New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-09-24
AIR FOR CONGRESS TESTED
Precautions to Insure It's Purity
for Washington Statesmen.

Washington. Sept Il (5peciaD.-Withfn stones
throw Of the House wing of the Capitol stands
modest looking little frame building with Aneri
can flag over it's roof Within this building month
ly test of the air breathed by grave and reverend
Senators. strenuous Congressman and august jus
tees of the Supreme Court is made.
The test both chemical and meteorological. thus
showing the minute care which is taken OF the
health and welIbeing Of those who meet from time
to time to make the laws OF this country. The lit
tie building is known as the United States Senate
La boratory, but half the regular habitues OF the
Capitol. including Senators and Representatives,
know nothing about it. Most people believe II Is
only the office of the superintendent Of the grounds
and that the big bell. reminding one Of plantation
days which hangs near the building IS used TO give
notice to the IabOrers to take up and quit work
Elliott Woods, superintendent Of the Capitol. de-
sires the statesmen TO enjoy the best OF health,
and it was he who determined TO see that pure
air as well as not air permeated the rooms
and halls Of the great marble building M
Woods conducts the tests himself. Win the AID
of an assistant He does not con1ne his
work in the laboratory TO looking after microbes
and other dangerous elements in the atmosphere
breathed by those who do the work Of the govern
ment but also makes official tests OF all the build
ing material electric wires insulation and cleo
trio lamps that used in the building over
which he has charge Livery arIic4e 14-I-ns % sl~
the test is rejected
It is the air test which IS the most Interesting.
Mr. Woods makes two tests Of this-a oacter1o4os-
fraIt nd
test IA made BY means Of the Petrt dish Several
~ these little vessels which about inch and
a half deep by four inches in diameter, are placed
in the chambers OF the Senate and the HOUSE. and
AT the air ducts In the cellar. The dishes contain
a sort OF geIarine or japanese preparation called
agar-agar and as soon they uncovered the
germs light upon this preparation They are taken
over 10 The laboratory. where they are tncuD2ted-
THE Perrf dishes, with their contents OF germs are
kept in a blood temperature until the germs form
into red and green colonies. 1000 - 49,. ~.,..
entrance OF -, me "a IaSa~ois The rEIafvs IIrftv
Or frpurity OF the outside air and that within the
chambers If, is usually the case, no dangerous
ze-ras are found loose IN the Senate or House,
s15rs at the laboratory but if anything alarm
ing is discovered Mr.. Woods calls the Marine
Hospital authorities into the case Ihey press q
few Of their guinea pigs into service The pigs
phoid fever or any microbes Of like character sp-
pear drastic measures are taken at once
broken out as a result OF venornous germs being
rampant in either body OF Congress
a5aIvsis Large bottles from which the air has
TO the entrances Of the air ducts. The sJopcocks
with the air at these two points They are corksd
up again imrnediat and taken 70 the laboratory
and put to the IyndaI radiant heat test A orass
tube Of definite capacity is employed in the test
SAT- plates anl Is PROVIDED with MET COCKS E1es
rays OF low order, such those that elanate from
freely, whereas they would be stopped or cut dowT
by glass plates Near one end Of the tube Is placed
connected with a delicate gaivanoneter or electric
registering instrument II both faces Of THIS orss
tube exposed 10 the same Temperature -
galvanometeC not disturbed II, however, nc snS
temperature at end Is higher than thlt At ~
other an electric current flows through tit 49,.
which produces immediate effect on the 49,
uOmeter In order 70 keep this necessary m ,n5
each end of the tube and the near - ss.I,c@
through the rock salt and into the tuoe Nl-LLy-
changing the register OF the
Before the begins he tube has pee! te.I,,
Of air Normal pure air VIII pass tlr,ush 4ule'
having no effect On the heei rays ne 81
rod Il
cbIori1as ~ calcium which takes our what
moisture there is in it, The perSentse et l.L9-
l1ra h f0rd nv detection after the air has passed
through the chloride Of c1lcium = = .hsh LS'
into the brass tube The ea2aclIy OF thT Iu9s e
ing known the gaIvauOHueter SHOWS oF IT'S HsuIes
how much each detection amounts 70 pa pe.
Nv the time This delicate process IS gone through
with Mr. Woods and his assistant H-iSF -As 49,
nature Of the air they are tfstaS hoei tIosii
IscTeriological standpoint and from chefnic@l