The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1906-01-14
HEAT FIVE HOUSES
BY CENTRAL PLANT
Practical Demonstration OF
Up-tO-Date Methods.
EXPERIMENT COST $4,000
Two Residences and Two Small Flats
Supplied With Heat From Boilers
of the Seward.
EXPERIMENT COST $1,000

The Seward apartment house. corner
Fourth street and Seward square. is
unique to Washington in more than one
way. Its principal feature is its heating
apparatus. which is a practical applioa-
ton on a small scale OF the idea OF
central heating plant.
The system used is that of ''vapor,
and. by means OF two large Quincy boil
ers. located in the basement, the same
plant supplies heat TO the residences OF
NJ. J. Weller and George r. Repetti,
the owners, which adjoin the Seward.
Two smaller fiat buildings. just north
of the Seward on Fourth street, are also
heated from the apartment house boil
ers. The plant cost 5000.
Way Heat Is Controlled.
Radiators are located in each of the
rooms of all five buildings. These raC~ =
tors differ from the ordinary steam or
hot-water systems. in that they are sup
piled with dial valves which make il
possible 10 increase or diminish the
radiation in every room at will, One
room can be entirely detached from the
system without in any way interfering
with the heating of the other rooms.
The building was planned by William
S. PLACER after designs prepared by the
owners. 1t was built by Joseph A. Jen-
nings under the direct supervision of
Messrs. Weller and Repetti.
The house Is four stories in height and
faces Seward square, with a splendid
outlook to the south. There are eleven
apartments of six rooms each. and on
the first floor there are four suites OF
office rooms, which will be occupied by
doctors, dentists, or other professional
men.
Light and ventilation are assured by
the wide halls and the exposure Of three
sides of the building. The west side
fronts on Fourth street, and every
apartment has street frontage.
Every modern convenience is prOyid-
ed The improvements include nre es-
capes and stand pipe with hose at
tachment on each floor as protection
against fire.
Novel Fire Escape.
The fire escape is unlike those found
in most structures. II is built on the
ladder principle with fiat treads and side
rail supports, insuring safety ana ar
easy mode of descent
The building regulations do not re
auire either fire escape or the stand
pipe in houses of the design and eleva-
ton of the Seward, but they were. IN
stalled by the owners as an additional
protection TO the occupants.
The front OF the building is or the pes
quality OF pressed brick with white
mortar, the combination giving a col
onial effect TO the exterior. Stone is
literally used in the trimming. Ih'
base course is of Indiana limestone and
the same material forms the sills, lin
tells, etc.
There Is a front porch of massive pro
portions built of Indiana limestone and
granite. The steps and platform are OF
solid blocks of granite from Maryland.
A highly ornate iron fence surrounds
the building and the parking will b'
enbellished by flower urns and groun'
plants. A Flagstaff surmoEnts TIT
building, which Is covered by a slaG
roct.
Some Interior Features.
An immense plate glass mirror vii
cover one side of the wall just beyond
the vestibule door. The main hallwa!
will be decorated in artistic style, anC
the same plan will be carried on
throughout the building.
All the kitchens are large and are
equipped with the latest devices that
render housekeeping easy and attract
i've. Electricity will be the Illuminating
power and gas jets are also provided
in every room for emergency purposes
The building will be ready for occu-
pancy by February l. and already q
number of applications have been made
for apartments. The rents will rang
from about so upward.
The Seward takes its mama from tht
square named after the great war sec
retary-the only square in the Distric
which was given its designation by {
special act OF Congress. The CAPITA
Traction line passes through the cente
OF the square, which IL formed by tht
intersection % Pennsylvania avenue ant
North Carolina avenue and is bounded
by Fourth and Sixth street east and {
street south. Two othe~ car lines arr
within three minutes walk Of the build