The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1902-05-29

Few of the many thousands Of people
who visit the PostoG7ce Building see or
know anything Of the extensive power
heat and light producing plant in the
basement II Is one Of the best IN the
world. and. perhaps. the most attract
i've plant Of tho kind IN tins country.
Tie Postofice Building IS a model il al
respects. and the basement is up 10
any part Of It in beauty and utility
Mr. James O-DonneU Is the chief en-
gineer Of the Postofce Building. He
has been IN engineer for thirty years
and understands everything about the
business, from making a fire to heating
the biggest thing built OF lighting
city He has a large corps Of subordi-
mates and commands them well Nr.
ODonneH organized the fine system row
prevailing IN the new building. and hzs
done great things since the department
was moved into the building 70 1898
NT 0-DonneII brought the steamer T
Y ATrowsmith here from the shop and
pulled in the Jane M0seIy IN 1916. when
he was working for the old Inland Com
pa1y- he was a marine engineer Tor
many years. and has handled some Of
the largest vessels afcat He was the
chief engineer for the old Potomac Nav
iCation Company He took the Excel
siOr ont Of the shops in Wilmington.
There are about $500 electric lights ia
the Postoflce Building There are eight
hydraulic elevators and three electric
elevators. Apparatus to displaCc hot
air. machines 10 fan cold air and pow
erTuI devices for dIterlng and forcing
water are IN the basement
The plant runs continuously and three
shifts are employed. The principal boil
ars are in four batteries They are 100
horsepower horizontal tubular boilers.
AMI have automatic Roney slokers- They
are about the most complete things 90
ing feeding themselves with coal and
destroying their own smoke.
The heat IN the basement used 20 be
terrific but now safe and pleasant ten
perature is maintained by the use Of an
paratus that has the capacity 10 dis
place $4,000 cubic feet of not air Colo
air is furnished from both sides Of the
building and IS pumped through by pow
erfuI machines. There are screens near
he outer walls 70 prevent particles from
drifting n and the air furnished VIII
stand any test Of purity TeUperinE
coils are used to furnish the employees
Of the city postoffice with any SORT Of
air they want The air dispensing ma
chimes are Of the 25-horsepower va
riety.
-Four 25o-hOrsepowe- machines fur
nish the lights and motive power.
These dyGamos are the admira ton Of all
visitors and their nciseiess- even work
and perfect service are the delight of
those skilled in the business
In case of fire the pressure on the wa
ter 10 Il
ty-fTe pounds 10 the inch 70 $50 POUNDS
in haif minute, The machine is auto
matte and cuts of the house service and
transfers power and water 70 the fire
lines. There are auxiliary pumps in
case of prolonged trouble or serious
spread Of fire. Elevators are run 10y
ludlow machines
The temperature of the building j.
kept ar about seveuJy-fve degrees the
year round The Indicators and gauges
OF the temperature and water systems
are in the dice Of the chief engineer
There is a system Of automatic control
by which the temperature n any par
Of the building can be regulated from tho
chiefs Office.
The Postofice Building attracts about
as much attention as any Of the Govern
meut buildings and the light power and
water plant is fully Up TO the rest Of the
building Tie men who run IL are as
zood in their lines as are the men w
stairs who manage the finest system iT
he world.
Capt. Warner White. chief Of the
western division Of the Pension Office.
has returned 10 his desk after an alb
sence Of several weeks. Captain VII
hEra has been IL poor health for several
mont hs- but remained al his post until
The collapse came He comes back much
improved IN health. and his subordinate
are delighted at the Improvement. He
was at Atlantic City for the greater
part of his stay
a State Department clerk addicted &c
research has found evidences all along
the way Of historical records that it has
always been considered that Cuba and
the United States +. ere 10 be closely
allied Predictions that the island was
one day 10 be part OF the Union are
found everywhere In an article headed
.pirarias Near the Cuban Coast the
National intelligence" II Nay, 1923
said
The future destination Of Cuba can
Eof be undressing 10 the people OF the
United States. and there is greater
evil than II being politically and terri
-artaIIy connected with the United
states. though we hope the necessity
-or such p connection. should il ever oc-
Cur. IS far distant