The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1909-11-09

forts to get that big structure in readi.
ness for the returning law makers.
Gangs Of painters and decorators are
working overtime touching up the faded
spots IN the corridors and committee
rooms. In Some cases. especially at the
Senate end Of the capitol, the entire
interior decorations Of the COMMITTEES
rooms have been worked over in new De.
signs and eolors. A new carpet in two
shades Of green will se spread over The
floor OF the Senate chamber and the two
cloak rooms have been supplied with
marble floors and new mahogany fur.
niture.
The greatest change being effected IN
the interior Of the capitol, outside TIE
installation Of a new elevator at the
southeast entrance, is in the Senate res.
taurant, The old floor has been removed
and new one Of black and white mar.
Bile blocks il being laid The two pri.
yate dining rooms for senators have been
thrown into one large room with the re.
suit that II Is better lighter and venti.
lated. Crystal chandeliers VIII hang
from the ceiling and the walls and cell.
ing win be decorated in comfortable
warm tint
But the most important change for
the comfort Of the senator's and repre-.
sentatiyes is the construction of new
heat and electric light plant This plant
win be ready to furnish heat and cleo
trio light not only to the capitol the
Senate and Honse office buildings, but
the congressional library BY December
l. II Is also Of such capacity that If in
the future Congress should decide to
carry out the proposed plan Of erecting
on the capitol plaza a special building
for the use Of the supreme court and
the department Of justice. a connection
can easily be made and plenty Of power
supplied
The new power building Il three.
quarters Of a mile away from the eapis
toll and Il connected with that and the
other buildings mentioned BY an under
ground tunnel which, with rs branches,
Is about one and quarter miles long.
This Is the steam transmission tunnel
ami Is Ave By seven feet IN sire. II con-
tains all Of the large steam piping neces.
sary to convey heat to the four great
public structures and Is 30 built that a
man can got through il to give daily in.
spection TO each pipe. Outside Of the
tunnel are the electric transmission
ducts by which the electric power for
the Lights and elevators will be sup.
Piled.
In the power house four big dynamos
each capable Of transmitting 1000 kilo.
watts. The plant is arranged in dupli-
cate 50 that in case one of the machines
should break down, another can be at
once thrown into service. There are
sixteen big boilers, about 1900 horse
power in capacity The dynamos are
lriven bv steam turbines and the con
densers for these and the pumps make
quite formidable looking plant. In or.
der to get A supply Of water from the
Potomac river, which is nearly a mile
away, it was necessary 70 build a double
waterway This consists Of an intake
pipe Of iron three feet in diameter. and
an outgoing concrete pipe to carry off
the overflow The building has two
stacks 10 feet in diameter at the base
and 2l6 feet high to take care of the
gases from the boilers The whole sys.
tenn viii cost when competed. ST 800 00n.
but at that, it is regarded as an excel
lent investment which will result nat
only iii greater comfort hut IN consid
cradle economy AT present there are
six separate isolated plants to run which
it costs for the services of employees
about $4,000 per year IT Is estimated
that when the central plant is in full
swing, the cost Of running II and the
wages Of persons retained at the isolated
plants viii not exceed S65,000 There
Is another item of economy in the mat.
tor Of coal It has cost 100000 a year
to buy coal to heat the capitol. the Office
and the congressional library.
1t is estimated that this enormous bin
can be cut in two One reason for this
difference is that CONGRESS many years
ago passed law forbidding the burning
of soft coal in the capitol Because Of
the distant location of the new power
plant, ii viii BE- possible to use soft coal
with modern smoke consumers and save
about $3.50 ton.
Another practical advantage in taking
the heating apparatus out of the capitol
building itself Is that It will remove the
constant heavy pressure and throbbine
of heavy engines on the subwalls of the
building Tt vii also provide much need
ed space for the storage Of documents
and for use as folding rooms.
An aesthetic advantage is found in
the fact that all dirt and noise will be
done away with and the existing prac
tice Of hauling, each year. thousands Of
tons Of coal and thousands Of cords Of
wood up to the front entrance OF the
capitol will be discontinued.