The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-11-08
LITTLE DAMAGE
TO THE CAPITOL.
The Fire Not as Serious as
Was Supposed.
THE WALLS INJURED.
The Damage Was Confined to Up
hoIstery and Floors.
SOME VALUABLE PAPERS LOST.
Those Destroyed Were the Most VAL
uable in the Room-The Official
Records " ere Uninjured-S20,-
600 VIII Pay for the Neces-
sary Repairs TO the
Building.

WASHINGTON, NOV h-Assis1dht
Architect OF the Capitol Wood, after an
inspection OF the wrecked part Of the
capitol expressed the opinion late this
evening that the damage TO the building
could be repaired for $4,000.
1T is by no means so serious as /
first thought it was" said Mr.. Wood
If find that the foundations OF the build
ings were not damaged In the least, and
that tho only injury done to the strue-
ture by the explosion was done to the
arched floors. These were struck from
beneath and afforded the least resistance;
gave way so readily that the foundation
walls were not injured in any respect
CAUSED BY GAS.
Mr.. Wood believes that the explosion
was caused by gas, but says he has not
yet been able, on account OF tnv ueDris
to make a sufficiently critical examina-
ton TO place the exact spot at which the
ignition occurred. Other architects who
have inspected the scene OF the oatas-
trophe also attribute it to an explosion
Of gas. but like Mr.. Wood decline to so
into details in their theories.
Some express the opinion that broken
main and a burning jet are responsible
for the occurrence.
The work Of removing the rubbish
caused by the explosion proceeded rapidly
all day. seventy-hve or one hundred men
being employed for this purpose. AS
soon as the refuse IS sufficiently cleared
out the work OF repairing the damage will
begin.
THE COURT ROOM.
Mr.. Wood thinks that the Supreme
Court room will DO ready for occupancy
within two weeks. Here. as elsewhere,
the damage was less than was thought.
and the opinion Is expressed that nothing
more than repainting Of the walls, put
ting in new doors. new skylights and
new upholstery will be necessary TO rem
der the chamber nj for service. Fire did
very little damage 10 this room. but the
conclusion did some and the smoke and
water more. The ceiling Of this part Of
the building and some OF the partitions
are OF wood, and there is no doubt that
very serious damage would have resulted
If the fire had once gotten headway here.
As it adjoins the dome there has been
some speculation as to what effect 1t
would have had upon that structure.
q
None Of the very valuable books in the
law library was injured. The only dam
age that cannot be made good was done
in the nle-room OF the Supreme Court in
the basement where We're stored all the
official records and the original copies OF
opinions from the foundation Of the gov
ernment All these opinions have been
printed but the original manuscripts
were highly valued. This room was al
most over the scene of the explosion and
it was one OF the first compartments OF
the capitol TO be attacked
The documents here were stored away
IN an orderly manner in wooden cases and
none Of them had any other protection
except the records OF the court from 1892
10 1s32, which were encased I'm tin boxes.
The flames appear 10 have completely
enveioped this room. but they were only
sufficiently intense to badly char all the
woodwork and many of the documents.
VALUABLE PAPERS LOST
Comparatively few of the papers were
absolutely destroyed but those which suf,
fered this fate were among the most
valuable IN the room They included the
original opinions OF the court In the early
DAYS Of the republic and among them
were many manuscripts prepared in the
handwriting Of the jurists OF the DAYS OF
Washington, Jefferson and Adams. There
were In the list many opinions IN manu-
scrip, written by Marshall. Story, Sam
uel Chase. Bushrod Washington and 9TH
ers of the Justices of the period between
1890 and 1880. and therefore priced as rel
les Of the early days Of the court. They
We're also occasionally referred to 10 set
tie disputed points concerning words or
punctuation marks.
COMPLETELY CONSUMED.
These papers were stored under the
arch OF the room and seem 10 have been
completely consumed. on the other hand
the official records of the courts proceed
ings covering the same period appear to
have been preserved and probably in
good condition. These were encased in
tin boxes and these in turn placed within
wooden cases. Many Of the more modern
documents. including letters and opinions
Of recent date were also so badly burned
that II will he impossible 10 restore them.
but none ~ these appear 10 have suffered
such complete demolition as befell the
early opinions. No documents affecting
the present docket ~ the court were in
jured. The fire al one time threatened 10
invade the Senate document room. reach
ing TO within four or five feet OF IL.
THE WALL UNHURT.
\ report was current curing lnc morn
ing that the west central wall OF the
Canltol was cracked as a result of the
explosion Architect Wood made a care
mi examination and located the crack
which had aroused suspicion. II proved
however. 70 be I'm 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 I'm
fairly good condition. When additions
were made a veneer wall about 10 Inches
thick was added outside. The explosion
last night blew out heavy stone door
frame in the outer wall and this in turn
loosened several stones in the veneer wall.
Mr. Wood satisfied himself that the main
wall had not been disturbed.
THE COURT SAT.
The Supreme Court sat to-day In the
room of the senate commission OF the
District OF Columbia The room Is quite
a commodious Office ROOM we'll furnished
with tables. chairs and desks and other
Office furniture. so that little difhcully
was encountered n trarSfarmirT y ''io
suitable place for the court. The long