St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1909-01-16


under Superintendent Elliot Woods is
not busy with cleaning, painting, car
pentering, repairing, plumbing and
wiring work. But it is after congress
adjourns-after July 1, to be accurate
when the appropriation for the new
fiscal year becomes available, that
the real activity becomes apparent.
1t is long way to the top Of the
statue GROWING the dome, but some
one must go to the top of it to find
out If the lightning has damaged the
metal points put there to receive and
conduct it down to the earth where
it can do no damage. Then even the
best roofs will at times show wear
and allow the rains to come through.
When the word goes forth that the
capitol is to be cleaned, David Lynn,
as general foreman and right bower
to the superintendent, sends for all
the other foremen-those who have
charge of the heating, ventilating and
lighting departments, for instance, and
all the rest, and instructs them to turn
In at once full reports of the require
ments of their respective departments.
1t is found that committee room,
for instance, is to be enlarged, that
plumbing must be renewed; that fres-
Goes in the lower corridor are scaling
off; that there is leak in the vice
presidents room; that hundred and
one things need attention.
Supplies are issued out of the store
room on requisition from the foremen,
each requisition stating what the sup
plies are needed for. And all the
foremen are directly answerable to Mr..
Lynn, who finds that they are the
easiest men in the world to get on
with, and there is no longer any
trouble anywhere.
AS happens almost every year there
has been a good deal of work done
involving the tearing out of old wood
work and the replacing of it with new.
It is the practice in such cases to re-
place the old wood-usually pine or
some soft wood-with mahogany, but
the new work is made to conform with
the old work in pattern and design.
Many new mahogany doors have been
placed in the building. Much new fur
niture is annually installed, and in
consequence it becomes necessary
yearly to hold an auction sale of old,
worn-out or obsolete furniture. Very
often this old furniture brings a great
deal more than it is worth because of
its associations. 1t is generally
bought up by persons not living in
Washington, who place sentimental
value on anything that has ever been
used in the capitol.
There was plenty of work to do this
year in the overhauling of the kitch-
ems and restaurants, there being one
catering establishment for the senate
end and another for the house end
of the capitol. In fact, practically
everything is duplicated in the CAPT
toll, and this fact should help to i'm
press on the mind of him who has
never seen it what an immense build
ing the capitol really is. The kitch-
ems are in the basement, where the
casual visitor never sees them. IN
every respect they are complete and
up-to-date, and doubtless would re-
joice the heart of any professional
cook who might have the chance to
inspect them. They are planned with
especial reference to cleanliness. The
floors are cement and the walls are
lined with white epameled tiles to the
height of mans head. Every day
in the year, but more especially when
congress is in session, the walls are
washed down and the whole place is
thoroughly cleaned. Between sea
sons any needed repair work
&c Homo