The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1877-10-04
THE PATENT OFFICE FIRE.
The Buildings of the Interior Department
at Washington Partially Desfroyed-Sixty
Thousand Models and Eighty Tons of
FhOtO-LithOsrapfl Burned.

The model-room OF the United States
Patent Office was almost entirely destroyed
by fire Monday. In it were stored over three
hundred thousand models, representing the
inventive genius of Americans in the fine
arts, science, mechanism and varied indus
tries. One-half, at least, were consumed,
and the remaining portion thrown in con-
fusion on the lower floors of the building
The origin of the fire is a mystery. 1t is
alleged that it broke out in the greenhouse
or propagating garden, situated between the
Model-room and the roof of the building,
almost under the rafters This space, in ad-
dition to containing the greenhouse, was
filled with old records of the Patent Office,
in the shape of drawings and specifications
for patents already issued, and with rejected
models, all dry as finder. The theory ad-
vanced is that by some means fire caught in
the gree2shouse, and from thence came in
contact v tth the old papers, which burnt up
like so much chaff.
The loss is of that kind which can not be
estimated in dollars and cents. 1t will
seriously interfere with the workings of the
Patent Office, retard its progress in the mat
ter of issuance of future patents and will
undoubtedly lead to the infringement of
patents, the records of which have been de-
stroyed by the fire. Many of the models
consumed can never be duplicated, and such
as can must be from the original patents
granted and now in use. A great many
historic relics of American history were
stored away in the south front of the Model
room, and were saved. These included the
original of the Declaration of Indepen-
dence, Washington's commission as Com
mander-in-Chief of the American Armies,
his treasure-chest, uniform and sword.
Among the models saved was one filed by
Abraham Lincoln years ago for letters
patent for an improved method of lifting
vessels over shoals.
The number of models is variously esti-
mated at from fifty to seventy-ive thou
sand. A number of the more important
were on exhibition and in storage in the
west hall, which, with the north hail. was
completely wrecked and the roof burned.
The loss in rejected models will be very
great to the government.
In the Patent Office building are all the
offices subordinate to the Interior Depart
ment except the Pension Office. The Land
Office, Patent Office and Indian Office suf-
fered by the mixing of documents in the eff
fort to save them.
A temporary building will be erected at
once. The damage to the building is vari-
ously estimated at from three hundred
thousand to five hundred thousand dollars,
while that growing out of the destruction of
models and other valuables belonging to
the Patent Office is almost incalculable. The
arches which formed the ceiling of the
second story, and upon which the floor of
the third story rested, are so badly damaged
by heat and water that many of them must
be torn down. The marble of the outer
walls is considerably discolored by the
flames, and cracked in many places.
1t is supposed the fire had been shoulder
ing beneath the roof, which was not fire.
proof, for some hours before it was dis
| covered.
Two or three fires occurred in the neigh
| borhood of the Patent Office, caused by
sharks from that huildinr