Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-01-03
POOR VENTILATION
AND HEATING CITED
w. P. Emo Urges U. S. Super
visor to Protect Health of
Employees.
WASTE OF FUEL CHARGED
WASTE OF FUEL CHARGED
To the Editor Of The Star:

To the Editor Of The Star:
There is. apparently, no one in
charge of the government buildings
with common sense and technical
knowledge sufficient to regulate heat
and ventilation effectively. This re-
suits in waste Of fuel. sacrifice of
health, decrease in efficiency Of work
ers and an example by the government
to the people Of inexcusable stupidity.
This can be remedied by appointing
a governmental heat and ventilating
supervisor with power, and holding
him responsible for results.
General Orders Suggested.
The country should be subdivided
into a reasonable number of heat and
ventilation divisions. each directly
under deputy supervisor responsible
to the supervisor, with headquarters
at Washington. Each deputy super
visor should have under him a suff1-
cient number OF inspectors to see that
the engineers in charge Of its central
heating plants and Of its separate
buildings comply with general orders
and special instructions. such as the
FirstSonces and assembly rooms
to, but not above, 6s degrees. and
halls not above so degrees.
Second Heat shall be shut or by a
valve near furnace or by separate
valves at the bottom of risers from
one to three hours before office hours
have cooled Off when workers arrive.
Before closing valves. open hampers
or cover fire with ashes, or both.
Third. After closing valves close
each separate radiator valve. (The
workers can open those they require
on arrival, except in the. halls. where
they should be regulated by the en-
gineer)t
Fourth Between IL pm. and 2 am.
visit each room and open windows at
top and bottom sufficiently thorough
ly to change the air. being governed
by outside temperature and humidity.
AS soon as the. round Is completed be-
gin another round and close or partly
close windows as conditions require.
Fifth. Use common sense and study
requirements Of each room as affected
by exposure, etc.
Sixth. Each room shall be furnished
with q thermometer and a complaint
slate affixed to wall. ScrutiniZe Their
mometer and slate on entering each
room and try to comply with any rea-
sonahle suggestion.
Remark: Careful observance of
above rules will not only conserve
health and promote efficiency of
workers, but save coal enough to pay
for extra labor many times over.
Outline Of Proposed Duties.
General rules cannot be made to
cover every requirement because con-
ditions always vary, sometimes
slightly and sometimes widely. One
room. for instance, may have been
oversupplied with radiating surface,
while another has been Sighted.
First. 1t shall be the duty Of each in
spector to report unusual conditions to
his deputy supervisor. who will approve
or disapprove and instruct inspectors
accordingly.
Second. Each engineer shall render
monthly reports in duplicate to his
copy on file and send the other to the
supervisor for file at Washington.
l am writing more especially in re-
gard to government buildings, be-
cause usually those in charge appar-
emily do not care anything about the
comfort OF occupants, while the own
ers or lessees Of private buildings
have at least their own pocketboolss
to consider.
have been told that in one city
where the fuel administration had re-
auestsd the citizens to refrain from
the ofIices Of the fuel administrator
himself were found TO register 81 de-
grees.
Room Like Turkish Bath.
From my own personaI experience ]
can truthfully say that in early Octo.
bse4 Of this year; when II was too hot
out Of doors Tor comfort. the War In