         @debug = true
 
         # create the root svg element
-        svg = d3.select(element).append('svg').attr('class', 'timeslider')
-        @root = svg.append('g').attr('class', 'root')
+        @svg = d3.select(element).append('svg').attr('class', 'timeslider')
 
         # default options and other variables for later
-        @options.width  = svg[0][0].clientWidth
-        @options.height = svg[0][0].clientHeight
+        @options.width  = @svg[0][0].clientWidth
+        @options.height = @svg[0][0].clientHeight
         @options.brush ||= {}
         @options.brush.start || = @options.start
         @options.brush.end ||= new Date(new Date(@options.brush.start).setDate(@options.brush.start.getDate() + 3))

            .x(@scales.x)
            .scaleExtent([1, Infinity])
            .on('zoom', zoom)
        @root.call(@options.zoom)

    # Function pair to allow for easy hiding and showing the time slider
    hide: ->

            )
            .extent([@options.brush.start, @options.brush.end])

        @svg.append('g')
            .attr('class', 'brush')
            .call(@brush)
            .selectAll('rect')
