Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-04-01
THAT WOODEN ROOF
A Climax of Architectural Absurdity on
the Post Office Building.
Some Comments by the Late Gen.
Casey-Danger From Fire-Lack
of Protective Devices.

There has been widespread comment Of
late over the appearance of a wooden roof
ing on the city post office building, begin
ming at the northeast corner and thence
gradually spreading over the eastern wing
Of the structure. At first 1t was thought
that this was a merely temporary roof, de-
signed to protect the workmen engaged
within the building from the elements, but
this theory was quickly discarded as in
compatible with the general policy that has
prevailed since the commencement Of the
work. whereby the contractors have re-
Trained from providing even the least meas
ure Of protection to those whom they have
employed on the work, however dangerous
their tasks might be.
AS the carpenters clambered about the
slopes of the roof in imminent peril Of be-
ing launched into eternity the conviction
gradually dawned upon the people passing
to and fro along Pennsylvania avenue that
this roofing Of boards was intended to re-
main permanently on the building, and the
question was asked, scores of times a day:
why Is wooden roof being put on a
building that Is supposed to be fire proof?"
This question has not been satisfactorily
answered. 1t seems to be a useless task
to ask the officials at the office of the
supervising architect of the treasury, for
the utmost mystery pervades those pre-
cincts whenever The Star desires to obtain
Dor across the street.
The Plans Called for 1t.
At the building itself the reply is given
that 1.-The plans call for such roof cover
ing" and hence the wooden sheathing is
being unquestionably put in place, notwith-
standing the apparent absurdity Of such
topping on a massive structure of stone
that is supposed to present the latest ideas
OF architecture and engineering. The COM
ment is frequently heard on the streets that
to finish this building off with wooden
roof is like the case of a man spending $50
for fine suit of clothes and then buying
1o-cent hat.
Gen. Cnsey's Criticism.
The late Gen. Casey remarked to a Star
reporter, a few days before his death, that
this wooden roofing was an unheard-of
anomaly. He characterized such piece of
architectural Inconsistency as "a monu-
mental absurdity," and assured the re-
porter that there were plenty Of materials
In the market, perfectly fire proof and COM
paratively cheap, that could be used for
roof sheathing in place of wood. When
spoken to about the matter he said he had
understood that the roofing was only tenn
porary, but this impression was removed
when he realized that if a temporary roof
were to be put on it would be laid flat, so
as to save over 50 per cent of the ma
terials.
Gen. Casey's opinion is doubtless shared
by all thinking citiz ens Who lave passed
the building of late and Observed the
progress of the work This opirion is be-
coming fixed idea, too, with many men,
hers of Congress, and it is a daily expec-
tation that there will be a resolution of
inquiry Introduced in one braEch of the
national legislature or the other asking the
Secretary of the Treasury why this kind
of work is being done.
AI,seneo of
There is another matter about which
Congress may want to know in short order.
and this is brought sharply to the front
once more by the terrible accident to the
iron worker Beach yesterday. The alb
sence of protective devices to prevent IA
talities and Gripping accidents has been
noted many times, but there has been
nothing done to supply the lack, and now
some pressure Is being brought to bear
upon Representatives and Senators to stir
the department into taking steps to COM
pei the contractors, even at this late day,
to adopt humane methods at the structure.
Danger From Fire.
In connection with the OGDEN roofing it
has been brought to the notice of The
Star that the danger from fire created by
this curious introduction of great amount
of infiammable material at the top of
fire-procf building is greatly increased by
the presence at each corner of the build
ing of a shaft running from basement to
attic for the purpose of ventilating the
floors and carrying off the foul doors that
may accumulate. These shafts will be
perfect fire tiues in case of a blaze, and
the flames will easily be communicated to
the roof by that means. The thousands of
feet of lumber at the very top will make
big fire in the most inaccessible place.
Then, too, 1t is the usual course in all
such tall buildings to utilize the upper re-
gions, under the roof, for the storage of
documents, files and such materials of a
highly inf1ammable character. If this
course is to be pursued in the present case
it will be doubly dangerous to line the roof
with this great bulk of wood, so easily
reached by fire from every floor of the
building.
AS Gen. Casey said, there are several
kinds of roof coverings that are fire-proof
and easily handled. and, in addition, cost
comparatively little. The difference in ex-
pense between the present third-rate roof
ing and truly first-class sheathing such
as 1t Is generally felt should be used Is
thought to be of the least importance when
the safety of the building and the hun
dreds OF occupants who Will he crowded
into 1t when completed, not to speak of
the records and documents, is taken into
account
BROKE THE RECORD.