Evening star., 1924-12-21

new S6-inch water main between
the pumping station and the power
plant.
In case Of serious breakdown at
the Capitol power plant he has a
storage battery plant of sufficient
size to operate the machine shops
so that the necessary repairs can be
made, while spare parts of all es-
sential machinery are kept in stock.
A competent force to rush any such
repairs is on duty "a hours day
while Congress Is in session. Mr..
Cook himself is on duty from 8 am.
until Congress adjourns, no matter
what hour that may be.
Mr.. Cook has also done an impor-
tant work in waterproofing the ter
races on the west front Of the Cap
itol to. prevent dampness in Offices
and workshops. During the present
year he has laid new conduits and
rewired the Capitol grounds, in
stalling a new, up-to-date lighting
system. The reconstruction and in
stallation OF lighting system in
the ceilings Of the House and SEN
ate chambers last year was an eX-
tremely difficult, but successful, job.
Each and every one OF the more
than 60 elevators under Mr.. Cooks
supervision is inspected every morn
Ing during the year, Sundays in
cluded, by two inspectors in each
building, and a written report is
made to him over the inspectors
signature. This Is considered a very
important safety-f1rst practice.
II is a deserved tribute to Mr..
Cooks care that, while OCCASIONALLY
there are waste-paper basket fires
caused by some careless person flip
ping Tive" cigarette butts among
papers, there has never been a Sc
rious flre in any Of these buildings
since he has been on the job The
water line has broken several times,
but q connection with the city wa
ter system was provided, so that
there never has been one minute S
loss Of time in providing water for
proper operation OF the boilers.
Every day the lights in the Senate
and House ceiling and the cloak
rooms and iobbies are tested. The air
In the Senate and House chamber is
tested each week. Twice year a
test Is made by officials OF the Public
Health Service and Gus" Cooks de-
partment has always been given a
clean bill of health by them.
An electric clock system in the Sen
ate Office Building, which also comes
under Mr.. Cook, works beautifully"
There are 312 clocks, all controlled
from a master clock in the base
mcnt.
:, I: =
Besides having been in charge of
the preparations for the Taft, Wilson
(twice) and Harding inaugurais and
all other functions on the east front
OF the Capitol, Mr.. Cook has also been
in charge of arrangements for some
very important funeral services-the
burial of the Unknown Dead Tin CO.
operation with the Army, President
Harding. Admiral Dewey, Senators
Bacon and Hanna and the late Champ
Clark and other notables. who were
paid q final tribute of homage in the
Capitol
So Gus" Cook is seen to be a very
busy and efficient worker in the Capt.
tol-so efficient in his particular line
that he was recently called to New
York to speak before the American
Society Of Mechanical Engineers on
economy in handling coal in light.
heat and power plants. But he also
finds time TO be a good citizen and a
real worker in his pet fraternity, AL
mas Temple of the Shrine, of which he
lessly on committees in connection
| with the erection of new Masonic
| Temple. He belongs to all branches
| OF Masonry, including the York and
I Scottish Rites.