Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-03-21
NEW LIGHT SYSTEM
State, War and Navy Building
to Have Improved Plant.
PLACED IN SUB-BASEMENT
Superintendent Plans to Lay Twen-
Twilight Miles Of Wire for
1000 Lamps.
PLACED IN SUB-BASEMENT

In addition to the installation of a
complete ice-making plant in the big build
ing occupied by the State, War and Navy
Departments, Lieut.. Grant, the engineer
officer who is serving as superintendent
Of the building. is carrying out plans for
another big improvement for the benefit
Of the employees. This is an entirely new
system Of illumination and is made pos
sible by special act Of Congress at the
last session appropriating $4,000 for that
purpose.
Although conceded to be one of the
finest as well as the largest office build
ing in the world. the granite structure at
the corner Of Pennsylvania avenue and
18th street has failed to meet modern re-
quirements in the matter of illumination
in the long inner corridors, closets and
endorsements.
New System Of Wiring.
To remedy this condition a new system
Of wiring for the entire building has been
arranged. A contract has been made with
Philadelphia concern, and the work is
to be completed by June 10 next. Over
twenty-eight miles Of wire will be used
in the work and seventy-eight distributing
panels will be located in the sub-base-
ment. The feed wires will carry 4.O0O
lamps each Of 18 candlepower, and will
carry an additional current equivalent
to $50 horsepower for running the aux
Hilary machinery. The contract requires
that all conduits shall be made of steel,
that the large cables be insulated with
varnish cambria and that the small ca
bies shall have rubber insulation.
There has been general complaint on
the part Of officials in the big Office build
ing that the existing system of illumina-
ton is not adequate for the offices. That
system has been in operation a long time.
1t consists Of an ordinary installation of
electric light wires with incandescent
lamps Of Ii and 81 candlepower, the
large majority being Of the lesser power.
Many lamps Of even less power are in
place in some OF the corridors and closets.
Gas Used as Substitute.
So inadequate are these lights, it is
said, that 1t is frequently necessary to
make use also Of gas illumination for the
transaction Of business, even in the day.
time, when the weather is cloudy. There
are about 100000 square feet of floor
space, equipment to more than ten acres
Of ground, in the entire building. OF that
area about 100000 square feet are in Of
fees, about 10000 square feet in corri-
doris and 10000 in the subbasement.
The system now being installed con-
templates the erection of a one-hundred-
watt tungsten lamp to every 100 square
feet of floor space in the building. These
lamps will be placed at height of about
eleven feet from the floor and are design
ed to thoroughly illuminate essential
parts Of the building. Under the contract
these lights will be subject to one years
practical test before being finally ac-
copied.
The fundss available are declared to be
insufficient, however. to provide for the
complete electric lighting installation OF
the entire building. The estimates SUBJ
mitted to Congress for that purpose
amount to $4,000. Congress cut out the
amount estimated as needed for rewriting
Of rooms and for the purchase of new
fixtures for the rooms
Provides for Branch Circuits.
The $4,000 appropriated was intended
to cover the installation Of feeder and
branch circuits from generators to room
lights only. This change is considered
imperative because Of the bad condition
of insulation of the present feeders, and
it is stated that the overload already on
them makes them a source Of consider
able danger and of constant trouble.
not complete the installation beyond
what was contemplated by Congress in
making the appropriation. While the
new system Of feeders will have the ca
pacity to carry current necessary for
proper illumination of all rooms, the
present appropriation is sufficient only to
carry these wires into the rooms
Congress, probably will be asked to pro-
vide for rewriting the rooms and for in
stalling proper fixtures In them in order
to complete the electric lighting equip
ment