The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-08-07
BEATSSANDBLAST ALLHOLLOW
NEW INVENTION TRIED ON THE
TREASURY BUILDING.
But Up Only - Far A. Man Could Reach
Tho Result IL That the Structure Now
Appears In Four shades. Ranging
From Light Gray to Very Dark Gray.

Tho Result Is That the Structure Now
Appears In -Four shades. Ranging
From Light Gray to Very Dark Gray.
WASHINGTON, Aug. CA new cleansing
fluid has been used on the outer walls OF
the United States Treasury Building, and
the inve mt or, who Is laborer in the DEPART
ment. is thinking Of having the device
patented.
Several weeks ago. the laborer told the
Treasury Department authorities that
he had discovered means OF cleaning
granite and sandstone that beat scrub
brushes and sandblast all hollow. The
cleansing material proved to be a murky
liquid. kept In q pail which the inventor
allowed none OF the other worknen to ap-
proach for fear that they would discover
the secret process by which the liquid is
compounded.
The inventor showed some Of the Treasury
officials what he could do in the way Of
cleaning a small block OF granite. He dipped
large brush In the mysterious liquid
and quickly covered the surface Of the stone.
Then a man with a garden hose turned
on Jet Of water and in a minute ths stone
was as clean as when 1t first came from the
quarry.
The process looked so easy and the results
30 surprising that the Department authori-
ties told the man to go ahead and clean the
foundations OF the building and as much
more Of the structure as could be reached
conveniently by q man standing on the
ground. Two or three years ago a part
Of the building was cleaned with sandblast
and the results we're even moro unsstis-
faet ,ry than the sandblasting OF the City Hall
New York.
The Treasury Building is regarded by
many persons as the noblest type Of classic
architecture, except the White House.
anywhere in Washington. and this estimate
Is usually the verdict OF distinguished
foreigners visiting the capital. Around
the outside OF the building are sixty-six
Ionic columns. each IS feet long and about
three feet in diameter. About half Of
them are monoliths. Besides these there
are more than one hundred squarefaced
monolithic columns between thirty and
forty feet long.
The sandblast played havoc with the
Treasury Building from an artistic point
Of view, but since the man with the mys-
FERROUS biue-black liquid began his work
the building has presented marvellous
sight. The huge granite blocks which
form the foundations OF the DullQlnS on
all four sides are as free from smoke or
other discoloration as they were when they
were quarried.
If time has wrought flaw In any OF the
stones the defect stands out with distinct
ness and the seams Of mortar are con-
spicuous. The building now appears in
four shades, ranging from light gray to
very dark gray. The foundation stones
and the finely cut lamp and fence posts
about the building are almost white. The
same color obtains on the lower part of the
magnificent Ionic pillars as far up as q
man can reach. The upper part Of the
pillars IL medium gray or about the same
as they were Immediately after the sand
blast OF two years ago. The granite OF
the Treasury walls above the great columns
10 darkly discolored by smoke from soft
coal furnaces.
Or ali the Government buildings in Wash
ington the Treasury has probably been
treated with least regard for It's beauty
as an example OF good architecture. A
few years ago the grand rotunda formed
by the arched stairways on the west side
OF the Treasury was ruined by the In
stallation Of extra elevators, one for freight
and another for passengers. Many wires
for electric bells. a system which nearly
every Secretary OF the Treasury rearranges
to suit his own convenience, are strung
along the corridors outside the walls, and
dusty electric batteries occupy the shelf
OF the transom over nearly every door.
The corridors have been painted many
colors at various times. Just now the walls
are white and the classic pillars along the
ha liza a n, Gilt