Evening star., 1904-01-30
LIGHT, HEAT AND AIR
.
Three Problems That Have
Been Met at the Capitol.
SYSTEMS DESCRIBED
MODERN SCHEMES IN A VERY
ANCIENT STRUCTURE.
An Interesting Visit to the Dynamo
and Ventilating Rooms at
Home of Congress.

To bring a building which is more than
one hundred years old UP to the modern re-
quirements of luxury and the modern
standard of scientific treatment in the mat
ter of light, heat and ventilation, is the
gigantic task which has been dealt with
by the officers charged with the admins
tration of the domestic affairs of the nation
al Capitol during the past several years. Of
course, all of the Capitol building as it ex-
lists to day is not of the antiquity mention
ed above. The building has been developed
from time to time into its present magnifi-
cence as the nation has grown. but none
of it, practically speaking, has been con-
structed since the moro recent ideas of
architectural comfort-giving devices have
held sway. Therefore to take the integral
parts of the colossal old structure and plan
and scheme so as to make it not only COM
Portable but model of twentieth century
systems or domestic appliances has been
task indeed The work of transforming the
building has been fraught with unusual
success. however and much of the present
contentment and comfort on the part of
senators and representatives. whether they
be within their committee rooms or their
respective chambers Is largely due to the
efnclent administration and the progressive
ideas of Mr.. Elliott Woods who has been
associated with the architectural office at
the capitol for many years and is at pres
ent the Superintendent of the revered ma
tional structure.
1t is long cry from candles and kero-
sene to the glowing filament of the modern
electrlc pulb. The changes are equally
radical and interesting between the time
OF the Old Wood-burning stove and the lat
tef-day system of steam blown Zepbyrs
that keep the temperature of the Capitol
at an ideal figure, while at the same time
bringing to the innermost rooms ozone
laden air drawn from the towers that stand
isolated in the western grounds The law
man who goes to the Capitol today and in
the Senate chamber or the Hall of Represen-
tatlVeS breatheS the fresh pure air of those
Enclosures, little realizes the thought and
ingenuity which has been brought to play
in devising the schemes that make the pre-
v&iling conditions possible. When the visi-
tor stops to consider that both the Senate
and the House chambers are inside rooms
having not the vestige of window COM
munlcating directly with the outer world
the ventilating problem assumes a serious
aspect But it has been so carefully
planned and so scientifically handled that
thousands of cubic feet of air are poured
into these chambers each minute without
the slightest trace of draught in any part
of the floor or galleries. In the House of
Representatives 90 less than 1900 cubic
feet of air rush into the chamber each min
ut ute, ~ while in the Senate the supply is about
10000 cubic feet per minute. The chances
are that few visitors think of this subject
as they sit in the, gallery and watch the
proceedings of the national legislature. The
conditions surrounding them too nearly
perfect to attract their attention.
No Appliances Visible
In the same manner it is doubtful if the
casual visions take note of the fact that
neither in the Senate nor the House is there
visible a single coil of steam pipe or rad
iator. Nor is there to be seen anywhere
lighting fixture. Yet when a shadow of a
cloud happens to cross the sun, or the day
is dark and stormy, the chambers in a
twinking are flooded with mellow glow
which extends to every nook and corner.
The senators and the representatives ar.
as a rule quick to notice and appreciate the
conditions which so greatly conduce to their
comfort. The administrative officers of the
Capitol take the greatest pains to make the
domestic circumstances surrounding the ma
tional legislators all that even those fas-
tidious and luxury-loving gentlemen desire.
Deep down in the subbasement of the
Capitol and isolated from the paths trod
den by the thousands of visitors who are
constantly in the building are located the
machines and the men who do the work.
Mr.. Woods is close at hand. His office is
midway between the Senate and House