The times., 1898-11-08

No doubt in the opinion of nearly
every person in the District of Colum-
bia, as well as those in the United
States, the Capitol Building is an abso-
lutely fire-proof structure This. how
ever, is by no means the case. 1t is
anything but fire-proof, especially the
center or old portion of the building.
What is known as the new parts, the
east and west wings. or perhaps better
known as the Senate and House wings,
are about as near fire-proof as it was
possible TO construct buildings forty
years ago.
The center or old portion of the build
ing is not as secure from fire or destruc-
ton as are the Senate and House wings.
The explosion which took place in the
Capitol on Sunday night has been the
means of bringing about an investiga-
ton of the building.
AS is shown in the three cuts printed
in connection with this article, the
reader may readily understand that the
center or old portion of the building
might at any time take fire, and
partially, or entirely, destroy the
entire center of the building, may
even result in the falling of the
great dome When one takes into con-
sideration that this dome weighs
over eighty million pounds, or forty
thousand tons, it can readily be seen
that it would require but very little in
fluence to disturb some part of its sup
port
As is shown in the illustration, the
roof of the old part of the building sur
rounding the dome on three sides is
made of wood. Underneath this roof is
a great deal of infiammable matter.
made up largely of wooden shelving.
books. documents and publications OF
various kinds. If the fire resulting
from TIE explosion on Sunday night
had by any meaps reached the roof or
the upper portion of the building, IT
would have resulted, in the opinion of
expert architects, in softening by heat
the iron structure of the dome so that it
might topple or cause ii to lean over
at any moment
1t is argued that there is no way in
which explosions may be prevented.
They may happen at any time. and no
one in particular be to blame for them,
but it is possible to make the construc-
ton of all parts of the building practi-
cally fire-proof.
After the fire which occurred in the
Patent Office in 1877, President Hayes
appointed a commission of three experts
to examine the fire-proof qualities of
the public buildings in the District of
Columbia. This commission made re-
port the latter part of that year after
making a careful examination of all of
the public buildings. as required, and in
speaking of the Capitol building the
commission added:
.'The quarter part of the roof over
the old portion of the building, immedi-
ately adjoining the dome. and the CELL
ings of the rooms beneath, are of or
dinary wood construction. The space
between is used for the storage of books
and documents. Should a fire occur in
this portion of the building it might en-
danger the colonnade of the dome. The
rooms in which the books and files are
kept are of considerable extent, and
without any safe separation from each
other In the small library rooms ad-
leries, shelves and cases are constructed
of wood"
Experts who have been talked to since
the fire occurred Sunday night admit
the utter insecurity of the old portion
of the building, and likewise express
their well founded doubt about the sta
bility of the iron colonnade of the
dome should a fire occur. Thus they
graphically bring before the public the
danger of the great iron dome itself in
such a case. it's base being on a level
with that of the colonnade.
It was claimed at the time the COM
mission made its report that the men,
bers comprising It overlooked TO men,
ton the fearful danger to the records
of the Supreme Court of the United
States. in the event of a fire, the de-
struction of which would be an irrepar-
able loss in priceless treasure literally
amounting TO a national calamity.
1t was argued also that this danger
would be greatly enhanced should fire
spread in the three roofs spoken of
which lie to the north, south, and west
of the dome. actually enveloping 1t on
three sides. as is shown in the illustra-
tions, which We're made by Col. ]. L.
Smithmeyer. architect of the Congress
sional Library, and who is regarded in
Washington and throughout the coun-
try as one of the best architects in the
United Staes.
The first illustration represents a
longitudinal section through the central
portion and dome, north and south, the
cross indicating where the explosion
took took place on Sunday night. 1t
also shows the dome. which is 152 feet
and inches high, to the baiustrade:
$50 feet to the crownIng frescoes, and
ISL feet and inches to the top Of
the bronze statue of Freedom, some
times called the Goddess of Liberty,
but. in fact, reproduction of an abor-
igine, which crowns it
The diameter of the dome is ninety
five feet and six inches. The iron dome
begins ninety-six feet above the floor
line, and has the enormous weight of
over forty thousand tons.
To the north of the dome is the cor
ridor leading to the Supreme Court
chamber. to the marshals Office on
the one side. and to the clerks office on
the other side. ali of which rooms con-
pers. The space above the Supreme
Court, the marshars and clerks offices
are also loaded down with documents,
books, etc. on wooden shelves, and all
of than are covered with wooden roofs,