National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-09-29
THE GOVERNMENT OFFICE.
HOW 1T is PROVIDED WITH ESCAPE IN
CASE OF FIRE

| HOW 1T is PROVIDED WITH ESCAPE IN
| CASE OF FIRE.
The recent terrible disaster at FAN River, and
the statement which appeared in an evening Co
| temporary short time since that q similar c.
lamity was likely to occur at any moment at the
| Government printing office, has caused consider
1 able uneasiness in our midst, and representa-
tive of THE REPUBLICAN yesterday called on Su-
/ perintendent Clspp at his office, to ascertain
| what If any, precautions had been taken to pre-
vent so dire an event taking place in that build
| ing. Mr.. Clspp stated that while he recognised
the Importance Of taking every precautiOn to
! guard against everything like fire, he believed
that the statements which had appeared in pub
/ lie print were calculated 70 create needless
alarm, as, in his opinion no such disaster a. the
one referred to could by any means occur In that
ONCE.
In the first place no IRE is used in Rnypart Of the
building proper as the heating is done entirely
| by steam, the boilers being located in an out
building, situated some distance from the main
edifee. In the second place the gas, which is
used for lighting, bis invariably Lit by the
laborers, who are provided with wax tapers for
that purpose and under no circumstances are thew
allowed to light q match or piece OF paper when
there is gas jet burning from which to light the
taper. The lighting Of piece of paper or match
by any other employee than those mentioned in
any part Of the building, under any circumstances
recognized as such by them.
As regards the means Of escape from the
building in case fire should occur, the two upper
stories communicate with the lower ones by
means Of two stairTsys and two elevators, one
each at the east and west ends Of the building,
distant from each other at least 200 feet. From
the second floor, in addition to the means men,
toned above there is q stairway about feet
wide leading down to the main H-street entrance.
passageway leads out to the ware-room, and
communicates with q stairway leading int the
yard. Another psssageWaY leads into the stereO-
typing-room, from which q stairway leads down
into the yard. From the lower floor, in addition
TO the various doors, every window can be used,
if necessary; so that there is no danger OF any
one on that floor being injured.
Mr.. Clapp also states that he has made AZ
rangements to have another stairway at the west
end Of the building, six feet Eide from the top to
the ground floor, and is also having the hose
Overhsuled, and If it is found not in good order
he will have it replaced by new hose.
From this statement IL will be seen that every
precaution has and will be taken to prevent any
disaster like that Of Fail River, and the en-.
plOyees can rest assured that their safety and
welfare will ever be uppermOst in the mind of
their able and kind-hearted superintendent.
The following card will explain the views Of
Mr.. Clapp on the subject:
OFFICE OF THE CONGRESSIONAL PRINTER,
WASHINGTON, September Is 1874.
Editor of the Star: Being a constant reader Of
your journal, the communication and editorial it
contained yesterday relating to the safety Of the
employees of this ofiee in case Of FIRE did not es-
cape my notice. think those articles are calcu-
lated TO cause needless alarm and work unjust
prejudice. While an not insensible to the i'm
portanee Of exercising all possible precautiOn and
care looking TO the preservation Of life and limb
in case Of cOn1agratiOn; and while I should
deeply regret any unfortunate results, from a
lack Of abundant safeguards, must deprecate
any undue effort to impair confidence and create
panic, in view Of existing facts. The subject of
the safety Of the employees Of this building in
case Of fire has been matter Of frequent confer
ence between the engineer in charge OF the build
ing and myself, and as often as It has been con-
have come to the deliberate conclusion that these
abundant to prevent fire or to effect its speedy
eItinguishment shOu Id it unfortunately occur.
The ground story Of the main building, which |
is used as engine-room, press-roOm, dryfnKroom
and Ware-rOOm, is without fire, except from gas
for lighting. The paper and other fnfammabIe |
material referred to by you and your correspond
ent is gathered from the floor constantly during
the day, and hence there can be no dangerous ac-
cumulstiOn thereof. The machinery runs at O |
low rate Of speed, and is kept constantly oiled SO
that no ignition from friction can possibly occur
Then again there are i've doors In the press and
drying-roOms and three in the Eare-roOm, as
means Of egress.
The second story is occupied and used for the |
for the Congressional Printer and his clerks, No
fire is used on this floor except in burning gas for
lighting. Like the other stories it is heated by |
4
danger safety to either life property as against
fire. This story has five places Of escape one Of
which is nearly six feet wide. |
The third story is occupied by the bindery. 1t |
is heated by steam, and gas is burned for light |
ing, &c. Great care is constantly exercised |
throughout this department to prevent fire. The |
means Of escape from this story, which, when in |
full work, contains only about 800 persona is by
two stairWays and three elevators.
The fourth and upper story is used for CON-
position Of the Record and for folding and stor-
ing work in progress from the press TO the bind
cry. 1t has two stairWays and three elevators |
to relieve the room Of its occupants in case Of |
fire.
These stories are supplied with hose for extin.
water in each, and yet the greatest protection ex-
lists in the constant and vigflant watch eIer-
cised throughout the building during the hours Of
labor. During this time the place Is alive with |
mechanics and labOrers on the watch and 1t isnot
possible, while thus occupied and guarded, for .
hre to originate in any part Of the main building
and get one minutes start of observation, and |
should one occur it could scarcely exist minute
after being discovered without being eXtin- /
guished.
Then, again, all experience demonstrates that |
when the office is in full force, the building, with
its existing means Of egress clear itself ofits
people in five minutes unless some act of criminal
folly should prevent
md that the hose held in the building as the /
means Of exttnguishing IRE has been condemned i
by your correspondent. The engineer assures me /
that it was perfect when introduced, and has never
been impaired by use. However, its condition will
be severely tested, and If found defective 1t will
be supplanted BY perfect and more useful ar
tiele. No expense necessary, under the Judgment |
Of a competent engineer Will be spared TO secure
the employees Of this otfics against accident to
life or limb in case Of hreI for It far better
insure safety than that either should Be put in /
jeopardy.
Congressional Printer.