The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1877-10-12
OUEE WASHINGTON LETTER

ments ana apparatus IN constant dan /
ger from destruction by fire. In the |
upper stories of Winder's building,
occupied by the I'd Auditor, vouchers |
representing 81, 800, OO0, 600 are stoweu
away under the roof, awaiting an acct
dental spark, or one communicated |
puTposely, to insure their absolute de- |
struction In one short hour; for unless |
discovered in the first few minutes, the |
means provided for extinguishing a |
fire would prove about as efficacious as
a squirt gun" used to extinguish the |
heat radiated from the beaming face OF
old Sol. Such q fire would wipe ont
the most valuable history of every
thing connected with the raising,
equipping and payments of our armies
during the rebellion, let alone period
prior to the war Of scores of years.
Except the new State Department., ev-
cry other governments building ih-l
this city is in daily peril from the same
source, including the Capitol, erected
at cost of more than $40 200, 900. In
deed, so patentlwas this danger to the
thousands of centennial visitors here
last year, that it was often referred to,
and officials in charge advised to rec
ommend appropriations in their ennu-
al estimates for making them fire
proof. That is the universal demand
now from all quarters.
The predicted cyclone struck us yes
terday about noon, accompanied with
heavy fall of rain. The authorities
responsible for new covering to pro-
tect the portion of the patent Office UNI
rooted by fire, have spent the ten in
tervening days in getting ready to do
something, consequently the rooms
were flooded, some of them to the depth
of six inches, and. the records and
books saved fnom the fire were in dam
ger of utter ruin BY water. They were
hastily removed, many of them much
damsged.' There was another after
noon of chaos and confusion; and ma
ny tons of the m$tble walls and roof
ing of the northern portico came crash
ing to the sidewalk below, sadly mar
ring the beautiful ornamental work of
pillars and fieor, and the grand build
ing looks more than ever this morning
like dismal wreck. All over town
streets and Easements were flooded.
The capacity of sewers was found in
sufficient, the water backing up and
flooding every cellar along Pennsylva-
MIA Avenue, B Street and others in the
lower part of the city were in like con-
dition- Trees, fences, chimneys, signs,
awnings and everything else movable.
were Frustrated and wrecked, the
debris filling the streets. The ruins of
Gheen & Osborne's stable came tum-
bling into the street with crash, ut
terly demolishing the buildings adjoin-
ing, partially destroyed by the fire, and
just repaired by the insurance compa-
MES. The depot OF the B. s. P. road
resembles light house on submerg-
ed island: and travel was greatly ina
peded, while a corner in umbrellas
was easily effected, and the tardy equi-
uoctial finally cleared away, leaving
the government and individuals thou
sands of dollars out of pocket.
Members of Congress are arriving,
and Cox has opened fire on other aspi-
rants for the Speakership, from his
head quarters at the Riggs House.
Large numbers, bent on pleasure or
profit, are already here for the winter.
Houses are in greater demand than at
any time for some years; and a very
full attendance of the 'people" some
what commensurate with the many
mOmentous problems confronting the
10th Congress, Is anticipated. Among
the subjects that will at once engage
its attention are the payment of the
Army and Navy, representation at the
Paris Exposition, appropriations to
render Public Builnings fire proof, and
the repair of the Patent Office. Mr..
McCrary, it is said, will also recon-
mend the increase Of our army to the
maximum OF 10000 men in view of
Mexican and Indian contingencies.
Considering the losses resulting to gov
eminent and people through the strike
epidemic, Indian outbreaks and an ex-
ira session, alb Legitimate fruits of the
pig-headed refusal Of the last Congress
TO increase the army in proportion to
the demands upon it, or to provide pay
for the skeleton" we had, Dragging
about ECONOMY" is decidedly out of
order and an insult to the intelligence
| of the country.
Ex-Clerk Adams action in refusing
to place Judge Belford's name on the
rolls, though he has a clear prinsd
JGeie title, including Gov. Routts' GER
| tiflcate. Is generally condemned as
an assumption OF authority, that even
| democratic Congress is not thought
| al IN q In oft ko
In the HitOwski case, now before
the Criminal Court, Gen. Negley is
charged with having sworn to the JUS
tice and equity Of q claim for $24, 705
for logs alleged to have been d, livered
| to the y. 5. authorities at Nashville in
1862, when, In fact. he knew it to be
wholly fraudulent; and Goodrich, the
Interior Department clerk, who got
money to crafty his licentious tastes
by forging the names of fellow clerks
to their pay vouchers, is now in jail
| awaiting trial, having failed to secure
S12, 600 bail. Dom PLatt's offer to fur
nish evidence 60 eenvict Gen. Ingalls,
and Marcy Of having been induced t6
recommend the governments adoptioH
of the Cowles & Brega moth extermi-
nator, in consideration of brides paid
| to them, ia likely 70 be accepted. Nc
Clellan appears In no creditable light
as the go-between. OF course, 'good
society"-that with plenty of money,
no matter how obtained-is dreadfully
| checked at such insinuations.
O'Rrien, the. trusted clerk in the 9Th
Auditors office, who has been discover
ed in collision with mail contractors,
enabling them to obtain double pay
for their services, and the defalcation
of the Georgetown Collector, are among
Washington topics for every day dis
cussiOn, while prospect of q Aexi-
can war fills the holders of indemnity
bonds with joy nnspeakable, and those
waiting officers commissions, full of
glory. De WITT.
THE AFCa1soN aRIDaE.