New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-06-11
ITS BAD CONDITION LONG KNOWN.
REPORT ON THE BUILDING MADE TO THE WA
DEPARTMENT IN 1881.

A REPORT ON THE BUILDING MADE TO THE WAR
DEPARTMENT IN 1881.
Washington, June 1O.-The records Of the War De
partmcnt show that the collapsed theatre building
for years known ofhcially TO be unfit for human
occupancy, by reason not only OF structural weak
but also because of Its defective sanitary con
dition. In evidence is the following report which
was made 10 the secretary Of War and the substance
Of which was communicated TO Congress
War Department. Inspector Generals ONCE,
Washington. d. C.. Feb. Is. 1881.
To the Hon. Alexander Ramsey. Secretary Of War
In compliance with your instructions. sanitary in
spcction Of the occupied by clerks OF the
Building, feminist. has This day been made by the
undersigned and the result thereof and conclusions
ached, embodied in the following remarks. are re-
specially submitted;
on the lower main floor thcre 1876 clerks and
Il 900 volumes Of hospital registers. owing the in
ability properly light it by OF windows and sky
lights resort is had 10 gas. When the sun shines,
tweny-sN burners suffice; in cloudy days, forty arr
needed. The average number o. clerks who are kept
from their work by sickness varies from To per
cent an increase for the last year, when forty
clerk. placed the lower floor. IL Is i'm
possible to put any more clerks on this moor nor i
there any other space in the building available for
additional clerks. number Of single desks are now
occupied by two clerks. The air Is extremely op.
pressive the building being without ventilation. and
the clerks the upper noors are supplied with the
Nitiatcd hot air Of the large
central wcllhoc. During the half hour allowed for
lunch the windows opened, and In this way
supply fresh Dir sccurci. but towari the cosc OF
hours the air becomes Nitaed and extremely op-
pres,iyc, and then the water closets, which open by
norrow unvcntatcd Ia-ageway from the CLERKS rooms.
have no ventilation.
From the foregoing statements IL is clear that tho
necessity relief Is very urgent. and IL is also
parent that s'cnr" adequate r.
lief by providing additional outside Of
the building and by greatly reducing the number Of
clerks now occupied in 1t. proper regard for the
attn OF employees of the Government would limit
the number on lower floor 20 eighty ninety.
In conclusion invite attention TO the apparent inse
curty Of wall Of this building. which, at about
midway Of It's height bulges outward some ten or twelve
inches in conclusion, it is not out Of place e. a,d
that the views forth ndor-ed by one Of
the obles authorities sanitary matters in the service
Of the Government H. JONES
Lieutenant olonel. Assistant. lnspector-''encra
senator CGckroll. Of NSsoi ri. at present chairman
Of The :, nate Committee on Appropriations. ana II
senator who has always taken an active interest III
the condition OF the public buildings here Is quoted
this morning saying that he had made repeated
efforts to rebuild the Ole theatre buiding or secure
other quarters for the Cl'rks but that his efforts
the sanalc because Of the refusal of the House 10
concur. The most he could get WAS frfing APP
preparation 10 repair wall Doubtless tie senator
had IN mind the east wall. which aftcrwnrd re
paired rpon report Of General Casey. now chief Of
engineers, to the eject that II was unsafe.