Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-09-25
Many Valuable Models Des-
troyed.
Vigorous Efforts Of The FireIner
The Origin of the Fire is Un-
known.
THE FIRE BEGAN IN THE MODEL
ROOM.

| WASHINGTON, September "a. The Patent Of
| hce Building Is on fire. The fire broke out in the
model room, burnt through the roof and is now
blazing furiously.. All the engines in the District
have gone to the sceEe.
Later.-fhe fire is still raging particularly IA
the land office wing Of the Interior department,
building. The heat is so intense it is with diff
Guilty the scene can be approached. Doubtless
| many valuable papers and records are destroyed.
p. M. Firemen are working vigorously, hav-
| ing succeeded in getting their hose through the
windows of the spper story of the main build ing
but in spite of their efforts the flames seem to be
making headway, and while the whole of the up
per portion of the vest wing Ninth street is
being burned The ilames are also creeping along
between the ceiling and roof of the north wing
and that of the main build ing facing on street.
An immense number of valuable models are de-
stroyed.
L. Nj. Portions of the roof on 7:h street or
east wing will probably be saved, aud strong hopes
are entertained that the fire will not extend below
the floor of the model room. The most valuable
records of patent, land, indian and pension offices
as well as those of the interior department proper
stored on the fls two floors Of the building,
and none are as vet reached by the flames. The
heat was intense at one time.
The window frames of the buildings on street
opposite, jgnited, but were eXtiuguished. A gov
eminent engine from the navy yard and another
| from the ARSENAL are at work with those belong.
ing to this city, Baltimore and Alexandria. max
| my total of ten engines.
| The important feature Of the fire is the destruc
ton OF the works of invention in the character of
| lnnumerabe models destroyed together with re-
cords belonging to them. No opportunity to form
any idea of what is lost, except a general way.
y number Of models varously estimated at from
500 TO 10000, comprising conriyances of every
character.
The greater number of the more important
| models were on exhibition storage IN the
West Hall OF the building which well as the
North Hall was completely wrecked. The roofs
are burned Cases with models are gone and
that part Of the beautiful and spacious building is
one scene of ruin and demolition. The fire is now
confined to the attic in the upper room of the asst
Hall, from which nearly all the models are remov-
ed to the lower floors.
The loss in rejected models will be very great
to government. Everything is now 10 confusion,
and it is impossible to form a complete idea as to
the destruction IN the pat ent office building.
The land office, patent office. Indian office, with
multiiudes OF important books and records, occu-
pied great space in the vast marble enclosure.
All the Offices have suffered to some extent BY the
confused condition IN which the various docu-
ments belonging to them have been brought in
the effort TO save them. Many rooms on the low
er floors are also covered with waste. A large
police force surround and occupy the building.
P. NJ. The fire is exclusively confined to the
northwest corner of the building, and il under
control. 1t will be a long time before the differ
ent offices and divisions of the department will be
| able to resume work in regular routine order
There IS a confused mass Of papers and docu-
ments upon the main porch of the building 'front.'
| ing on street. These are all under guard, and
but few will he lost, but it will be the work of
months before the important papers be extr-
Gated from the debris. The public business will
be greatly retarded, will also many public in
divduals who have important business before the
| land and patent offices.
The marble walls of the building stand intact
all around the immense buildings, but on two sides
| OF II the entire contents entirely DESTROYED.
| There are various theories as to the origin OF
the fire. 1t is generally believed it originated in
the green house located at the Southwestern corn
Ell OF the building Immediately beneath the roof,
| and above the model room, fire having been
| kiudled in the stove IN this conservatory this
morning, the first tune this season. and there being
some defect in the hue, the wood work near it
lgnlted Others say that cotton stored in the con-
servatoiy was hired by the heat of the sun through
the glass.
The wind being from the southwest carried the
flames rapidly along the OH street front, and
thence along the 9Th street wing.
Nrghts building on G street, opposite the pat
eDt office, Is on fire. and two or three houses on
7th street, opposite the Indian bureau have also
caught.
The general post office department has been
closed, and public work seems to be suspended
everywhere throughout the city.