Evening star., 1912-09-15

rangements need be made for the pur-
chase of that article Through the store
keeper of the Treasury Uncle sam makes
his purchases of ammonia, and with the
steam from his power plant he manu-
factures about five tons of ice a day. or
this approximately three tons are con-
sumed, thus leaving q safe surplus TO ne
stored in the room that Is furnished for
that purpose and kept at a freezing tenn
perature. Three men are employed to
keep the plant in operation. At O'CLOCK
in the morning one man begins his work.
to last Until in the afternoon. when he
is replaced by the second Twelve o'clock
finds his work completed and the third
man takes charge through the night hours.
Like most housekeeper. however, Uncle
Sam must manage the question of light
yet make his own electricity. though two
electricians are employed in the build
ing. To these, however, fall the care of
the various electrical motors and the
three elevators that are manipulated by
this means. A large electric ventiating
fan about eight feet in diameter is run
by motor, and forces fresh air, cooled
in summer and warmed In winter, up q
shaft and into those office rooms of the
building where the odor of the fresh
money Is overpowering. Thus Uncle Sam
must needs carry on at least a portion of
his work by means of electricity. and the
bill that greets him at the end of the
month frequently approximates as much
as 300
Uncle Sans coal bill is not one of the
least of the items that cause him to
shake his head over the high cost of liv-
ing. About four tons per day are requir-
ed to supply the demand of his furnaces
and even q greater amount when winter
makes its inroads upon SO large q build
ing as the Treasury. In spite of its size,
however one set Of three hot-water heat
ing boilers Is sufficient to heat the whole
building comfortably. though another set
n1yxrl IN
complaint come from some far corner of
the building, the electric pump for hot
water circulation Is simply driven with
greater force.
u X
AS In the case Of the hot-water boilers.
two sets OF steam boilers are kept in or
der that one set may be held in reserve
while the other Is in operation. Thus
Uncle Sam makes sure Of the power that
keeps going the machinery of his home.
Each set of these boilers Is used alter
nately during the year, and furnishes
steam for the two hydraulic elevator
-sor. the ice machine brine pump. air
pump. sterilizing machine. hot-water for
the building and its laboratories and
macerator engine.
Among these machines run by steam.
and one that would probably appeal most
to the average housekeeper. Is the steril-
izing plant. This is fitted up with long
trough containing water that Is kept
continually at the boiling point by the
steam that passes through 1t. Brushes of
convenient size are kept near at hand,
and the cuspidors. garbage cans and
other receptacles are brought here to be
made sanitary. One man. working from
the early evening until about II O'Clock
at night, is kept busy bringing down and
sterlizing over 750 cuspidors alone.
Uncle Sam Is an economical house
keeper and he makes the steam from his
power plant as useful as possible. With
this he runs the large macerating ma
chine that reduces nearly million dol
lars each day of the old money sent back
for redemption into gray pulp. This IL
sold to various paper contractors at 9