Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-03-22
Repeated Efforts to Secure a Needed
Building.
AGITATION FOR TWENTY YEARS
History Of the Appeals Made to
Congress.
MR.VANDERLIP'S NARRATIVE

Treasury Department has been looking in
| tc the history of the efforts that have been
made from time to time to build hall of
| records, wherein may be safely stored the
vast accumulation of valuable documents
which incumbers the files of the various ex-
ecutive departments. $50 far as the Treas
| ury Department is concerned" said Assist
art Secretary Vanderlip today to Star re-
porter. ''it means to make every effort pos
s-ble looking to the establishment of such
building. A committee of the treasury
has recently been reassigning the rooms in
the treasury building, and, as its work has
progressed, the necessity for file room has
become more and more apparent. The
Treasury Department. by reason of a want
of proper space for it's employees. has been
compelled to store tons of valuable records
in places that are not only inconvenient,
but, TO a certain degree insecure. In the
basement, down under the east portico are
stored the Accommodations of years. 1t is
necessary to use in these places artificial
lights at all times. and, Notwithstanding
every precaution and care to guard against
hres, there Is always more or less danger
The files rooms of the garnet are not less
unsuitable for the uses to which they are
being put at this time.
''It will be of great advantage to the
Treasury Department to have it's records
Lot in daily use stored safely in such a
building as has long been contemplated for
hall of records.
Initiating AEita ton.
''It is now twenty years since the atten-
ton Of Congress was first called to the ne
cessity of hall of records. The Secretary
of War in his annual report for 1878 en-
phasized the hazardous situation Of records
of great value in the quartermaster gen.
erals office, such records containing the
original proof in claims against the United
States to the amount of many millions of
dollars. No immediate action was taken by
Congress. however. and not until March.
1882 was the subject considered by any
committee of Congress. March 16, 1882, the
House committee on public buildings and
grounds. having under consideration a bill
making an appropriation for the purchase
of ground and the erection thereon in the
city of Washington of building to be used
as hall of records. reported that the ne
cessity for the erection of a suitable fire.
proof building for the safekeeping of the
records and official papers of the several
departments, which have been accumu-
lated since the formation of the govern
ment, has long been apparent to any one
who has given any consideration to the
subject. At present papers whose value
cannot be estimated, and which cannot be
replaced. involving large sums of money
to the government, are stored away in the
different departments. some of them in
rented buildings not fireproof and liable at
any moment to be destroyed by fire.
The bill did not pass. but the sundry
civil bill, approved August Z. 1882, contain
ed the following: That the supervising
architect of the treasury be. and he is, re-
quired to make a report through the Sec
rotary of the Treasury to the next session
of Congress, first. to a suitable plat of
ground belonging to the United States upon
which a suitable fireproof building can be
erected, to be built of brick. to be used for
the safekeeping of records of the executive
L. ~s<I., i'll
are not required for constant reference.
Second. the probable cost of such building,
with plans and specifications for same
Armory Square Favored.
acting un6er the authority Of this
clause, the supervising architect on Janu-
airy IT, 1888. reported in favor Of a site
known as 'Arnory Square, between 9th
and 18th streets southwest. as the most
desirable site that could be secured upon
any government property for the purpose
indicated. Plans and specifications for
building on this square were made. and 1t
was estimated that such building would
cost in amount $l036.05i. The building
was to be 267 feet long. sixty-two feet wide,
four stories high. basement and attic,
fianked by two wings. each 123 feet long.
by sixty feet wide and fireproof through
out The plan proposed the extension of
the building to any extent desired. and it
was suggested that, if deemed advisable,
the wings Indicated could be omitted with
out any other Inconvenience except that
of reducing capacity. Without the wings.
|Sthe estimated cost was 1866 6S6. Nothing
came OF this recommendation. however,
and on December 10. 1888, President Ar
thur transmitted TO Congress a letter from
the Secretary of War setting forth the
necessity for the construction Of fire
proof building in this city for the storage
OF public records. The recommendations
of former years were urgently renewed.
I'm 1886 the Treasury Department again
took up the subject, ard in March of that
year the supervising architect recommend
safe keeping of records. The supervising
architect reviewed the efforts that had
already been made. and referred to the
report of a commission dated December
10 1889 that a new fireproof building
storing records. AS to the Edvisability'
he said. of constructing this building so
as to accommodate the offices named I
nave to report that it would DE both wise
and economical. In both my annual re-
ports the attention of Congress has been
called to the necessity for such a building
The losses which the government has al
especial attention to the necessity for a
fireproof building for the files of the execu-
tive departments
For period Of almost ten years follow
TO have been done. either in Congress or in
the executive departments, looking to the
building of a hall of records.
March 81. 1894, the committee on public
buildings and grounds. having under con-
sideratioa a bill making appropriations
for the purchase of ground and the erec-
ton of hall Of records reported upon
the urgent necessity for such a building.
Very large accImulations of records of
great value the report shows. are now
stored in insecure buildings, liable to des-
truction by fire. or to damage or loss from
other causes. II, through any accident.
these records should be destroyed, their
reproduction would be impossible, and
great Inconvenience and much embarrass-
ment would result to the several depart
naents Of the government thereby. In most
instances. these records pertain to ques-
tons OF great importance and value, and
they have been steadily accommodating
since the organization of the government.
and they must be preserved for future
reference. They are In such quantity as
to require a great deal of space, and are
Of course. constantly increasing in volume.
Those which are not placed on storage in
unsafe outside buildings are occupying
highly valuable space In the various de-
partments. which Is badly needed for the
transaction Of current business. In some
instances. department buildings have be-
come DANGEROUSLY Oyerweiahfoi NTH fbasa