34 CHEMICAL DISCOVERY AND INVENTION 



poses. Steam, illuminating gas, and hot and cold water are 

 everywhere available ; distilled water in block tin pipes, com- 

 pressed air, and vacuum for experimental purpose are to be 

 provided in almost every laboratory. Large pipes for a vacuum 

 cleaning plant (not yet installed for lack of funds) have outlets 

 at convenient places. Yet another pipe for oxygen or any other 

 gas which may be needed throughout the building has been 

 placed in most of the rooms. In addition to these conveniences 

 the walls between the adjoining rooms are pierced in numerous 

 places by porcelain tubes, which provide a convenient means of 

 leading material in pipes or electricity with wires from one room 

 to another. In one corner of the building similar openings through 

 the floors permit the installation of continuous apparatus from 

 the basement to the open air above the roof. This is designed to 

 permit the measurement of pressures by means of a high mercury 

 column or for any other work needing considerable vertical 

 height. Electricity of four kinds is available through many 

 outlets ; namely, direct current of 500, 110, and 20 volts, and 

 alternating of 110 volts. An automatic electric lift (provided 

 by a second generous gift of the younger of the original donors, 

 after the building was almost finished) will greatly facilitate the 

 transportation of light apparatus from floor to floor. Space has 

 been left for the installation of a larger passenger elevator, when 

 funds permit. 



" The numerous hoods have straight flues of tile pipe, running 

 each one individually straight to the roof without connecting 

 with any other outlet. The chimney-pots on the roof which 

 provide for the emerging air are so arranged by automatic devices 

 that a wind will increase rather than diminish their action. 

 Large porcelain thimbles finish the lower outlets of these flues, 

 which form the only exits for impure air in those rooms thus 

 fitted. The wall spaces back of the hoods are covered with im- 

 pervious encaustic tile, of a pale warm grey tint, and the same 

 tile is used to form a high dado, reaching five feet above the 

 ground, surrounding all the chemical laboratories. At the top 

 of this dado is fastened everywhere a horizontal strip of wood 

 which gives convenient opportunity for attaching shelves or 

 securing apparatus. 



" Some of the desks are covered with tiles like those used for 

 the dado ; others are finished in modern lava tops, or thick glass, 

 soapstone, or wood, according to the purpose for which they are 



