The Washington herald., 1909-05-23

New York. May E-PopuIar interest in
the skyscraping Office buildings and other
great structures OF this city Is. as a rule.
confined TO that portion OF them that ex-
tends above the sidewalks.
Few persons givsss thought to the pro-
portions and capacity OF the ponderous
mechanism. n constant operation beneath
their feet, required for furnishing the
power. heat. light. and ventilation neees-
sary for comfort and convenience
In the preparation Of the plans and
specifications for one Of these great build
5ngs more thought is given to the portion
underneath the surface than 10 that
above IT, While the architect prepares
and perfects the architectural details and
larrsnges the subdivision and treatment
Of the interior. yet for most other details
he relies upon specialists and experts in
the various lines OF work involved His
first concern IS naturally for the founda-
tons, the planning and constructing OF
which are intrusted TO men OF large eX-
perIence and proven skill
For the next step in the erection OF the
structure namely, the steel skeleton,
which must carry the entire load Of build
ing and resist the force OF the highest
winds. another department OF engineering
skill and experience IS required, for every
column, beam, and smallest member OF
the structure Is the subject Of a most
careful calculation TO insure the requisite
strength
Mechanical Equipment Needed.
With these matters disposed Of and left
for execution in responsible hands. atten-
ton is next given TO the required mechan-
tcaI equipInent OF the building. and here
the aid and cooperation OF engineering
skill OF the highest order are demanded.
Specialists in the various lines OF steam
boilers, heating. and ventilating appa~
ratus, elevators, electric lighting, and
plumbing are called IN conference with
the architect and with each other
The growing tendency 70 extend Office
blIidings 70 greater. and still greater.
height has naturally increased the di-
mensions Of the mechanical equipments
and taxed the skill and ingenuity OF their
designers Especially has this increase
81 height affected The elevator equip
nents. When up 10 several years ago
twenty stories seemed 20 be the extreme
4lL4l4L III LElEilL WHICH HOL4Q DE EEGC4CA
the then known types Of elevator were
entirely adequate and satisfactory for the
demands Of the service. but when quite
recently office-building towers OF thirty
SIX and fOrty-five stories were projected
il was found necessary 20 devise an en-
treiy new system OF elevator construc-
ton and to adopt a mechanical principle
peculiarly adaptable to such high travel
Presents New Problems
J1.at the skiIlful engineers concerned
k=s~s satisfactorily solved this problem is
sttested by the fact that the tenants and
visiting public patronize these elevators.
travelling 10 a height Of over 900 feet, with
10 more fear nor thought Of danger than
when riding in the elevators Of the older
structures
As in the cases OF these lofty towers.
the area OF the lot covered IS proportion
ately very small. and the unavoidable il
crease in capacity and dimensions Of the
mechanical equipment very considerable,
difficulties and serious problems were en-
countered in disposing OF the necessary
machinery below. We. therefore. fnd the
operating mechanism Of the elevators
placed at the TOP Of the towers and the
plumbing equipment subdivided into sew
eral Independent systems at progressive
heights
What 2 great aggregation OF mechanical
appliances is required for the proper
equipment CT one Of these modern ofics
buildings my be realized when Il is stated
that in one recently completed building
there are in constant operation forty eIe-
vstoTs, each requiring provision for about
fifty horsepower; 1890 electric lights,
and q boiler equipment OF q total rated
capacity OF $500 horsepower. The by
draulic pumping machinery installed ex-
clusively for the operation OF the elevator
system is capable OF delivering 2. 600 0CO
gallons Of water per day. or enough 10
supply the needs OF city OF the size OF
Buffalo Or Washington
The electric lighting equipment would
be adequate for the lighting OF every
house and street in a town OF $3.50 inhabi-
tants- The average daily consumption OF
coal during the winter months IS in the
building under consideration. thirty tons.
and es the exhaust or waste steam from
al the engines and pumps is utilized for
heating the building, the consumption IS
only little more per day IN winter than
IN summer. The combined distance trav-
eled BY al the levators in a ten-hour dav
Is 10 miles. reckoning both Up and down
srips.
Tower Difficulties Overcome.
The first OF the great tower buildings. IN
Lower Broadway presented problems
draught Efth great difficulties While the
lot which It covers IS only sixty-five feet
square, yet It contains in its forty-tzvo
Office floors a rentable area equal to that
ef many OF the larger buildings OF mod
crate height. and its mechanical equip
ment is, therefore. OF very considerabI bic
proportions.
The boilers have a combined capacity OF
zoe horsepower. providing electric cu--
-ent for the needs OF Is elevators. I5O0O
electric lights, power for g pumps, air
conprsssors, refrigerating plant. vacuum
cleaning equipment, and other minor &C
cessories. The water service IS divided
Into three separate systems one for ice
water, another for ordinary house use.
and third for fire service. Figures taken
from the architects plans show the total
height Of this wonderful structure from
Foundation 10 top OF fagstan 10 be 7s2
feet
The more noteworthy power equipments
ere naturally 20 be found n Lower Broad
way and in the financial district where,
are cOngregated more than forty great
ofiice buildings. the majority Of which are
twenty or more stories IN height. The
combined capacity Of the boilers in these
highest buildings alone is over 10000
horsepower and when al buildings erect
ed for office purposes in the section south
OF Chambers street are considered, a con-
servative estimate places their combined
boiler capacity at a figure above q half