Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1877-09-26
Our so-eaIIed Fire-proor Buildings.

name. Inc casual observer IN viewing the
slightly blocks OF marble and granite which
enter largely into their construction, is i'm
pressed with the ma jesLy and grandeur OF
tn, III proportions, bus one little dreams that
nearly all OF them, while not of themselves
reall! IdpteT n.oche or Under boxes, are stored
to the very caves with combustible matter
which n once ignited, would jeopariize the
entire building. Much has been said and
more written concerning the fire proof build
ings in this city. In point OF fact, there Is
but one of our entire list OF buildings which
approSimates being fire proof, aud that is
THE NEw STATE DEPARTMENT.
The roof OF this granite structure is of iron
cove red with sheaihings OF copper, beneath
which, instead of sheathing of wood, is a
layer OF concrete, patented substance pre-
stunned TO be fire proof. Thus far 1t has not
become necessary to stow away under the
caves OF the building any of the accumulated
records OF the department. This is not owing
10 an excessive precauton against fire. but
rather because the department has not vet
accumulated sufficient records 10 make il
necessary 20 utilize that portion.
THR TREASURY DEPARTMENT.
The new wing OF the Treasury department
has an iron roof inlaid with the same con-
crete material as the Slate department Ii is
said To be IRE proof. The other portions of
the building, The older ones. while having
what is deemed in architectural science a
SAFE rCOf, rs not IRE proof by any means. Ii
has layer OF sheathIng boards OF white pine
covered with copper. For layer between
the roof and the building there are arches of
corrugated iron. In the space under the
caves OF the entire building, however tons OF
Old records are stored, and If a fire got in
among them inoanr0labls damage would be
done before It's progress could be checked.
THE WAR AND NAVY DEPARTMENTS.
The roofs OF The War aad Navy depart
ments are Of pine wood, dry almost as Gin
der, aid a fire which would gain head way
would sweep away the buildings AMI Us
records before its progress could be arrested.
Under the caves OF both are storei papers
records, &C., the accumulation OF years. The
roof OF the
POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT
is someW hat similar to the portion OF the
Patent Office destroyed by Mondays fire, ex-
cept that brick arches have been placed be-
tW cen the roof and the lower floors. These
arches would check the progress of fire. but
inasmuch as tons of old papers aud records
are slowed away in the space between the
roof and the arches, il is believed that IL a
fire caught among them that the expansion
Of heat would be so great that the arches
would give way, fail to the floor below. and
thus give the flames good chance TO sweep
through and around the building.
THE CAPITOL BUILDING
is likewise defective in the roof. Much of its
construction is of iron, but sheathing boards
covered with copper are used as layer in all
portions OF IL except that portion occupied
by the Congressional Library, which is
deemed TO be lireproof. Under all the wings
however, like the other buildings mentio ed
there's are tons upon tons of documents WHICH
II once in mass of flame, might produce a
heat sufficient 10 topple In the dome.
Originally il was not the intention 10 util-
lie the garnet under the roof of the Patent
oflce when the building was erected, but the
Entertainments upon other space by the rec
ords OF the office were such that the space
had 10 be utilized. or rejected models and old
papers destroyed.
To sum up, there is not public building
i'm this city, with but one single exception,
mat can be called absolutely fire proof; and
with but the same exception there is not one
that is not filled with powder magazine
waiting OILY the application OF the match.
BIDS were opened yesterday by the Chief
OF the Bureau OF Construction and Repair,
at the Navy department, 10 furoish timber,
lumber, iron, steel, lead, zinc. bolts, tools,
hlruWare, paints, oils, dry goods. STATIONERY.
coal, and many other articles required at the
ns W yards and on board OF vessels during
the fiscal year ending June Both, 1873. There
were nearly hundred bids received for ga
riouS articles, and several days VIII ne re
qulr6d TO classify them and award the c11-
tracts. The bidders were from all sections
Of the country.
THE STRUGGLE FOR THE BANK NorE
PRINTING.-The bids for printing backs on
egal tender and national bank notes. which
were opened at the Treasury depart men:
yesterday, show very close calculation. The
lowest bids, those OF the bureau of engraving
ard printing, were two cents lower per thou
SAND IN one class. and seventy-twO cents in
Tie other. Under the existing contracts the
price paid for this work is SIS per thousand,
against an average of sS.57 under the new
bids. The saving TO the department will be
over 80 per cent. of the cost, and will exceed
$40 OOO during the coming year. The present
contractor bid SlI49, and the New York
companies, which formerly had the contract
at still higher rates, bid from $40 50 TO sll per
thousand. The bank note companies do not
intend TO have the government work award
Cd 10 the bureau OF engraving aud printing
without a struggle. The counsel for the bank
Tote companies has prepared an elaborate
argument endeavoring to prove that the L.
b internal revenue stamps cannot legally
be made by the bureau of engraving and
printing.
AMERICAN LEATHER AND SHOES IN
EoLLASD.-Heretofor the United States has
been the great market for European manu-
factures, but this order of things is being
suddenly reversed, for not only are Ameri-
can manufactures driving European m anu
iactures out OF our markets, but they have
begun to compete most successfully with
European manufacturers in the European
markets. To cite single instance as re
ported 20 The department OF State by the u.
>. Consul at Amsterdam: Tue house OF
Daniel Loci largely exported leather. prirci-
pally tanned calf skins, 10 the United state.
The consul noting the cessation or these ex-
potts, called upon the senior partner for an
explanation. His answer was 1--WE are no
longer exporters; we now import from the
United States. Affairs in Europe are about
being turned topsy-iurvy by the Yankees"
He then stated that not only did they import
leather from the United States. but that they
bad also begun TO import New England
shoes, and that European manufacturers
cannot compete either In price or quality
with The Americans. The house has recently
sent large order 10 New England for hoes,
and the junior partner was about leaving for
the United States to perfect and enlarge their
business relations. TIE intelligence and
quickness OF the New England manufac-
turers in adapting their goods to the special
ties and pecu1iarities Of the market greatly
facilitate the trade.
REPUBLICAN TICKET AND PLATFORM IN
NEW JKRsHY.-The repu blican convention
OF New Jersey met yesterday and nomi-
mated VIM. A. Newell for governor on the
first ballot. The platform adopted resffirns
the republican platform of 1876, approves the
speedy resumption of specie payments, re-
form in the civil service, a tariff for the en-
cOuragement of domestic industries and op-
poses further grants TO railroads and other
mon0poliee. One of the resolutions recog-
niZes the earnestness and sincerity with
which President Hayes is endeavoring 10
promote reconciliation in all se;tio of the
country, and trusts in the accomplishment
OF these objects: Another resolution de
pOunces the nomination of Gen. Mcclellan,
who is In no sense Identified with the inter
ests of the state.
CAPTURED.-Davis. the missing Connect