Evening star., 1921-12-25

would cost, and he said he couldn't
tell. so they put through a resolution
unique in Congress for "the sum
necessary" thus giving him an un-
limited appropriation. He protested.
but Uncle Joe said, Wen trust you
and Congress has had trust in Elliott
Woods ever since.
When Mr.. Clark died the American
Institute of Architects-whose secre-
tary was candidate for the position
of architect Of the Capitol-protested
vigorously to President Roosevelt
against appointing any one who was
not an architect as Clark's successor
Elliott Woods was not trained
architect. But Congress to man
stood behind him. The House and
Senate sent petitions signed by every
member of Congress then in the city
to the President, with Uncle Joe"
Cannon heading the House delegation
Just about that time "Untle Joe and
T. X. were not particularly friendly,
and Cannon had not been to the Whice
House in some time. But the trip in
behalf of Mr. Woods reunited these
two stalwarts. Roosevelt effected a
compromise by suggesting to Con-
Grcss that If they would change the
title of the Office from architect TO
superintendent he would appoint Mr.
Woods-and this was done. Last year
the title was changed back again, be-
cause since then Mr.. Woods has won
over the opposition, been elected A
member of the local chapter and
made fellow of the Institute of
Architects-so the sore spot has been
happily healed
Collecting water glasses and max
ing music by rubbing his hands
across the brim is one of Mr. Woods
lads, but besides that. he is a really
good musician and has written sew
eral operas. Some years ago Mr.
Woods got considerable notoriety
throughout the country as a violin
player and he explains how that hap
pened:
Il had always dabbIed in music
and played the violin little, but
l took up the study of Instruments
in order to write for them and or
chestrate. A friend of mine in New
York sent me violin worth $4,000
to study. ! set it up so as to have a
photograph made. and while was not
expecting it the photographer took
a picture of me with the violin that
went all over the country and l was
credited with being a great violinist"
Here is a terse summary Of the
work Elliott Woods has done and is
doing: He has charge of the repairs
and maintenance of the Capitol build
ing, House and Senate office build
lngs, with care and maintenance of
the grounds. driveways and walks
belonging to those buildings. He has
the care and maintenance of the Cap
itol power plant. supplying heat.
light and power for the Capitol. SEN
ate and House office buildings, and
light and power for the Library of
Congress. the government hotels for
government employees and heat. light
and power for the coast and geodetic
survey. He has the care and main
tenance of the engine house. Senate
charge of making the repairs to the
District of Columbia courthouse He
supplied heat. light and power re-
pairs to the Columbia Hospital for
Women. He has charge of repairs
and construction of such other gov
eminent buildings as are committed
to the charge of the architect of the
Capitol by Congress. such as the
100000 job on the dormitory a,
Kendall Green. Gallaudet College for
the Beaf
During the past twenty yeaps the
following buildings have been erect
ed under Mr. Woods: House and SEN
ate Office buildings with the sub
ways connecting the same with the
Capitol: the Capitol power plant,
costing s2.5O0,0Oe: the Court of Ap-
peals building, costing 100000: the
dormitory at the Columbia Institution
for the Deaf. Columbia Hospital for
Women. costing $3.50. 900; an additional
fifth floor to the House office building,
the reconstruction of the District of
Columbia courthouse. costing SS50.00
He had 244 houses removed from the
plaza between the Capitol and Union
station: had the central portion on
the Capitol reconstructed. including
the formation of twenty-eight rooms
in the old library space. He remod-
eled the quarters of the Supreme
Court of the United States and statu-
ary hall. He put in a new. ventilla-
ton system in both the House and
Senate, and remodeled the lunch
rooms and kitchens in the Capitol.
X + x x
Some little detailed explanation of
the work of the Capitol power plant
/, may serve to show, the magnitude OF
this one comparatively small part of
Mr.. Woods varied responsibilities.
This plant furnished light, heat and
power for the entire group of build
ings surrounding the Capitol. 1t fur
nishes heat for 45.613.550 cubic feet
Of space. current for 49,750 electric
lights. 1,217 electric fans and power
for motors totaling 1,466 horsepower.
The plant furnishes current to forty
nine electric elevators and lifts with
in this group of buildings.
One of the little jobs that Mr.. Woods
is responsible for is to give the Statue
, of Freedom surmounting the Capitol
dome a bath regularly. This is done
with a very strong solution Of CASTLE