitol that
the plant viii light Il GOO incandescent
lamps when worked to its full capacity
There are $50 arc lights distributed about
the building and grounds which are also
supplied by II. This information, given a
few days ago TO the committee that is to
supervise the illumination Of the Capitol
and other public buildings in inaugural
week, brought cut the interesting fact
thai this outfit of electrical machinery
which serves a single building. has nearly
hail the power for incandeScent service Of
the United States Electric Lighting Com
pany, which has monopoly in its line in
the District OF Columbia. This company
can supply u, eco amPeres or IS, c00 in
candescent lights
This comparison may lead the reader 10
ask why the Capitol should require such
extensive and costly means of light and
power Well, it's a big building, TO begin
with Its counterpart cannot be found
on this continent It covers an area of
l53.112 square feet. II has more rooms
and corridors and underground and attic
chambers than any man connected with il
can count. Only the other day room
was discovered that had not been opened
since 1866 It's existence has been for
gotten by all save an ancient darby who
has been employed in the building for the
last fifty years He recalled the fact that
it had been used as hospital for Union
soldiers. 4 dilapidated blue uniform coat
hanging OF the wall was mute evidence of
the former occupancy OF the apartment
Thousands of lights are kept burning all
day in rooms and corridors OF the Capitol
that are in constant use. The lower rooms
would be untensble without artificial
light Few rooms of the hundreds occu-
pied for committee and administration
purposes have sufficient natural light
Even IL the press galleries lights are
burning most OF the time in the winter
season.
Electric lights were first introduced in
the Capitol about thirteen years ago.
Prior to that time gas had been the iIlu-
miEant, and the Capitol was gloomy and
flied with bad OdoFs- An exhibition plant
was installed in the basement of the Sen
ate wing in 1886, with the understanding
that II should be operated without cost 10
the Government. After year or TWO the
Senate agreed 10 pay an annual rental,
the plant TO be used only when the body
was IN session SOOu afterward the House
. CuLIDEl LtQ the INSTALLATION OF engines and
dyIamos for It's own use. The first ma
chincry was unsatisfactory and was or
dered 10 be removed, but the contracting
companies made necessary alterations and
the growth OF the electrical system il the
! building became assured
IN 1895 the Government installed four
/ l4-Inch compound engines and four 10
/ kilcwatt generators of 1855 lights each
( The following year three-thousand light
machine was added to the Senate equip
/ ment. Persons who were in the habit OF
! visiting either chamber before that year
( remember the cracking sound that an
/ nOunced the lighting of the gas 10 The
attics directly above the ceilings. This
I was caused :. : the electric lighters thai
/ mad been employed for many years, and
! we're considered TO be a great improve
ment- One sitting in the galleries could
/ trace the spark as Il ran along the hun
| dreds OF gas jets. This system gradually
gave way 10 one entirely electric. IN 1885,
. a three Thousand light machine was erect
ed in the House side of the Capitol Two
more are now being installed, one on cacY
side.
The new dynamos are of what is known
/ as the direct connected engine type. The
/ shaft OF the armature and engine is il
! one piece. Obviating tke use of the hexi-
bic coupling and shortening the machine
/ four feet While the machinery Of thu
two houses Of Congress IS placed $50 fee
apart. it is connected by switchbords auC
can be operated as a unit.
Besides supplying lights the engines arr
/ employed 70 run seven electric elevator.
and the yentilating apparatus Of the Sen
are, and also 70 supply the current fol
the graphOphOnes used by the official re
pOrters of the Senate and House. Sine
the experimental days there has not bael
recorded a single breakdown Of the ma
chineTy- The system under which it i
operated is faultless- The growth of III
service has kept pace with the demand 70
power and undoubtedly II Will be inCreas