The broad ax., 1907-03-02
WASHINGTON LETTER
Especial Corresponoencel

A new building for the bureau OF
engraving and printing. TO cost $3,OOn,-
100. has been provided for in a bill
which was recently reported by the
house committee on public buildings
and grounds.
The overcrOwding OF machinery and
employees has reached to every room
In the building. Notwithstanding the
ever increasing demand for work off,
cialS say 1t is a question under present
conditions IL the limit OF capacity has
not been reached.
The density is greater on the third
floor. where the main hand press room
Is located. Here the conditions are
said to be more aggravated than in
any other quarter Of the building. In
continuous lines the presses by neces-
sity are placed against each other. and
the aisles between the lines by actual
measurement are sixteen inches wide.
In these narrow spaces the printers
and their women assistants work, the
men performing the hardest kind of
manual labor.
Only Young Women Employed.
The women who work in these sur
rOundings are mostly young. between
the ages of seventeen and twenty-five.
1t Is the policy of the bureau not to
/ employ women as assistants who are
more than thirty-five years old. The
nature OF the work requires that II
shall be done quickly. and the person
doing it must possess agility Of mind
and body. 1t Is not unusual for them
TO fall in a faint at their work.
A hospital. with a physician in
charge. has been established. but for
want Of space even this is inadequate
ly equipped.
Theater For Hospital.
The new amusement hail to be erect
ed at the Government Hospital For the
Insane. so far as modern construction
and design are concerned. will be
WashingtOn's most up to date play
house.
The designs show a building which
will be practically a theater. although
it will he known as an amusement
hall. 1t will have every convenience
feature Of equipment and advantage
In design that is known I'm theatrical
architecture The hall will be devoted
to performances given for the patients
at the hospital and will cost $4,000 to
build.
Besides being absolutely fireprOOf in
construction. the building will be
equipped with every known contriv-
ance TO kill flames I'm case a fire should
ever start. Among these are the water
curtain. asbestus curtain. automatic
sprinklers and automatic skylight. The
hall will seat 700 people in the main
auditorium and 300 additional in the
balcony. which will be used by guests.
Stage Construction Modern.
In designing the stage every detail
of modern equipment has been given
careful thought and study. with the
end I'm view to have as complete and
professionally" correct a stage as pos
sible. There is to be a brick fire wall
between the stage and the auditorium,
and the stage opening is to be provided
with an asbestus curtain, curtain and
drops to be hung upon a steel gridiron,
with iron blocks and wire ropes.
Suspended underneath the gridiron
there will be an automatic sprinkler.
so arranged as to play on the asbestus
curtain. all drops and all parts OF the
stage.
This Is an essential requirement in
modern theater construction, as many
fires occur from defective wires In drop
loft and often gain considerable head
way before being discovered.
New Orchids For Mrs. Roosevelt.
Exquisite orchids have been imported
from the Philippines for the White
House Conservatives. When Mrs.
Roosevelt presides over the post Lenten
gayeties society at the capital will
have the pleasure Of admiring these re-
cent acquisitions. Since coming to the
White House Mrs. Roosevelt has chung
persistently to the imposing flower
known as the Lady Finger" orchid.
The variety was a gift TO Police Com
missioner Bingham OF New York while
major domo of the White House from
Joseph Chamberlain Of Birmingham,
England, who beguiles his leisure from
political cares by collecting orchids.
The flower combines most gorgeous
shades Of deep purple to pale violet.
Because Of its rarity and costllness 1t
cannot become a popular flower. Mrs.
Roosevelt never appeared at a state
function, whether 1t was White House
reception. Inauguration ball or a cabi-
net dinner. without a large cluster OF
these orchids In her belt. The Philip
pine orchids will show more yellow
than purple, and they are Of long bell
shape.
v. N. C. A. Boys Building.
Plans have been prepared for extern