Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-08-14
Caring For the Capitol
Fy Frederic J. Hnskln

condition. Between the sessions of Ion-
gross tho building is thoroughly gone over |
and aunb alterations made as have peen |
during the busy. season !
For instance, during the last session
msrnbers Of both Houses, complained
about the color scheme in the House ana
Senate Chambers They claimed hat
the dark tints had a depressing effect on
their minds, so IL was decided 70 re-
decorate the rooms IN a hgnter snade.
Superintendent Elicit WOODS ana hls
staff aro now experimenting ,with Variops
shades 10 find something when WI DC
lighter, yet preserve the dignnea poiie
which has always marked the halls OF
Congress
The acoustic effect Of the Supreme
Court room. which was formerly occupied
by the Senate, before tho second wing
was added to the building, has ,aiways
been poor. So this year the chamber mas
been virtually reconstructed 20 remedy this
difficulty.
Two artists are at work in the Senate
corridor retouching tho paintings ana
frescoea, while on the House side ekteh-
sive repairs are being made 10 the hoor
in the corridor. Owing 20 the large mem
bership in that body, and tho greater
amount of traffic, 10 has been found tnat
the floors on that side wear out much
faster than in the Senate wing.
THE HOUSE MEMBERS WALK.
The two Office buildings in which the
members of both Houses have their
Offices are being thoroughly. gone over
Between the Capitol and the once
buildings are two subways. In the senate
,ying there is little electric railway, TOT
which an additional cor has Just oeen
ordered The House members, beng
Younger as a rule, decided that they did
| not need one, so they walk from the
| CanitoI IN their Offices The elevators IN
All three buildings are being thoroughly
| gone over. The Offices Of Senators and
| Representatives are being generally
cleaned. and redecorated IN accordance
with the wishes Of the various occupants;
| OF course the buildings arc cleaner
every day, or rather every nigbt aitcr
| the adjournment Of the two Houses, but
| the general work Of oYerhaulIng is done
| when Congress is not IN session
| The statues in Statuary Hall are thor
oughly washed with soap and water
/ Just before Congress convenes, the " ash, ,
| ington Fire Department IS sent Tor ana
the hose turned on the outside Of the
| building. :.
Originally. the Capitol was built of
brown sandstone. but after boing burnt
bv tho British in 1914 the walls were
| nsintod white. The exterior Of the build
ing il repainted every three years, AZ
| which time scafolding il erected around
| tho statue which crowns the dome, and
| i 4 given thorough washing with soar
and water. At one time rurnor wa
| started that the statue was 70 De painted
4 resolution was introduced in the Senate
ordering the work stopped. Much con
lecture has been INDUCED in az to wha
4 represents. Some claim II il en- Indian
othors an allegorical figure Of Columbia
According 20 Superintendent Woods, wh'
i IN charge Of the building It represent
Freedom.
THREE HUNDRED EMPLOYEES.
Down in one of the sub-basemsnts Of th
building. out Of sight Of the public. ar
the shops and store-rooms. Here are mad
and kept supplies Of every kind. Larg
quantities OF paint, plumbing and cleo
trieal material are kept constantly Of
hand.
Among the three hundred employees
carried on the Capitol pay roll are plum
bars. Dainters, carpenters, electricians
not to mention ordinary laborers OF Dot
sexes. An expert color mixer IS one OF 70
perTnaneut members CT the stan. Exper'
are enploved for various kinds OF specs
work. II NAV be easily understood that tn
superintendent Of the Capitol has a reguis
, lob on his hands.
, Asa separate department the ground
! are IA charge Of a landscape garoene
There are many historic trees, sucn as @
Washington Elm, under Whlch u
Father Of His Country used 10 SIT ana ea
his lunch while he watched the progres
of the Capitol building. Not long slnt
it was found that this old tree was
danger on diving. 4 skilled tree surgeo
was called in and 1t was saved. &c
tbara i the tree to which Thomas Jefie
son tied his horse when he rode TO Il
, | CaDitol 70 be inauglTated the secon
: time.
r .ba Members of Congress IS chosen
stand sponsor for it. The member selec
the variety 70 be planted and the tr'
: baars his name. The Cameron Elm Is OF
: of the grand old trses in the ground
: When the walks were being laid, Il VI
4 found that this tree was IN the way, and
< was proposed that,it be cut down. cenat
4 Cameron introduced resolution 70 pr
. serve II. and the walk was laid around i
. The position of each tree Is shown On
= large chart of the grounds with the nan
a Of It's sponsor attached. Trees have bee
planted By the late Senator Cialhng'
s.T-ncle Joe" Cannon, Champ Clark az
other members Of both bodies. Nj
Jeanette Rankin, the only woman memh
OF Conggess, planted California redwoo
A VILLAGE IN ITSELF.
Sol cap he readily seen that the Capt
IS practicslly a village in itself, not or
from the number Of people required, :
from the number Of tr9des represented
I. the work of keeping the buildings =
grounds clean and in repair. From
Ightning points which surmount
y statue or the dome, 70 the giant pew
= plant. the largest single plant south
Il New York. which supplies light, heat a
Il power to the Capitol. Senate end Ho1
II office buildings, and the Library OF q
Z press at saving Of thousands Of doll
II annually, every part is constantly un'
- the eye of experts.
r So Systematically Is everything
y ranged, that the work goes on like
# revolutions of a vast machine. y
II occasionally does one see the wheels
Il round, But they move ell the time. |
II gtor daX- oight after night, the build