Evening Star Newspaper, July 24, 1932, Page 67

_THE SUNDAY STAR, WASHINGTON, D. C, JULY 24, Roof on Wheels Controls Weather Tropical Climate Matched in Washington as Ingenious Sliding Glass Skylight Harnesses Sunshine Over Patio of Pan-American Building. BY GENE DAY. EATHERWISE authorities of the beautiful Pan-American Union Building have harnessed the sun successfully as a substi- tute “stove” in heating its charming patio where 100 species of tropical plants are grown as intri- guing ornamentals. True to say, the miracle of growing these tropicals outdoors in the latitude of Washing- ton during Winter weather has thus far evaded consummation. However, the “Pan-Am” ex- perts are raising these hot-climate plants in- doors without artificial heat and with nothing more than thin panes of glass in a ‘“portable skylight” separting the tender growing things from National Capital Winter frigidity. The strange arrangement is such that during the coldest days in Washington when the mer- cury ranges from 5 to 10 degrees above zero, the temperature in the Pan-American Building patio never falls lower than 70 degrees despite that neither radiators, hot-water pipes, heat- ing coils nor other artificial sources of in- creased indoor temperature are employed. Tropical plants demand direct sunlight ex- posure, fresh air and heat if they are to live and mature to the glory of complete floral magnificance in a foreign and cold latitude. Appreciating these facts, the Pan-American authorities equipped their patio with a mam- moth “skylight on wheels” operated by electri- city which can be thrown open during favor- able sunshiny days to let the weather in and which even during the dead of Winter aids in heating the indoor ‘“garden” by solar radiation through the thin but strong glass. This movable roof, the only one of its kind in current use, is the successful product of re- search and experimentation. It has been re- modeled since its first experimental days and now works as well as anything mechanical made of steel and glass and functioned by electricity, the sleeping power giant, could pos- sibly work. When you understand that this gargantuan skylight weighs 142 tons—it is composed of 8 tons of steel and 6'2 tons of glass—you will better appreciate that engineering mechanical wizardry necessarily had to be invoked in its practical construction and operation. Any one familiar with building construction under- stands the difficulty associgted with building a permanent skylight 50 feet square which would be waterproof. To make a movable contrap- tion of that size and weight was much more difficult. S originally built after much study and re- search, an elevator lift installed at one end of the sliding skylight was used to operate it by means of a series of whips or idlers. This arrangement required some very long % -inch cables, the slack and stretch of which caused the roof to move unevenly. This resulted in the occasional breaking .of both cables and glass. It caused undue strain on both the walls and roof. The skylight on wheels de- veloped the habit of staging such a breakdown when weather conditions were such that it was most needed for daily service. ‘That led to thc eventual perfection by H. Burkholder, superintendent of the Pan-Ameri- can Union Building, of a new style of auto- matic operation for the movable roof over the patio. Ultimately, Mr. Burkholder installed a 220-volt 5-horsepower motor in the basement of the building as the practical giant designed to slide the 14'2-ton skylight back and forth as desired. This motor moves the skylight by means of worm and bevel gears on a shaft extending from the basement to the roof of the building. On top of the building, a second shaft has been provided which extends cross- wise to parallel shafts connected to worm and pinion gears that are meshed into a geared rack fastened to the movable skylight. The movable section of roof is equipped with roller bearing wheels, which are double-flanged to prevent them from jumping the track of heavy railroad rails on which they run. The housings containing the worm and pinion gears are fastened securely to the base supporting this track, while the weight of the vertical shaft leading from the basement to the roof is car- ried by a special roller thrust bearing made expressly for that purpose. During hot weather, this skylight can be opened fully, exposing an area of the patio 50x50 feet in floor dimension to the bright sun- light. This automatic “ventilator” in addition to exposing the tropical plants to fresh air and sunshine without moving them outdoors, also provides for the entrance of plenty of fresh air, which results in a delightful modi- fication of the temperature conditions inside the building. The mighty skylight can be opened by the electrical control in exactly 14 minutes. This process is somewhat slow because of the pon- derous weight which must be moved without breakdown or tieup. Neither ‘muffier nor noise insulation facilities are provided, yet the sky- light on wheels moves so quietly that a person standing in the patio never knows what is going on over his head unless he looks up at the huge “horizontal window” in the roof as it slides open. If the air in the patio was heated as ordi- narily by artificial means, it would probably be dried out too much for the proper growth and develcpment of the many valuable tropical plants which it shelters. These plants in their native lands are accustomed to a moist atmos- phere of relatively high humidity and a con- stant tropical temperature which fluctuates very little. Artificial humidification would be essential if these tropical plants were main- tained in the average public building under ordinary room temperature conditions. ‘The patio ‘‘steals” some heat from the en- closed corridors which encircle this tropical garden in a northerly setting. This heat flows by conduction through the substantial walls, windows and doors which separate the rest of the artistic Pan-American Building from the patio. The surrounding corridors are maintained at a Winter indoor temperature of 70 degrees Fahrenheit. The seepage of heat by conduction from the corridors to the patio as well as the radiant heat from the sun are sufficient in their combined consummations to maintain the patio at a simulated tropical lemperature and humidity even during the cold- est weather which prevails in our National Capital. HEN the outdoor temperature ranges from 28 to 32 degrees Fahrenheit and when the Pan-American Union Building is maintained at a temperature of 70 degrees Fahrenheit, the patio gains about 10 degrees of its normal warmth from solar radiation while the balance obtains from conduction and infiltration through walls, windows and doors. Ordinarily the “closed season” for this gigantic skylight on wheels covers the period from October un- til late April. It is only very rarely during that interval that weather conditions are favorable enough to permit of opening the glass roof 1 a few hours during the middle of the From the latter part of April until the mid- dle of October, however, the mammoth sliding section of roof is open daily except when cold winds are blowing or when portending storms 1932. Trick roof runs on steel track under electric switch control. are developing. During that period, the tropi- cal plants protected within the cool building are sheltered from extreme heat in similar manner as though they were growing in their native forests and fields. Throughout the day they are flodded with a wealth of sunshine, while the fountain pool in the center of the patio aids in providing a certain amount of moisture in the atmosphere by normal evapora- tion. The plants themselves are watered daily by hand or with a hose. During fair weather, the big skylight remains open at night so that the tropical plant§ in the patio are also ex- posed to the benefits of nocturnal dew forma= tion. In every respect, provision is made for plant comfort and well-being and the evidences are that the South American tropicals are fooled into believing that they are still resis dents of the lands of their nativity instead of being exhibition plant immigzrants in the United States, thousands of miles from the soil i which they were nurtured orginally. All of which is just another striking illustre tion of science's modern-day efficiency im simulating weather cenditions when the need for such practical imitation arises. The Speaker’s Gavels felt pride in killing a huge walrus, and a group of boys started to work in a vocational class in Boonesville, Mo., and & lumberman cut a cocobola tree in Africa, and the workmen placed longleaf pine timbers in the White House following the damage done by the British in 1815, and Dave Goodwin, rancher, fired at John Beasley, tax asscssor in the Texas cattlemen’s war during the 90's—little did each realize he was contributing to the order of the United States lawmakers. For the same reason that Dr. Fields took a small piece of bone from the leg of the deer he had shot and made a polished handle of it which he inserted in a piece ¢f horn from a white-faced cow, several youngsters spent many hours in a Missouri cmssroom making a similar handle and head of Southern cedar. Unwit- tingly, Speaker John Nance Garner has be- come a collector of gavels, as the two cabinets full in his office testify. The significance of the small piece of oak sent to the Speaker by J. A. Dukeminier of Wellington, Tex., recalls the picturesque 90's in Texas when cattlemen raced over the plains in HEN Dr. C. L. Fields of Groom, Tex., \ N ) shot a deer, and an Eskimo whaler The roof on wheels which improves weather conditions in the patio of the Pan-American Building. brisk skirmishes with any one who dared intess fere with their occupation. At the Collings= worth County Court House, Rancher Dave Good win fired at, Tax Assess.r John Beasley, the bullet grazing Beasley's head, knocking off his hat and lodging in the Court House stairwayg, A gavel, cut from the stairway, preserves the bullet and the exciting history it recalls. January 9 of this year two distinguished obe jects of wood came together when a gavei made form lcngleaf pine timbers taken from the roof of the White House in 1927, banged for order on the House rostrum which has supported many an illustrious speaker. The pine timbers were first placed in the President's mansicn im 1815 after the building had been damaged by the British. George W. Rohleder sent a gavel to Repe resentative Garner for other purposes than noising throughout the House the call for ordem, “This gavel is good for anybody who raises new issues or wants to send our mcney across the sea. We need our dollars here. Make thosg Rowdy Boys behave.” This inscription was imm closed with the harmless-looking, but strong, gavel from the Eagle Pass, Tex., citizen. The simplicity, courage and leadership of an old Texas hero reminded R. R. Stephen of the Lone Star State's newest hero. So, from the root of an ebony tree on the camp ground of that dauntless soldier, old Zachary Taylor, & shining sturdy little gavel was carved and sent to the Speaker. One locks twice at a rather unpretentioug gavel placed among the collection of silves, ivory and intricately carved objects. And withy a certain amount of reverance, it is laid atop the costly array. The small tag around ity handle reads: “Last gavel used by Speaker Nicholas Longworth. House called to order March 4. Speaker died April 9.” Perhaps it was because of the gavel-tragedy which occured on the opening day of Congress that the Speaker's office was immediately there= after besiged with many and varied additions to his assortment. The West Texas Chamber of Commerce was hcnored on that opening day when the Speaker selected the gavel sent by that organization to call the 71st session of Congress to order. With a loud bang the new Speaker gave his first official “come to order” command. The bang rescunded into a splinterw ing and cracking, not belittling the strength of the Texas lawmaker but perhaps over-estimating the merit of the West Texas Chamber of Comm merce mesquite gavel. Another gavel guaramm teed to undergo the most severe use was forthem coming within the next few days from that civi¢ organizaticn. The postman made many trips to Mr. Ga; ) office after that, bringing packages, each 5 which had been attested as to its respecti durability. H. G. Lumbard of Girad, Ohio; declared that his gift to the Speaker might wear out, but it would not break. Hides of Texas cattle were closely entwined to make one of the most artistic and unusual gavels in the sollection. When Edward F. Williams of Blythe, Calif, and Representative Phil Swing presented & gavel to Speaker Garner on behalf of the Pala Valley residents, they declared it was made of the hardest wood and would probably stand many sessions of constant use. It is made of ironwood from the Chuckawala Desert of Calie fornia and required a steel lathe to cut it. Had the Speaker any need of a bodyguard the gavel presented by J. B. Smythe would be a suitable weapon for such a person. For withy one blow of the Uvalde rock asphalt and mesquite object, order, to the point of unconsci« ousness, might easily be obtained. When Senators Walsh and Coolidge dew clared that B. W. Doyle of Leominister, Wis5 was preparing a gavel which would not only make the necessary amount of noise o quiet several hundred debaters, but would outiast Continued on Thirteenth Page