The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-02-03
STATE HOUSE BURNED.
Serious Loss to the Taxpayers Of
Pennsylvania.
THE LOSS A MILLION AND A HALF

There Was Only 100000 Insurance on tho
/ Ruined struoturo--Ths Insfiicisnoy OF
the Harrisburg Fire Department Blamed
for the Sweeping Destruction.
HARRISBURG. Feb. 2--The legislative
hallsa are in ruins. A new structure must
rise from the ashes that has served as
sneeting place Of the legislature since 1920
The flames have eaten up 81, 500 900 worth
Of property. The inefflciency of the Har-
Sisburg fire department Is blamed.
There is not much over $780, 900 insur-
nnce on the building and contents, ac-
corAing to the statement of the treasury
officials. There was 100000 on the capi-
ttol building while the state library was in
1t. Since that time the library has been
removed to another structure, and the in
surance on the legislative halls has been
reduced to 900, 900. In addition to this there
is el95,000 carried on all the state build
lngs. A portion Of this is on the capitol,
but how much the treasury ofliIials are
unable to say. They think that there is not
over 100000 on the legislative building.
A report was in circulation that the fire
was caused by the electric light wires. In
an interview with the officers of the Hsr-
risburg Electric company they stated that
1t did not and could not have originated
tn that way. The building was rewired
several years ago at the time the insurance
was placed. The wiring was installed un-
der tbs rules and regulations Of the board
OF nfe underwriters, and was carefully in
spected and approved, The odor of smoke
was apparent to number Of the senator's
and employees from one to two hours be-
fore tho fire was discovered, Had II been
caused by contact Of wires the fire would
have been apparent in a very short time.
The theory which has the most founda-
tion In fact is that it originated from the
open hearth fire in the lieutenant goyer-
nor's room and burned under the floor
along the joists to tho hall partition
where itwas discovered.
The house was in session and the senate
was about to convene after a few minutes
recess when the flames were discovered.
8moke could be seen in small volumes
pouring out into the capitol grounds from
the house windows. The members were
not mindful of it until the great clouds
rolled by the window Instantly there
Was motion to adjourn, and all was con-
nternatlon.
In the senate the members were lolling
about in their seats. The place began to
smell OF smoke, and soon dense clouds
rolled down the rear elevator shaft. Sem
naor John Grady, Of Philadelphia, quickly
warned the senators, and there was a gen.
eral hustle to remove effects Fire alarms
Msre esont In, and soon the dignified senate
was mass of bowling men. Desks were
hsing jerked loose and carried out The
nhme work was going on In the house
chamber
1 Out In the grounds great crowds quickly
sathered Tine flames were then shooting
ont of the roof over the lieutenant gov
srnor's chamber, where the fire originated.
The fire department was slow to arrive,
and the hoselnen about the capitol were
doing their utmost to check the blaze. Ii
was useless, as the fire licked up the little
Streams. At last the local companies
started streams on the senate wing roof,
now q sheet of flames, but the water had
hardly force enough to reach the blaze.
Rapidly the flames destroyed the roof
and ate their way down into the senate
chamber and soon the men who were
trying to recover property were driven
ont The hames shot along the senate
roof, wound themselves about the dome
and on the roof of the house chamber. Al
though there was heavy rain and snow
falling the woodwork burned like kind
Ting wood. Soon there was a fire in every
portion of the building and there was no
hope for tho historic structure.
During the fire numerous people were
injured by falling timbers and by several
Little explosions caused by different
jkhings, though no ono was fatally In
iused. For time it looked as though the
ndioining department buildings would
be destroyed, but shifting wind saved
&bsm. The entire blaze was confined to
the capitol building. 1t was b o'clock this
morning before the flames were extn-
tinguished. ThB records of this session
have been saved,
A meeting of Governor Hastings, AT.
turney General Mccormick, President
protein McCarrell, Speaker Boyer, State
treasurer Haywood and Auditor General
Mylin was held last night to arrange tenn
purary quarters for the senate and house,
II was agreed to hold the senate meetings
ln the supreme court room and the house
sessions in the third story Of the postoflice
bnilding. Both are we'll adapted for the
purpose. Another meeting was held to-
day, when several halls were rendered by
citizens of Harrisburg
tits likely that joint session OF both
branches of the legislature will be held to-
night or tomorrow to decide upon the
future meeting places. Great confusion
exists now, and it Is probable that both
houses will adjourn tonight or tomorrow
until the necessary printing and other
preparations have been made for the re-
sumption of regular legislative sessions.
There has bsen some talk Of finishing
Che session in either Pittsburg or Phila-
sislphia, but Superintendent John Delaney
says: II don't think that 1t is possible to
take the session away from Harrisburg.
Thc capitol city Is named in the constitu-
aaon as the place of meeting. will fight
for rebuilding the capitol on the colonial
style"
The destroyed building was built carly
In the century, but was nevertheless re-
Rnrded as one of the handsomeSt speci-
mons Of Ionic architecture in the country,
The building was of red brick, with white
trimmings, surrounded bya park of ten
acres, and stood on an eminence almost
in the centre Of the city. The main struc-
ture was two and oue.half stories high,
sur,nopnted by large domc from which
. fine view of the surrounding country
could be had. The dimensions were:
Length, $50 feet; width 80 feet The build
ing was finished In 1921, and was first oc.
cupied by the general assembly on Jan, 8,
1899 Or each side was wing, that on the
north being occupied by the senate and
the southern wing by the house. At each
end Of the building, separated from 1t by
. narrow space, are located two buildings
containing n state treasury department.
the adjutant generals office and other
state offices About 100 feet south Is the
modern graDit6building known as the ex-
ocutive building, recently erected at cost
of nearly 81, 200, 900 for the aceomm odation
Of the governor, attorasy general and Sec
retary Of state. This building also shell
tets the state library, and u portion of II
10 ussd as u state museuass
Fse>essenees>es~se