The San Francisco call., 1898-11-08

sufficiently intense to badly char all ments. Comparatively few of the papers were absolutely destroyed, but those which suffered this fate were among the most valuable in this room. They included the original opinions of the court In the early days of the re- public, and among them were many manuscripts prepared in the handWrit- ing of the jurists of the days of Wash ington, Jefferson and Adams. There were in the list many opinions in man. uscript written by Marshall, Story and Samuel Chase, Bushrod Washington and others of the Justices of the pe- riod between 1T90 and 1880, and there fore prtzed as relics of the early days of the court. They were also occasion ally referred to to settle disputed points concerning words or punctuation marks. These papers were stored under the arch of the room and seem to have been completely consumed. On the other hand, the official records of the courts proceedings covering the same period appear to have been preserved and are probably in good condition. They were encased in tin boxes and these in turn in wooden cases. The de- bris is in such disorder as to have ren- dered it impossible to open the wooden doors to-day but these doors were not
 
 lief that the records themselves are intact.
 Many of the modern documents, in cluding letters and opinions of recent date, were also so badly burned that it will be impossible to restore them, but none of these appear to have suffered such complete demolition as befell the early opinions. No documents affecting the present docket of the court were injured.
 The fire at one time threatened to in wade the Senate document room, reach ing to within two or three feet. Mir Smith, the superintendent, was on hand, prepared to contest its progress with the aid of the fire department, but the chances are that if it had gained any headway here the damage would have been far more serious, as the apartment is extensive and contains much exposed paper.
 4 report was current during the morning that the west central wall of the Capitol was cracked as a result of the explosion. Architect Wood made a careful examination and located the crack which had aroused suspicious. It proved, however, to be in the outer or veneer wall, and not in the six-foot foundation wall on the west side. This main wall has stood over 100 years, and is still in fairly good condition. When additions were made, a veneer wall about ten inches thick, was added out side. The explosion blew out a heavy stone door frame in the outer wall, and this in turn loosened several stones of the veneer wall. MT. Wood is satis- fled that the main wall had not been disturbed. His attention was called to a crack in the main wall but this he recalled as well-knoWn old crack which had existed for years. MT. Wood said it is not surprising that wall STn06 9 some cracks, which do not, however, impair it's general security. He thinks this crack may have come from the ex- pansion resulting from the burning of the capitol by the British in 1874.
 The library of the Supreme Court which, next to the Congressional Li- brary, is the most valuable collection of books in Washington, escaped with little damage, although it was in the very center of the disturbance, the wrecked elevator shaft and upheaved floor stones being at the library en- in the library will be covered by $1500. The books escaDed intact, the loss be- ing confined to singed woodwork.
 The floor of the electrical room, un- der which the explosion occurred, was completely demolished. Fortunately no one was in the room when the explosion occurred
 MT. Wood at the close of the day ex- pressed the opinion that the damage to the Capitol building could be repaired for $20, 900.
 Tt is by no means as serious as I first thought it was" said MT. Wood
 The architect believes the explosion was caused by gas Other architects who have inspected the scene of the catastrophe also attribute it to an ex. plosion of gas. Some express the opin- ion that broken main and burning jet are responsible for the occurrence. The work of removing the rubbish caused by the explosion has been pro- ceeding rapidly all day, seventy-five to 100 men being employed for this pur- pose. As soon as the refuse is suffi- ciently cleared out the work of repair ing the damage will begin. MT. Wood thinks the Supreme Court room will be ready for occupancy within two weeks,