The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-10-06
THE PATENT OFFICE RUINS.
Disastrous RESULTS OF sECRETIRY
SEIZURES SLOW MOTEuENTS.
Costly Records Delayed Floors Saturated
and Walls Crumbiina -Bunsiins that will
Cost Thousands of Dollars and Much Time.


WAsHISGToN. Oct. ELEVEN days ago the
roof was burned off the two wings of the Patent
Onlcc. Tho safety of the building the preserva-
ton of the records. and the proper conduct Of
business in the Land and Patent Offices de-
pended upon the speed with which n temporary
roof replaced the old one. II is due to Carl
Schurz and his subordinatcs that the contract
for q now roof il only just completed. Mean
while. a storm. predicted full week ago by the
Signal Service. which seems TO be Of value to
every one but the Government It serves. has
struck the building, weakened every arch in
the unroofcd portion. crushed n great hole
through the north purtico. dcuged every floor.
soaked the priceless records Of the Land Oflicc.
putthe original drawings OF the Patent once TO
the peril Of hasty removal by candle light
summnrily stopped work in both Of these great
and important bureaus. and brought TO enforced
idleness tho clerks on salary list running on
Mt tho rate Of 1000 n day
When the roof Of the Ninth md G street
wings Of the Patent Office fell at p. NJ. on Mon
day Of last week. they fol- upon the tiled floor
ing ~ the model ROOM supported on the Ninth
street sidn by groincd brick arches. and on the
q strcet side either 10y fiat nrchcs turned be-
tween VI beams or flooring Of wooden beams.
AT least. the plaster NJ which has fallen from
the nth work Of this iiroprOOf building gives a
hint that the floor beams are wood. safer. when
prutrat rs these were, than iron. The roof
burnt itself ont and left the charrcd pine timbers
OF the roof proper. and the bent and twisted ron
beams which Ind supported the roof Never
intended To support any weight but the roof
thcs" benns had bent earl and gone down for
the most part with one end still fast to the brick
wall. 50 Tar no working portion Of the building
had suffered harm. In one day the Pdtc mt
Onlc, was ~ order in itw9 me Land olice Tho
from the roof. The fro had SO completely s
own way that little water Ind found its way
down tn" main part OF the rooflcss wings. The
precise condition in viii h this fierce heat had
left brick arches and floor no one clearly knew.
ono thing was clear, they wore not watsrtight
and Il single October storm would Hood the
building. The one nccJ WIS root.
Mr.. Schurz ordered two commiss ions, one 10
The last has discovered nothing. and the first
pronounced the stone work secured twenty -four
hours before ton or SO of wrought stone fell
sixty icct. smashing everything IN It's way.
| Only on" thing was done; the ROOT was slowly
cleared oI dehris. ana IN ceqring i came NE
| S'hurz dictated yesterday Ia AN Associated
| Prrss reporter. II AN VI ROOT had been turned
| over ca wing. with row II posts down the
slhlc 10 move out those lon iron beams. So the
roof WIS delayed. Bat wliic il was not of tho
| least consequence that these hoana should 90
| out. i was "i vital consequence that the roof
| should ~ on. II d.d not. With two spaces go
| g. 80 tho wurN. hurL wus unable 10 gct the
roof up in time for Yesterdays storm.
| Tho ~ rm wis NO surprise. II had boon orc
| dioted week. Whcn D. stru * the unpr i" ted
! building Yesterday il caused worse confusion
| Than The IRE. great stream oi water went
| down tho open stairway and flooded III" halls
! ankle deep. \ hole was knocked through the
| wal TO let the wat r out. In every room the
wnt'r came down in streams, weitng books.
desks and papers. For "A while an effort was
made To- protr them with tarpaullns. but they
lad 70 be carrici out At last through the drip
! Tin. nails. Tho original drawings OF pat nis.
/ which water would seriously iniure were car
rird out in the same fashion. To-day both Off
! cos wrrct urnet upside down. ANY one who To-
| menlh ~ TIE yoIuminOus correspondence. the
! emil IS records. the countless papers Of such
| move them hastily from room - room. The
| cost ~ noyin. the Land Oflcn alone Commits
| sioner W lliAnson estimated at 10000. For II
| month to lnc. h. says that his Office Will do no
| the Wgst. men familiar with land transactions
| West know. So far Is known no records are
| injured. Many arc wet through and all are in
| onfusion.
| Interruption by the fire. is as badly OF. New
| rooms and now cases have been put up for tho
| drawings. and they were successfully moved
| yesterday without SER Gus exposure: and. e
| cap the climax ~ administrative ahsurd.ty
| with the luilding flooded and The clerks taxed
| To- sHvo those iricel'ss records. summons was
| served upon three 20 aplanr AZ once before .
| comm isslOn Wnl'n WAS sitting II the rGckc
| investigating tho Patent Onlrc. Before tn,
| rain was over hri ar h nj the enc
OF tho Ninth street corridor cracked. an,
| to-day the column which supports one ~ Is
| Launches has sprung from the wall next to II
| Two marble blocks IN tho portico, cal' med hj
| the heat. saked IN yesterday : rain ami ioll
70 come down. All the ceiling Of the lacunar'
in the portiaO may yet come down. The plas
tcrng has started in nearly every room OF the
| TWO corridors. and they VIII scarcely be habit
able for weeks t. come. Al this for lack @
enough practical sense 10 roof the buildinI
| lrDllItlY