Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-05-04
CURRENCY TUNNEL
NOW IS PROPOSED
Would Transport Paper Money
From Printery to Treas
ury Building.
CONGRESS MUST GIVE
FUNDS FOR PROJECT
Main Tunnel of Proposed New Heat
ing and Light System Could
Be Utilized.

Be Utilized.
proposed central heating light and
power plant at 18th and Water streets
southwest, along 18th street and termi-
mating at Pennsylvania avenue prob
ably will be constructed that it can
be utilized for traction system on
which will run. automatica Ivy small
cars to carry paper currency and other
securities between the Treasury De-
partment building and the bureau of
engraving and printing. This project
is receiving the consideration of Off
Gals of the Treasury Department, who
have discussed it with engineers and
experts.
The project is still in embryo and
viii require an appropriation of Con-
gress to make it possible. Acting Sec
rotary Byron r. Newton is keen for
the plan. as he now comprehends it's
possibilities. believing it will more
greatly insure safety than the present
method, will give greater facility in
handling, be speedier, be measure of
economy, and in every way an improve
ment and step toward modernization.
No Estimate of Cost.
The main tunnel would provide sufficient
room without amplif1ca ton Of the present
plan. Traction would have to be laid and
cars provided. The expense, it is assured on
expert authority. would not be excess
slVe. although no positive estimate of
cost has. so far, been made
Branch tunnels into the bureau of
elgravinS and printing and into the
Treasury Department. to conect the
cetral system with this building. are
part of the general plan of power dis
trlbution. These might have to be
slightly enlarged to meet the needs of
the suggested traction line. The way
would be straight along 18th street
through the main tunnel. with only the
changes of direction to be considered
made necessary by the branch tunnels
into the two buildings
Possible System of Power.
An electrically charged rail-perhaps
the ''third-rail' system-woud give
the necessary power to operate the
cars without accompanying human con-
troll The traction would probably be
attached to the roof. carrying the cars
up in air. much like the cash trolleys
in operation in big department stores
The cars. as the plan is now sug,
gested would be Of steel. in the form Of
strong boxes chests, and securely
fastened, SO that the boxes could not
be opened except with the proper open
ing appliances at either end of the line
in the custody of the proper authority.
Power Plant Plans.
Plans for the new central heating,
lighting and power plant are well I'M
der way. The plant is to serve what
is technically known as the white
House" group-in contradistinction to
the Capitol group. government
buildings. The site of the plant is at
18th and Water streets, where the loca-
ton is favorable to the delivery of fuel
and other supplies by rail or water, for
which facilities will be provided. The
distribution system will require about
two and Il half miles of tunnels and
trenches, or 10000 feet
The buildings to be served from this
station will be the bureau Of engraving
and printing, the auditors building, the
Department of Agriculture, in Guiding all
in that group; the National Museum and
Smithsonian buildings. the Army Med
ical Museum. the fish commission, WASH
ington Monument. the District building,
the Post Office Department building, the
Treasury building. the White House, the
State. War and Navy Departments build
ing, the Winder building and the Court
or Claims building.
The distribution system for steam to
the larger buildings will be through pipes
placed in concrete tunnels. The small
buildings will be served with pipes laid
in insulated conduit in narrow trenches.
Access to Tunnels.
Access to the tunnels and trenches will
be gained through manholes placed in the
roof of the concrete construction at suit
able intervals.
The main tunnel will be run from the
station to Water street. thence to 18th
street to Pennsylvania avenue. turning
into South Executive avenue, south of the
Treasury building thence across the
White Lot tc West Executive avenue,
where the main tunnel will terminate
Lateral tunnels or trenches will be run
from the main tunnel to serve the out
living buildings The tunnels viii be
lighted throughout with electric lights
Surnps, drained with electric-driyen
pumps will be placed at all points where
water will be liable to collect The tun
nels viii, be constructed with waterproof
material, to reduce the leakage of water
into them to d minimum.
What is known as high tension alter
mating current will be generated at the
station and delivered to three sub
stations, where by means of rotary
transformers the alternating current
will be changed to direct current of
proper voltage to serve the districts
in which the substations are placed
Location of Substations.
one substation will be at the burea u
of engraving and printing, another in
the post office building and the third
at the State, War and Navy building.
All of the service, both steam and cleo
trio. will be in duplicate.
This power plant will be connected
electrically with the Garfield Park sta
ton, serving the Capitol group of
buildings, so that in case of accident
to the generating machinery of either
station the other can take up the work
While the electric conduits will follow
practically the same lines the steam
tunnels and conduits, yet they win be
:. separate and Independent construc-
ton.
The power house and substation
equipment will be of the latest and most
approved type of apparatus available