Evening star., 1933-08-20
Capital Sidelights
BY WILL p. KENNEDY.

made under the direction OF David
Lynn, architect of the Capitol, for
preservation Of this building, symbolic
ing the self-governing power of the
American people, through affording
adequate fire protection IN the origi-
nal and older portions Of that struc-
ture
From the exterior appearance Of the
Supreme Court section Of the Capitol
which is to become museum when
the Supreme Court moves into its own
new home-compared with the Statu-
ary Hail section, one would naturally
conclude that they are similar in archi-
tectural arrangements, and Tn the sub
divisions of interior space, but not SO.
These two sections are diSsimilar as
though they were not portions Of the
same building. In the Supreme Court
section the foundation work Of the
cellar was built with reference to the
semi-circular room now occupied by the
Supreme Court but originally as the
Senate chamber. In the Statuary Hall
section the foundation work Of the
cellar was built tor the accommodation
of that larger elliptical room first oc-
cupied by the House of Representa-
tives. which was changed to a semi
circular form after the building was
seriously damaged by being set on fire
by the British-ll9 years ago next
Thursday.
The cellar space of these two large
areas Is divided into very many smaller
spaces, as storage rooms or for the ac-
commodation of electrical conduits and
the introduction of an elevator. At the
time Of the completion of the old Capt.
tol, comprising the rotunda or Supreme
Court section and the Statuary Hall
A1n atNvc
trio lighting was also unknown and
the present-day system of heating had
not been developed at the time of the
completion Of the Capitol prior to 1928.
With the passing OF the years and the
introduction of improved methods of
heating, as well as adoption of the
electrical current in lighting these sec
tons of the building, many changes
were made in the cellar portion of
the Supreme Court. Some of these
changes we-e necessitated by a severe
explosion which occurred November 6,
1893. Careful investigation showed the
cause of the explosion to have been
gas, under abnormal pressure. while
the outlet pipe was still attached TO
the outlet OF gas governor and while
the outlet pipe was still in connection
with gas supply which flooded the
compartments, forming therein an ex-
plosive mixture with air. That ex-
plosive mixture was ignited by Jet
of gas left burning in one of the t1le
room compartments.
That explosion was accompanied by
severe fire, resulting In great damage
to the Supreme Court section of the
Capitol. Ever since. there has been
feeling of insecurity because inflam-
mable material might be carelessly left
in one portion OF the cellar and if
ignited the fire might spread through
out the cellar of the Supreme Court.
the cellar Of the crypt and the cellar OF
the Statuary Hall section, where vast
quantities of books and documents be-
longing to the House folding room are
stored in many chambers, awaiting dis
trbution upon orders from the members
Of the House.
The architect Of the Capitol is en-
gagged upon the task of putting in a
system OF fire walls and fire doors, Sc
as to isolate different sections of the
cellar and thus conf1ne a fire to that
particular section in which it might
start, and prevent its sweeping through
other sections Of the building.
1t seems to b. practically impossible
to carry on the Business Of the Govern
ment without the accumulation Of large
quantities Of books and documents
which furnish such abundant material
for flames to feed upon II q fire is once
started The new fire-protection sys-
TEN would hold the fire to one small
area.
Luckily, the Capitol has had but three
serious conhagrations. The greatest
fire occurred on Christmas eve, 1851
when that portion Of the building then
occupied by the Library OF Congress
was ravaged with the destruction OF
a large number of books and works OF
art, such as painting. statuary In
bronze and marble besides an exten-
sive collection of medals deposited with
the Library as a means of dcmonstrat-
ing the progress made in that branch
of sculpture.
One Of the major Improvements about
the Capitol during the past year has
| been the rebuilding Of the steps on the
west front facing the important Fed
eral building program in the mile-lone
triangle between Pennsylvania avenue
and the Mall These afford two ap-
proaches to the Capitol-from Pennsyl.
vania avenue and from Maryland
avenue.
In the original plans for the Fedora
City the lines Of Maryland avenue ane
of Pennsylvania avenue are supposed tt
intersect end cross each other at the
center Of the r-tu-da under the dome
of the Capitol The enlarging of the
Capitol Grounds from time to time snc
TIE building of the Library of c ngress
absorbed a certain portion # Pennsyl.
vania avenue. 50 that this approach tt
tie Capitol frcm the southeast is moi
noticeable. as traffic has been merged
in B street. The approach from Mary
land avenue, running from northeast tC
southwest, terminates at First street
northeast, the eastern boundary of The
Capitol Grounds. This avenue Is los'
track of until it emerges from Firs1
street southwest and proceeds along 1t.
original line toward the Potomac River
Pennsylvania avenue is taken up al
First street northwest and proceeds II
its northwesterly direction, where il
has become internationally known a.
the great parade ground Of the Nation
In the early seventies the western
front Of the Capitol was improved with
terraces and steps from the basement
or ground floor, connecting with side.
walks leading to Pennsylvania anc
Maryland avenue entrances to the Cap.
itol Grounds. The building OF thes,
original steps or stairways seems tl
have been coupled with a mistake ir
the selection of material The step.
were formed Of slate or bluestone laid
, upon brick supports, and in the course
of time the slate became not only un-
slightly but unsafe. These steps have
now been rebuilt with substantial MA.
terial. They have been replaced witt
Mount Airy granite from North Caro-.
lima. Each staircase is As feet 8 inche.
in width and leads from ground leve
to the first-story level-40 feet ir
height. The upper level, a. the en-.
! trance to the basement floor, contain.
/ 6,720 square feet. This space, originally
surfaced with concrete, has been re-
placed with granite slabs inches thick
On the two lower levels, originally ir
| concrete, containing 37,164 square feet
there has been placed a granite chiI
composition. A new coping has beer
placed around the John Marshal
statue. The granite coping has beer
reset around the fountain on the Xes1