Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1877-10-04
Correspondence.
Letter from Washington.

WA~HIN6rpN. u. <. >,pt. -. l,.1.
1HE BURNING OF IHE rArENI OFFICE.
/, should De understood that the d-c va.
confined 70 the IS story aud attic, that what
damage occurred 10 tie room, aud their con
tents Of the basement. 1t and "a story was
from the water and hss,y removal. The tire
b5gan At or near the Southwest corner ia the
attic, snd burning through the floor made half
the circuit Of the building 10 the Northeast
corner, having every thus that could ignie IN
the oh and q street halls AMI 10 the attic
above. The marble wall, were leiI standing
but their cracked and caicinei condition will,
II i believed. necc--ita,e their removal to the
noor and their substitution by new marble.
Estimated loss direct about $1,000 bu,
thO.e indirectly resulting and 10 result are in
cAlculALe. Chief Engineer CROWN Of our Firy
DEPARTMENT, believes the IRE was burning some
hours beione Il was detected, AMI fully half
hour was lost by employee trying to extingui.h
the l.me. before the alarm was sounded. H.
l. sl>o reported Of the opinion that the fire was
purpo>ely set, and there seems 10 b. no doubt
entertained by large majority that the sup.
Elementary IRE % OF ~ rod. east on Il. street
was the work OF one or more inceudiaries. IL
i. believed that sufficient data wa. saved by
which most Of the %, co. models destroyed can
BE- reproduced. II fortunately happens that
the records OF the Land ONCE were on the two
lower floors; and though somewhat defaced
and mutiiated by water and hasty remoN al,
few weeks will suffice TO restore them. so there
Will be little inconvenience or loss come from
thi, source. The loss Of models will likely OPP
crate 10 end much litigation and may originate.
some. The startling announcement I. made
that with the exception OF the new state De
partment the roof OF every public building in
the District, including the Capitol. i as delec-
tive and dangerous "a that usi burned. Imme'
diately under them. save in the case of the
first named, hundreds Of tons OF the most COM
buslible material are stored, awaiting the accl-
dental spark and inviting the hre-bgg's loren.
There comes demand from every section
heard from, that every valuable paper shall be
duplicated and stored in fire-proof building
and that immediate steps be taken 10 render
all the others Of the same character cost what
II may, and the Governments parsimonious
policy in depending upon the inadequate fire
triet 10 protect its many millions worth Of
property from fire, is being mercilessly criti-
cised a. IL deserves to be. Every appeal for an
appropriation by District officials has been
met with a frown by Congress, and few
thousands was all thst could be obtained. The
losses of Monday convey many valuable les
sons, If the Government chooses TO profit by its
costly experience. There were q few minor
accidents but no loss OF life. The vast crowds
that witnessed the fire behaved in the most adj
mirable manner, hardly a case OF disorder oc-
curing. Thieves in 4 few instances, took adj
vantage Of the excitement and confusion u ply
their vocation; and sever al OF the fraternity
found themselves In limbo before night. Let
me also acknowledge the efficient service rem
dered by Alexmdris and Baltimore firemen.
To their presence We are probably indebted for
contning the eonfiagration To the comparative
ly narrow limits indicated and our own fire.
men and police merit all the good things said
10 them by Mr.. Sehurz aud others who wit
messed their devotion to duty.
List ofthe classes Of models destroyed in the
Patent Office Fire of Sept. "A. 1877. Furnished
by Gilmore, Smith & Co., Patent Solicitors,
SO +. st. Washington, ID. q. Any particular
information desired may be obtained by adj
dressing that firm.
Aerstion. Bridges, Brushes. Brooms, Butch
cry, Battling, Baths, Bee Hives. Bolts, Brakes.
Carpentry, Carriages. Closets Castings, Doors,
Dairy, Engineering, Excavations, Fences,
Files, Glass, Gins, Garden Grinding. Hosting,
Hydraulics. Harrows, Hsrsesters, Gutter
Bars saved Journals and Bearings, Lime and
Cement. Masonry, Mechanical Power. Metal
lurgy, Metal Working q clssses) Mills, Nuts,
Nails, Needles. Orchard, Paving. Presses,
Pumps, Pneumatics, Polishing Planes. Planters
(very few saved Roofing. Railways, "A classes)
Rims. Stone. Saws, seeders "a lew saved)
Sheet Metal. stsbling, Threshing, Tobacco,
Tubing, Wagons. Hive, Water Wheels, Wire
Working, Wood Working.