Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-09-28
In Case of Fire at the Government
Printing Office.
OFFICE OF THE CONC RESsIONAL PRiErEg, }
WASprNa TON Santarnher o. 1S-I /,

OFFICE OF THR CONG RESSIONAL PRiETER. }
WASHINGTON, September ., 1S,4.}
Edltsr Of the Star:-Beinga a constant reader
of your journal, the communication ani Tito
rial it contained yesterday relating to the safety
of the employees of this Office In case of fire, dit
not escape my notce. / think these articles
are calculated to cause needless alarm aud work
unjust prejudice. While am not Insensible to
the importance o. exercising all possible pre-
caution and care looking 70 the pressrvatIoO of
life and limb, in case OF co1fi 9gr2tiOn; and
while should deeply regret suy uRfortTnAte
resuits, from lack of abundant safeguards, |
mHSt deprecate any undue effort TO impair cAa-
hdence and create panic, in view OF existing
facts. The subject of the safety of the em
ployes of this building in case of fire has been
matter OF frequent conference between the EN-
gineer in charge of the building and myself,
and a. often as 1t has been considered, In view
of the existing safeguards, We have come to the
del herate conclusion that these are abundant
t) prevent fire or to effect its speedy ex.In-
guishment should it unfortunately occur.
The ground story OF the m ain building, which
ls used as engine-roOm, press-ro0m, drying
room and ware room-is without fire EXCEPT
from gas for Lighting. The paper and other
inhsmma5le material referred TO by you and
your correspondent, is gathered from the floor
constantly during the day, and hence there can
De no dangerous accumulation thereof. The
machinery runs at low rate of speed, and is
kept constantly oiled, so that no ignition from
friction can possibly occur. Then, again there
are five doors in the press and drying rooms and
three in the ware room, as means OF egress.
The second-story is occupied and used for the
purposes OF composition, proof-reading and
oftces for the Congressional Printer and his
clerks. No fire Is used on this floor except in
burning gas for lighting. Like the other stories
1t is heated by steam, and nothing infiammable
is used to endanger safety to either life or prop
eIty as against fire. This story lhas five places
OF escape, one of which is nearly six feet wide.
The third-story is occupied by the bindery. II
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 per-
sons, is by two stairways and three elevators.
The fourth and upper story is used for com
posltIen OF the Record, aud 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 ex
tlngu1shtDg fires, with An abundant supply nos
or water IN each, and vet the greatest protec-
ton exists in the constant and vigiiaut watch
care exercised throughout the building during
the hours of labor. During this time the place
is alive with mechanics and laborers on the
watch, and ii is not possible, while thus occu-
pied and guarded, for a fire to originate In any
part or the main building, and get one minutes
start OF observation, and should one occur it
could scarcely exist miDue after being discoy-
cred without being extinguished.
Ihen, again, all experience demonstrates that
when the Office is in full force the building with
Its existing ans of egress can clear itself lit.
peope IN i've minutes, unless some act of GRIM
mai folly should prevent. find that the hose
held in the building as the means of eItinguish-
ing fire has been condemned by your CORES.
pondent. The engineer assures me that il wa.
perfect when introduced, and has never been
impaired by use. However, its condition will
be severely tested, and il found defective It will
be supplanted by perfect and more useful
article. No oexpense necessary, under the judg-
ment OF competent engineer, will be spared
TO secure the employees of this office against
accident to life or limb in case of fire, for it
were far better that large sum OF money should
afu hnr hot att
should be put in jeopardy. Yours, respectfully,
a. M. CLAPP, Cong. Printer