192 Reports on Special Researches 



building, to 220 volts. The power and light circuits are metered separately. The separate 

 motor drives are economical, and the elimination of an engineering force that would be 

 required in connection with the development of our own power efTects a considerable 

 economy in expense of maintenance. The lighting of the building is on 3-wire 110- volt 

 alternating-current circuits and is controlled from panel-boards moimted in iron boxes, as 

 indicated on the plans. Light fixtures are all of brass with statuarj- bronze finish to match 

 the hardware. Doric moonstone glassware is used throughout, except for several special 

 fixtures of Alba glass. All rooms, depending on size, have 2-, 3-, or 4-light pendant fixtures, 

 using 25-watt lamps for each light, and 1 or 2 side-light brackets; the larger rooms are 

 provided with two 3-light pendant fixtures. Each pendant light fixture is provided with 

 an outlet at the center of the body, froin which may be taken current for desk lamps or 

 special experunental work. The corridors, shop, and furnace-room are lighted with half- 

 bowl ceiling lights using 40-watt units. The main stair-hall is lighted by a special fixture, 

 a glass globe 16 inches in diameter with the lines of the continents cut deeply in the glass, 

 and containing eight 40-watt lamps, the whole being suspended by a heavy bronze chain. 

 The outside entrance lighting is obtained from two heavy bracket lights in iron of fine detail. 



The heating of the building is effected by a one-pipe, gravity-return, low-pressure steam 

 system; two radiators are provided in each of those rooms most exposed, to control more 

 effectively the heating during milder seasons by using only one radiator. The heater has 

 a capacity of 3,1.50 square feet of radiation. All exposed pipes in basement and sub-base- 

 ment are covered with 85 per cent carbonate of magnesia cover bound in canvas with brass 

 straps and well painted. The radiators are plain cast iron 2-column tjTse, 26 inches high. 

 Outside of the special ventilation provided for the storage battery, clock, lacquering, 

 soldering, constant-temperature, and chemical-laboratory rooms, and the entry hall to the 

 storage-battery rooni, there is no forced ventilation. The rooms will at no time be crowded 

 and am])le ventilation under this condition is afforded by use of transoms over the outside 

 windows and over interconmiunicating doors. 



The floor covering generallj' used throughout the building is linoleum three-sixteenths 

 inch thick. The entire back of the linoleum was cemented, with a special glue, to the floor 

 and fastened df)wn as soon as it was cut; it was then rolled with a heavj^ roller weighing 

 about 150 pounds, and the joints were further weighted down, after rolling, with long, slender 

 sandbags, until the glue was thoroughly set. This question of floor covering was one upon 

 which there seemed to be much diversity of opinion, but the linolemn covering as applied 

 and in place for about nine months has been found to be extremely satisfactory in the office 

 rooms, in the laboratoiy rooms, and in the shop, where it is subjected to particularly hard 

 wear. It is a very sanitary floor covering, is easily kept clean, and, being elastic, eliminates 

 the objection of the tiring effect resulting from standing any length of time on inelastic 

 cement floors. There has been no trouble with expansion and contraction of the linoleum. 

 Special care was used in laying it and in detailing the baseboard and trun to cover the edges 

 at walls. For the floors not so covered in the attic, in three of the basement rooms, and in 

 the sub-basement, the cement surface was painted with two coats of a cement filler to 

 prevent "dusting," a frequent source of annoyance. 



The stairs throughout the building are either of iron or iron with slate treads. It was 

 decided not to use concrete for stair work because of the frequent difficulty experienced with 

 "dusting," and the "crazing" of the cement surface, which results in a rather unsightly 

 appearance. For the main stairs, black slate treads have been used; the slate ])latform is in 

 two colors, the border being the same as the treads and the insert of a greenish tone. 



Communication between the various rooms and with the outside telephone-service is 

 accomj)lished thi-ough an interphone system, made b}' the Western Electric Company and 

 consisting of 14 instruments installed by the local telephone company jn conduits running 

 through the building. The two trunk lines of the telephone company are brought in 

 through an underground conduit. 



