New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-09-25


and upper ceiling rendered the fremen almost help
less and they were obliged to witness the flames
running along under the roof of the north front,
without being able to do anything to check them.
On both of these fronts the roof fell through
to the floor of the museum This, fortunately,
was of marble, and supported on Solid
arches of sufficient strength to resist even
the fall of the iron trusses which held the rafters.
When the fire, after burning out north from the
model room began to run under the roof of the East
front and appeared coming through it half way to-
ward the south or Est. 'front.' it was the general
expectation that the whole upper floor would be de-
stroyed; but the ceiling of this front groned,
and the brick arches kept the fire from coming
through to the model cases, and after the timbers
of the roof under this front pretty well eaten
out by the fire portion of the roof was taken of,
and the fire was then easily subdued.
THE SECTIONS THAT WERE SAVED.
Tho south corridor Of the museum, which is the
first one which visitors enter, unframed. This
will be remembered as the one with the blue col
umns and ceilings, and also the which contains
Washington's effects and Frankln's prntingpress.
Besides the south corridor the east corridor of the
museum was also saved, and in these corridors the
most valuable models were stored. An immense
amount of water was thrown into the build
ing, in the three four hours that the
ten or twelve engines were at work. The
contents of fully one-half of the rooms of
the main lower and sub-basement floors were
much damaged with water. There was however,
very little destruction of records, except in the attic
lofts. About $4,000 models destroyed. OF
these some 10000 were of the class known as re-
ected OF the rejected class about twelve per cent
of those lost may cause trouble, and then only in
cases of future interference. The Government viii
not undertake to restore these models except in a
few cases wherA it is very important to have them.
HISTORY AND CHARACTER OF THE BUILDING
The Interior Department. generally designated as
the Patent Office, commenced to be erected
about 1882 The first Appropriation for 1t was made
july 4. 1896 The Act of that year appropriated
sos 600 TO begin the building, which, in the Ian
guagc of the Act was to be fre-proof with suitable
accommodation for the Patent Office. How far fire
proof 1t was the record Of to-day will show.
The total appropriations for the Patent Ohce
building amounts to $2,645, 500. 1t is not TOO
much to say that the injury done to the bulld-
ing by the fire of to-day VIII amount TO
81 100000 This vast structure, which was
nearly ruined to-day, is known az the Patent once
Building although the Patent Office is only single
Bureau in the Interior Department.. The structure
receives it's designation of Patent Office for the rea-
son that the building, around which the Interior De-
partment centres, originally constructed Tor the
Patent Office ten years before the Interior Depart
ment was organized. fine Interior Department
which occupies the building includes the IL
dian Office, Bureau of Education, Patent Office,
Pension Office Land Office Bureau of Surveyors of
the Territories and various minor bureaus under the
charge OF the Interior Department The records Of
everything relating 10 patents pensions. pub
lie lands, Indians, census, education, benevolent
societies of the District Of Columbia, and railroad
land grants are for the most part located in this
building.
The Patent Office occupies the entire square,
bounded on the east by Seventh aud on the west by
Nlnth-sts, on the south 0y +, andOn the north by
G-sts The binding is located on the place in the
Government Reservation. originally designated for
the National Church or Mansoleum. The space COW
cred by the building is about three acres The MAN
portion of the structure is of Virginia free-stone.
1t was completed in 1864 under the charge OF 3D.
ward Clark the present architect ofthe Caplol. HE
building is IN the form Of quadrangle inclosmg a
LARGE souare. The new portions Of the building
were faced ON the outside with Maryland marble,
and on the inside fronting the court, with New
England granite. The structure was modelled in
part after the Pantheon. Art critics have described
the Interior Department as one of the most majestic
structures in Washington. The southern front of
the Treasury has more architectural grace, but the
advantage of the Patent ONCE IS that from any
point it impresses one with its grandeur In out
ward appearance the fire has left slight trace, as the
exterior walls do not seem to be seriously injured.
The entire building is of pure Doric architecture,
strong, simple, majestic.
The LOSSES.
The greatest damage was done IN the Patent
Office, and especially in the Museum of Models.
There were something like 100000 models, CLASH
fed in almost 5000 subdivisions, comprising every
thing that had been collected since the destruction
of the old Patent Office i'll 1886. The upper rooms
near the spot where the fire was first discoy-
cred were filed with models that had been
drying for a quarter of century to feed
tho flames of to-day. 1t is difficult to
tell what has been lost, but it is certain that most
of the notable historical relics contained IN the
Building have been saved. Among the relics saved
are the Washington memorials, the coat worn by
Jackson at New Orleans De Kalbs war saddle, and
most of the curious articles which have been pre-
sented to the Government by different countries and
Which were from time to time stored in the Patent
Office. The hall where these models were stored
was originally intended for the exhibition of articles
Of home manufacture, but in the progress of time
became devoted to the Patent Office Museum 1t
was without an equal IN the world, and was always
referred 10 by strangers illustrating the develop
ment of American industries. 1t was possible IN
this room to trace the progress of mechanical arts
in this country since the foundation of the Museum
in 1886. and, but for the fire of that year, from the
foundation Of this Government 1t is fortunate for
the pensioners of the country that the neyerceasing
aeeumulations of public records had caused the
removal of the greater portion of the Pension Office
records from the Interior Department Building before
the destructive fire Of to-day. Formerly the office