Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1892-05-17
'. .'z, WOEFUL LACK OF WATER,
This is the Burden Of the Testimony
Elioited by the Capitol Fire
Investigators.

In the matter of the capitol fire inVesti-
CATION, W. q. Ashdown, manager OF the
Gas company, was examined as to the
relative location of the gas and water
mains. The valves are in the street near
together and from The appearance of the
earth over the gas and water cut.otfs on
the night of the fire, they being covered
with about one foot OF earth, the water
valve had not been disturbed for at least
two weeks or more. Good management
on the part of the water company would
require that its valves be on level with
the street and of easy access. The valves
in the street, so far as the gas company
is concerned, is under the control of the
gas company and he thought The adjacent
water pipe valves were in like manner
under the exclusive control OF the water
company. The fire could not have
originated by the explosion OF gas pipes,
as gas must be confined in order to ex-
pIode, whereas the dOmes OF the building
were very open and airy.
Hernandez, the ConviJt, being recalled,
said to his know ledge no one save himself
was in or about the building at the time
the men came running up and told HIM
that the dune was on fire. He said he
had the night watchmsn's black overcoat
On over his convicts suit and wore straw
Lat at the time he was first appraised OF
the fire. He ran to the janitors room,
removed the overc0at and started Tor the
II Ia a st f.
would not have been possible for the two
convlcts working with HIM about the
grounds that day to have gone to the TOP
of the building without his knowledge
and he VAS confident they die not, MOI
WAS he in the upper part OF the building
himself.
Grant Rivenberg, formerly custodian
of the capitol grounds, testified that the
water company owned and had contro
OF the valve IN the street (Which was par
tally turned Off and that be as custodian
= of the grounds had nothing to do with it
He had often complained of the pool
water service and the water company
insisted that it was rendering the bes
service possible. He knew the capito
grounds fire plug was in bad condition
Is but didn't know the cause OF it till hi
y learned that the water company's stree
az valve was partially turned OIL.
co Paul Raguey, 10Th infantry bandman
testified that he went to the upper floor
= of the building and saw and smelt boiling
oil in the south dome. He could not ga.
that the odor was that of oil or paint
The hose on the second floor at the soutl
! stand.pi was broken, or had been Gu
in five places.
Perfecto Gonzales, Csnuto Alarid AM
others testified that they had lighted tn
gas in the building soon after the alarm
[, of fire was given, but Janitor Everhar
turned off the gas and told them not t
light it.
Mary Parsons, laundress, who resides
, near and west OF the capitol, testified tina
!. while taking clothes from line in he
rear door yard, between and O'Clock o.
the evening OF the fire, she saw one Q
the convicts on top of the capitol, on tn
, south dome. Half an hour afterward
convict passed her house going towar
= the penitentiary ard he seemed to be il
hurry. The convict that passed he
house wore white hat and is the sam
/ convict that passes her house daily goin
between the penltentiary and the capito
4 Hon. Demetrio Perez, territorial aud
\ tor, testified that the last legislative OF
preparation for the capitol contingent fun
for 1891 was Sc, 900, I'll per cent or SO, $50 {
which was available. The essential item
to be met out OF this 81, 500 for the year are
Water service for building and grounds
gas fuel, hose, merchandise OF ditferer
sorts, plambing, repairs, painting an
general expenses belonging to the mail
tenance of the building, grounds, walk
fences, etc. The auditor also stated thu
- the capitol contingent fund had been owe
}. drawn $500, and this too, to meet ne
4 essary expenses, saying nothing of insu
= anCe.