Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-11-28
The Patent Office.


Secretary SchurZ in his annual report says
1.-The restoration OF the Interior department
building is progressing as rapidly as the nature
OF the work OF construction will permit. The
roof ON the north wing is completed, and that
Of the west wing will soon be finished. The
engineer in charge expresses the opinion that
10th wings will be ready for occupancy before
the close of the present fiscal year. and that the
cost of the work will not exceed the amount
appropriated. This portion of the building,
when completed, WILDE substantially f1re-proof,
will contain about one-third more caSe-room
than was before available, and, both in archi-
tectural beauty and in durability of construc-
tion, will be great improvement over the Old
halls. Under the capable management of Adolph
Cluss, who designed the plan for reconstruction,
and who was appointed engineer by the COM
mission having the restoration in charge, the
work thus far has been well and economically
done.
cessity of authorizing the construction OF new
and proof roof for the south and east wings,
similar to the one designed for the north aud
poTon wo o the Tbe baps FGof Whan IS e er tn @
10 be es destroyed I BY fire fire. The copper roof roof
ing is laid upon covering of boards, and these
beneath is traversed by numerous smoke e-fues,
many of which run horizontally for consider
able distances. These imperfect and badly con-
strncted f1ues are liable at any time to get out
of order and endanger the safety OF the building
l regard the recovering OF this portion OF the
building with a fire-proof roof as absolute
ly necessary, and earnestly recommend that
an appropriation sufficient for the purpose
be made at as early day as possible. 1t is
deemed advisable to substitute for the rotten
wooden joists and lathing of the ceilings OF the
first story Of the north wing, iron lathings
fastened to iron frames: replaster and repaint
the rooms and hall damaged by the tlre, and to
repair the brfckwork and plastering OF the
arched ceiling of the west wing. This work
was not included in the original estimates for
the reconstruction of the building, and therefore
an additional appropriation of $4,000 is asked
for. An appropriation OF $1,000 is also recon-
mended for the construction of a hydraulic
elevator in the north wing, with approved
safety apparatus, including steam-bofler
OF steel water supply, steam pump pres
sure, and discharge tanks, all OF SUFFICIENT
size to work, Ii necessary, two elevators and the
necessary machinery. 1t is estimated that it
will cost 100000 to properly fit up the two re-
constructed wings with f1re-proof model-cases,
consisting OF wrOught-iron frames and doors,
plate-glaSs fronts, and f1uted-glaSs shelves. The
necessary cases OF hard wood finished in good
style would cost about $50, 900, but as these
would supply an amount OF combustible mate
rial which might at any time endanger the best
system OF fire-proof construction, their adoption
IS net deemed advisable. Although the differ
ence in cost between iron and wood cases would
appear considerable. am satisfied that it would
he wise economy to have all model-caSes in the
future constructed of iron, and / therefore
recommend that the necessary appropriation be
made for this purpose