New-York tribune., 1885-01-28

THE INSECURITY OF NATIONAL ARCHIVES
The narrow escape from seriously destruc-
five fire in the Capitol at Washington will, it is
to be hoped stimulate Congress to some action
on the long pending propositions to bullda safe
repository for the National archives. 1t is now
very well understood that there exists at
present no fireproof Government building at
Washington and that there is not one of the
great public buildings there, from the Capitol
downward, which is not liable to be burned at
anv time Had the fire in the roof of the Capitol
broken out at a time when there we're few peo-
nle about. for instance, late in the afternoon,
when visitors had ceased to wander through the
building it is quite possible that at least one
wing of the building would have been de-
stroyed, and in that event many invaluable
records would have persisted. 1t Is probably
useless to complain of the fact that so-called
fireproof buildings never are hreproof, but II
certoinly does seem not unreasonable to expect
that when the country is willing to pay what
ever the price of actually freproDf structures
NAV be. and does pay extravagantly large sums
for its architectural work, it should obtain
something considerably less inlanmable than
wooden tenement house. Yet Capitol build
ing capable of being ignited by sparks from
chimney must have weak points which almost
bring it down TO that level, and which plainly
render the claim of being tircproof which has
been made for it ridiculous.
When such misunderstanding accidents happen
the public naturally feel nervous as to the Gov
ernment records, and this nervousness Is not
lessrned bv the reflection that those who best
understand the sources of danger, namely, the
custodians of these National records. have for
wears besought Congress TO take action for their
better protection. No one can probably SOY
whether the restored Patent Office will be more
secure against fire than its predecessor. No
one will venture to assert that the Post Otilce
Department, the Treasury Department, or any
other of the Government buildings now in use,
are safe against fire. Yet the fact remains
that an immense mass of records and property
which is not duplicated and could not be re-
placed is intrusted to these treacherous s,ruct-
ures and that Congress year after year dallies
with the question of building even ore really
iireproof ediiice such as the proposed Hall OF
Records, and ends year after year, by dong
nothing.
Some day, If this shilly -shally policy con-
tinues, the question will be solved indepen-
IDENTIFY of Congress- by great fire ;and when the
National archives, or some precious part OF
them, have been destroyed, there will be man
Hesitation of that kind of rcmorsofui energy
which seeks vent by locking the stable door
after the horse has been stolen. Perhaps the
showers of sparks that fell into the Chamber of
the House of Representatives the other day
may illuminate the question SO that all the
members will see the necessity for action. But
if this "close CALL" as they would say in the
West does not rouse Congress to n recognition
of what IL needed we fear that nothing short OF
burning the Capitol over its head will impress
upon that slow moving body enc demand for
precautionary measures.