Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1877-12-22
The Need for n District Government
EujldinS.
DISCUSSION AND ACTION OF THE DISTRICT
COMMISSJONERS

DISCUSSION AND ACTION OF THE DISTRICT
COMMISSIONERS.
Reference was made in Thursdays STAR To
the subject of the need for fire proof District
government building and a brief statement
OF the views and purposes of the Commission
ers was given in relation thereto. In the dis
cuSSlon referred To. the concurrent opinion of
those oifclals was mat the present is most
iaNorabIe time To present this subject to Con
gress. The recent destructive fire 1T the Pat
ent Ofhce =: the super iOrity OF bricks as build
ing material as compared with stone in the
construction Of government buildings when
viewed In the light OF safety and security for
pubic records: preference for the City Hall
site for District Offices on account of its isola-
ton from cOmbustible surroundings; the de-
STABILITY OF concentrating all branches of the
District government at central point, and
the scattered and insecure condition of our
District records, were among the topics dwelt
sense OF dread every time he leaves his Office
TO go to his home, thinking what great loss
might be entailed upon the District in case of
fire at the Columbia buildings. Commits
sioners DennisOn and Phelps both said they
often have the same fears. Governor DENIM
son said 1t was a matter which concerns
citizens. The District government is now
paying rent for rooms i'm which to trans
act the public business, equal in amount
annually, to- the interest on. one hundred
that direction would in a few years pay the
cost OF finishing up the City Hall according to
the plans. Commissioner Phelps thought that
IL bricks were substituted for stone as build
ing material. which in his judgment was pref
cradle, the whole cost would not amount to the
sum stated: besides this. how desirable il
would he set our unemployed mechanics and
labOrerS TO work this winter. Should the ap-
preparation be made now, he believed that the
work of eXcavating and laying the foundation
and superStructure walls could be carried on
nearly all the winter. and the building finished
up in a condition to be occupied before the eX-
piratiOn of the time for which the District is
liable fer the Columbia building. Commission
er Bryal added that il this undertaking could
he brought about, and il must be. il would be
happy solution to several troublesome matters
I'm which our citizens are deeply interested,
among them the location Of the Police Court
which i'm that event could be moved into the
common District building, as well as all other
branches Of the government. He favored
prompt and vigorous action, but I'm the mean
time they should leave nothing undOne for the
protection of the District records, by using
such means as they have. Something should
he done at once to avoid the calamity OF fire
A dozen or two of India rubber water buckets
on each floor, kept filed at all hours might BE-
OF great service and a firemenS' organization
he made among the clerks and employees Of the
office, with rules as to what should be each
mans duty i'm case OF emergency. Finally, Mr.
Townsend, the property clerk, was called i'm,
and questioned as to the cost Of procuring
BabcOck fire extinguisher for each floor with
buckets, hose. &c, and he with Chief Engi-
neer CrOnin Of the fire department, were in
Structed TO examine into the subject and sub
nit Il report.