Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1920-08-17

VIZ AsHINGToN. D, c.. Aug. II.
w capitol at Washington re-
alize the immense amount of
work involved in the upkeep Of the
building and grounds. :, More than
to keep it in proper condition. Be-
tween the sessions of congress the
building is thoroughly gone over, and
such alterations made as have been
For instance, during the last ses-
sion members of both houses com
planned about the color scheme in
the house and senate chambers.
They claimed that the dark tints
minds, SO S9i It was decided to decorate 5te
the rooms in lighter shade. SUI
| perintendent Elliott Woods and his
staff are now experimenting with va
rious shades to find something which
will be lighter, yet preserve the dig
nif1ed tone which has always marked
the halls of congress.
The acoutic effect Of the supreme
court, which was formerly occupied
by the senate. before the second
wing was added to the building, has
always been poor. So this year the
chamber has been virtually recon-
structed to remedy this dlinculty:
Two artists are at work in the
senate corridor retouching the paint
ings and frescoes, while on the
house side extensive repairs are be-
ing made to the floor in the corridor.
Owing to the large membership IN
traffic, it has been found that 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
gone over Between the capitol and
the Office buildings are two subways.
In the senate wing there is a little
electric railway, for which an addi-
tional car has just been ordered
The house members, being younger
| need one, SO they walk from the cap
| itol to their offices. The elevators
i in all three buildings are being
/ thoroughly gone over. The offices of
! senators and representatives are be-
ing generally cleaned, and redecorat-
ed in accordance with the wishes of
| the various occupants.
| OF course, the buildings are clean
ed every day, or rather every night
| after the adjournment of the two
hauling Is done when congress is
not in session.
| The statue in Statuary hall are
thoroughly washed with soap and
water. Just before congress con.
venes,, the Washington fire depart.
ment is sent for. and the hose turn
Originally, the capitol was built
of brown sandstone, but after be.
| ing burnt by the British in 1914
| the walls were painted white. The
exterior of the building is repaired
scaffolding is erected around the
statue which crowns the dome. and
it is given a thorough washing with
soap and water. At one time rumor
was started that the statue was to
be painted. A resolution was intro
| duced in the senate ordering the
work stopped. Much conjecture has
been INDUCED in as to what it repre-
sents. Some claim it is an Indian
others an categorical figure Of Colum.
R Moods %Sd to o SuperntepdeP
building, it represents Freedom.
Three Hundred Employees
Down in one of the sub-basements
of the building, out of sight of
the public. are the shops and store
| rooms. Here are made and kept sup
| plies Of every kind. Large quaint
ties Of paint, plumbing and electrical
| material are kept constantly on hand
Among the 800 employees carried
on the capitol pay roll are plumbers,
painters, carpenters, electricians, not
| to mention ordinary 1aborers of both
| sexes. An expert color mixer is one
| of the permanent members of the
| staff. Experts are employed for va
| rious kinds of special work. 1t may
| be easily understood that the super
intendent of the capitol has a. reg
ular job on his hands.
AS a separate department the
grounds are in charge of a landscape
gardener. There are many historic
| trees, such as the Washington Elm,
| under which the Father Of His
! Country used to sit and eat his lunch
| while he watched the progress Of the
| capitol building. Not long since 1t
was found that this old tree was in
danger of dying. A skilled tree sur
/ geon was called in, and it was saved.
| Then there is the tree to which
! Thomas Jefferson tied his horse when
| he rode to the capitol to be inaugu-
rated the second time.
When q tree is to be replaced, one
| of the members of congress is
chosen to stand sponsor for it. The
member selects the variety to be
planted and the tree bears his name
The Cameron Elm is one of the grand
old trees in the grounds. When the
walks were being laid. it was found
that this tree was in the way, and
it was proposed that it be cut down.
Senator Cameron introduced reso-
luton to preserve 1t, and the walk
was laid around it.
The position Of each tree is shown