New-York tribune., 1885-01-27
PRICE THREE CENTS.
THE CAPITOL IN DANGER.
PART OF THE ROOF DESTROYED BY FIRE
WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN A GREAT CALAMITY
sBAM FIRE-PROOF BUILDINGS
[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE Tribunal

WASHINGTON, Jan. 26.-The destruction BY
fire Of the House wing of the Capitol to-day averte
probably by the fact that the flames broke at houp
when the building is thronged with visitors and were
discovered in time to be easily checked and smOhered.
supposed that sparks from of the chimneys
by found Judgement in the we'll seasoned woodwork
which surrounded the foot of the flagstaff and were
famed into flame by the brisk wind that blowing.
Before discovered by visitors who had ascended
the DOME by persons within the Representatives
chamber. who were first startled by shower Of fiery
sparks which fell from the roof through the inner ceiling
the fire had gained considerable headway and after II
was extinguished the copper roofing was found to b
partly melted The architect Of the Capitol regarded 10
extremely fortunate that the fire did originate In
the roof Of the older part of the building which largely
composed Of wood As 1t was. some Of
the oldest and most valuable official files
Of the House of Representatives narrowly
escaped destruction. They comprise the original Of
bills petitions, memorials. committee reports, etc., Of
the first and subsequent Congresses. As the printed
records of the early Congresses imperfect these
uscript volumes are Of great Importance and value;
Although nominaly freproof building" the Capitol
by no means is exempt from the danger Of Destruction
pns @ the old Senate Chamber and
hall, anethe adjacent rooms and corridors Should .
the building, rreparahe damage would be done to the
great library of Congress- even II were to escape total
Some eight years ago fire broke in business hours
in the imposing marble structure known as the Patent.
once BUILDING, ana DeIOrc IL cOulu DC eAlukuisncu
thousands OF models Of patented and unpatented nyen
tions and great mass OF public records were consumed
or destroyed and the fre-proof" structure itself
damaged tho OF several hundred thouand dol
lars1 The work of reconstructng the building not yet
finished and for several years large force Of clerks and
mechanics employed at great expense, TO restore
the damaged records and half consumed models.
What happened to the Patent Ohice Building In Octo'
ber 1877 may happen any day to the Post Oce Depart
ment Building, the Treasury Building, any OF half
dozen other hre-prOof" structures in Washington
built and owned by the Government Besides the Gov
ernment Is tenant OF two three private build
ings in Washington. OF which is re-pr0oi," and
many of which fire traps. In some Of the latter
kept official records the loss destruction Of which
would be irreparable. Among them the medical and
hospital records of the which are in constant use In
the examination and adjudication OF pension claims
These records do exist In duplicate, and their loss
would entail untold expense upon the Treasury well
prevent thousands Of disabled soldiers and otEers from
proving the justice Of their cllims.
For several years there has been proposition before
Congress to appropriate money for Hall OF Records
which should be absolutely fire proof but has failed 70
receive favorable action In the House. Since the be-
ginning the Government has expended not much less
than $50 100000 in public buildings at the National
Capitol and show for t there some imposing and
spacious structures nearly every one OF which lacks the
nrst requisite or such buildiEgmmunity from danser
OF destruction by lire.