Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-11-09
Duty imposed Upon Superin-
tendent of the Capitol.
SUPPLY OF AIR, LIGHT, HEAT
Thousands of Feet Of Conduits Be.
meath the Big Building.
VAST CHAMBERS UNDER FLOORS
Elliott. Woods Domain Embrace
Large Area and Extends to.
Parking and Trees.

1 = - NAAA6 esAAA = OVoss
| Whatever may be said regarding the
hot air. about the ''gas works." as thu
United States Capitol is frequently called
complaint cannot be made against Elliot
Woods, the superintendent Of the Capitol
building and grounds, or any member Of
| his numerous staff. The annual report
OF Mr. Woods, made public today. fur
nishes testimony Of the tenders care
which. often without their knowledge, is
bestowed upon the health Of the solons-
about 600 individual senators and repre-
sentatives.
There are a hundred and one things to
be done around the Capitol building,
many OF them in those subterranean
passageways and chambers In Capitol
Hill-in which members Of the august
legislative body of these United States
have found lanes with plenty of turn
ings, but no endings or exits-to insure
fresh air to those lungs that send rum
bling sounds through the upper corri-
doris: Mr.. Woods does not attempt to
detail or even outline them In his report,
but he gives an linking Of the atmos-
phertc greasing that must be done to keep
the legislative machinery going.
Thousands Of Feet Of Air Ducts.
Mention should be made" he says, "of
the thousands OF feet Of air ducts which
must be cleaned and whitewashed an
nually. cellar passageways to be cleaned
and painted, air chambers under the
| floors Of the House and Senate cham
bers to be secured and disinfected, to be
| followed by similar processes every two
weeks during the session: ventilating
| bronze risers in the chamber floors taken
out. treated with live steam and replaced
in absolutely clean condition.
OF course 1t does not include such
| routine matters as the continuous opera
ton of ventilating fans; Of the main
tenance OF the temperature In committee
| rooms, corridors and chambers to suit the
| tastes of the nearly 500 members Of Con-
gress. to speak Of the ventilating fea-
lures Of the superintendent job
The trees of the Capitol grounds, too,
have been the objects Of much soiicita-
ton on the part of Mr.. Woods and his
reflections, the officials hope the trees
that grace the grounds will remain In
their positions until they attain q ripe
old age. But they have as much trouble
with diseases, according to Supt. Woods
report, as human beings.
Doctoring the Trees.
THE trees in the Capitol grounds are
granted but little more immunity from
accident or disease than those Of other
localities" Mr.. Woods says, as If he were
talking about the inhabitants of city
with smallpox epidemic. To-day 1t is
evident that experts can take hold Of the
tree in most any stage of the disease, and
If, as in the case Of the human body. that
disease has not progressed too far, life
may be prolonged to ripe Old age
So tree dentists and tree surgeons
have been put to work to combat the dis
eases that threaten tree life, and an
abundance Of green foliage is as good an
cheeks Breaks and splits. affecting the
most vital parts, have been treated and
cured. There has. too, been fight against
those microbes OF the trees-the bugs
that appear in the late spring and early
summer and thrive on the green leaves
and tender twigs; that sap away the red
corpuscles. or whatever 1t is that has the
same relation to the trees vitality that
red corpuscles have to human vitality. A
power sprayer is used in fighting the
pests, and 1t has been effective in de-
stroying the bugs that assemble under
the leaves.
Railway Tunnel Gives Trouble.
The railway tunnel through which the
trains from the south are sent into the
Union station has given the Capitol OFF,
Gals much work and worry.
THE presence Of the underground rail-
way tunnel along the line OF LIST street
east is a source of much trouble to the
walks and walls along that Section" Mr..
Woods says In his report. Along this
eastern line OF the grounds the railway
tunne, was constructed by the tunneling
method-not by the open cut method. Set
Element of the earth above the cOnstruc-
ton has occurred, as was expected The
walls and walks were at one time read
the same walls and walks are under al
most constant repairs and readjust-
ment."
Some improvements around the grounds
are also limited at:
Application will again be made to Con-
gress Tor the repaving OF the plaza at the
east front Of the Capitol and for the res
toration of the foot pavements directly in
section between East Capitol street and
the north and south roadways In the east
ern grounds"
Total Of Task In Dollars.
An indication Of the task which Is an
nually carried out by the superintendent
and his staff Of assistants Is given In the
itemized statement Of accounts submitted
with the annual report. The pay rolls for
maintaining In repair the Capitol and i'm
proving and lighting the grounds call for
an expenditure of more than sos, 900 an
nually. Besides having the care OF the
group OF buildings on Capitol HILL Mr..
woods also Is responsible for keeping up
the courthouse and the Court Of Appeals
| building Of the District of Columbia and
| the Court of Claims structure.
RULL DERAIIS A TRAIN.
| Is Killed by Engine After Scattering
Waiting Room Passengers.
Foreign Correspondence Of The Star.
MADRID, October g. 1911.