gneiss foundations and granite walls for the accommodation of the system of piping was a trying and expensive job. The whole work has been done in part under contract, the Government dealing directly with firms engaged in the different branches of the building trades, or with wholesale manufacturers, without the intervention of a general contractor, and in part by day's labor on the eighthour system. In the selection of either system the exigencies of the service were solely consulted. FINANCIAL STATEMENT. The careful estimates for the reconstruction of the south wing, laid before Congress in December, 1882 and 1883, included The expenditures sum up, under general heads, as follows: Temporary roofs, dismantling and removing old constructions, scaffold ings, and miscellaneous labor 60,000 93,000 18, 849 171,849 Elevator and engine.. Brick-work of walls, arches, &c... Stone-cutters' work. Iron-work of roofs, galleries, and work incidental to it Interior iron-work, frames, stairs, ceilings, &c Fire-proofing of exposed iron-work, terra-cotta blocks, &c Concreting roofs Copper roofing. Galvanized iron casings, ventilators, condensed gutters. Plastering Ornamental Keene's cement and scagliola work. Keene's cement floors.. Plumbing and gas-fitting. Black and colored polished marble work, wainscoting, &c.. Chased and finished bronze railings... Glass of double skylights, ventilators, windows (polished plate), doors, Plain and ornamental painting and decorations Wood-work of doors, sash, office-floors, finish, toilet-rooms, &c.. transoms, &c., including glazing Encaustic tile and mosaic floors Architects, clerk, foreman, and miscellaneous expenses.. $6,571 70 950 00 7,315 97 1,196 42 29,404 42 8,932 04 8,763 17 1,926 35 8,938 90 3, 121 06 4,591 60 14,439 08 9,334 52 2,238 79 1,903 50 6, 103 66 7, 068 34 4,860 84 5,698 21 4,050 07 3,6×5 56 3,665 45 717 74 294 79 12, 223 93 1,425 17 12, 293 07 100 00 171,834 34 The reconstruction of the north and west wings of the building was done in 1879-'81, at a period of cheap material and labor, and has cost $250,835.48. As an example of the rise in prices, we may state that the labor of plasterers, according to the established rates, cost 20 cents per hour in 1880 and 45 cents per hour in 1884, a rise of 125 per cent. ESTIMATE. To complete the reconstruction of the building the east wing remains to be provided for, and the expense will be the same as stated last year, $160,000. The bad state of the model hall and roof may be seen at a glance; hence a reiteration of arguments heretofore advanced, showing the propriety of prompt action in the premises, appears unnecessary. The reconstruction in this case, according to the plans, will produce office rooms in the aggregate 570 feet long and 22 feet wide, in convenient proximity to the offices of the Secretary of the Interior and Commissioner of Patents; this even without curtailing the accommodations for model exhibits. We have the honor to be, very respectfully, your most obedient servants, CLUSS & SCHULZE, Supervising Architects and Engineers. Hon. L. Q. C. LAMAR, Secretary of the Interior. REPORT OF THE ARCHITECT OF THE UNITED STATES CAPITOL. OFFICE OF ARCHITECT UNITED STATES CAPITOL, Washington, D. C., July 1, 1885. SIR: In relation to the transactions of this office, and the expendi tures for public works, paid by the disbursing agent connected with it during the last fiscal year, I have the honor to report as follows: THE CAPITOL. By the act approved July 7, 1884, an appropriation was made for the purpose of cleaning the outside walls of the wings, under the direction of the Architect of the Capitol. The north front and portions of the eastern and southern fronts have been cleaned, and the work on the same is still progressing; this being the first thorough cleaning the exterior marble work has received since its construction. Various rooms, halls, and passages have been painted, the entrance to the Supreme Court room somewhat altered, and wooden floors placed over those of brick in several rooms connected with this court, and the entire Capitol building put in good condition. Some changes have been made to the steam coils of both wings, and the steam engine and tank of the House elevator have been moved and relocated in order to arrange convenient entrances from the cellars to the vaults of the new terraces. As to the working, repairs, and condition of the heating and ventilating apparatus of the Senate, Mr. Jones, the engineer, in his report says: Additional openings, aggregating 18 square feet, have been made in the floor of the Senate Chamber for the admission of pure air, and adjustable louvers have been erected over the ceiling to facilitate the egress of that which has become vitiated. A siphon condenser has been successfully introduced for the condensation of the exhaust-steam of the engines and steam-pumps, and the pump of the elevator has been replaced by a new one of larger and more suitable capacity, the original being most advantageously used in replacing a still smaller one that was worn out in the service of furnishing the general water-supply of the wing. The fire-doors of the boilers with their cast-iron frame-work and appendages-which were burned out-have been replaced by new structures in which the doors are attached to water compartments more durable than the boilers themselves, in which there had been developed so many evidences of weakness that it was deemed prudent to subject them to a special and thorough inspection. Through the courtesy of the Hon. Secretary of the Navy, Chief Engineer John Lowe was detailed for that service. In his report, he says: "The following repairs are necessary to make the boilers safe for further use, viz: In all the furnaces from a line two feet above the grate bars to any convenient line below them, the inner sheets of the water legs should be cut out and replaced by material as nearly as possible like that taken out with the necessary stay bolting." And after specifying other minor repairs, adds: "With these repairs well done, considering the purity of the water these boilers will be fit for their usual service for a period of about three years, at the end of which time they should be replaced by new boilers of a more modern and efficient type." This work, which is necessary to the continued use of the boilers during the ensuing session of Congress, is being done-though involving a large expenditure-but when completed the boilers will still be lacking in durability, efficiency, and economy. Permit me to add that while prudence requires that provision be made for a renewal of the boilers before the extreme limit of durability is reached, such renewal, with increased capacity, should be provided for at a very early period, in view of the certain necessity for the increased supply of steam in the near future, which increase these boilers have not the capacity to furnish. During the coldest winter weather the entire battery has to be brought into requisition and worked to the utmost to meet the present necessity for heat and the power to operate the machinery now in use. But while there is no present surplus of steaming capacity, not even such as prudence requires in order to provide against accidents or temporary emergencies from any cause, an increased quantity of steam will be required for warming and ventilating the extensive storage rooms that are now being constructed to the north and west of the wing. Such moderate warming and ventilation will be necessary to make them serviceable for the storage of books, papers, &c., or other property requiring a dry and pure air for their preservation. While the necessity of this increase in capacity is certain, and in part immediate, the necessities involved in the prospective introduction of the electric light to in part take the place of gas-light should be borne in mind. This would involve a very large increase in the quantity of steam required in order to provide the motive power for the dynamo-machines. Provision for such increase must absolutely precede the use of the electric light. Besides the special work above enumerated, the steam coils and engines have been maintained in good condition, the latter especially being so adjusted as to work with exceptional smoothness. This work has contributed very much to good results in the heating and ventilating of the Senate Chamber, and in facility and uniformity in operating the machinery and appliances of the engineer's department. Relating to the heating and ventilating of the House wing, Mr. Lannan, the engineer, reports: Owing to the very severe weather of the past winter, it was necessary to keep an unusually high pressure upon the heating coils. In consequence several of them have given out and will require repairs. The main shaft of engine No. 2 was broken February 11 last. Temporary repairs were then made, which enabled the engine to do service until the close of the session of Congress. A new shaft is required to replace the broken one. The other engines and fans will need only ordinary running repairs. The boilers, upon examination, appear to be in good condition except that upon the side sheets of the furnace several small cracks have developed which will require patching. The large receiving air-duct has been very much improved by the laying of an asphaltic concrete floor its entire length. The following are the important averages taken from daily observations: Revolutions of fan.. Volume of air carried to Hall each revolution Volume of air carried to Hall per minute.... Volume of air carried to Hall per minute for each person... cubic feet.. - per cent.. Volume of air removed from Hall per minute for each person, through louvers in roof Average relative humidity. Notwithstanding the severity of the weather the heating surface was found to be ample to keep the building comfortably heated and ventilated. The temperature in the Hall at no time during sessions of Congress varied over 2°; the highest being 71° and the lowest 69.0 Credit should be given to both these officers and the men under them for important services rendered in making repairs to the engines and steam coils in their respective departments during the summer recess. |