The evening times., 1898-11-08
STABILITY OF THE CAPITOL.
Ii Is Uuimpnircd Says Assistant Ar.
chitect Woods.

Dusty, busy worlImen continue TO blot
out the evidence of the explosion and fire
at the Capitol, and it is prophesied that
within two weeks all the scars of the ex-
plosion will have been removed
Elliott Woods, assistant architect of
the Capitol. stated this morning that af-
ter critical survey of the damage he
finds that the foundation of the struc-
ture is unshaken and that the stability of
the building is not impaired. He estimates
that the cost of replacing the shattered
in the basement, the renewal of The ele-
vator and the elevator shaft. the replas-
tering of the marshaIs office and restor-
ing the skylights in the north airwell and
the little court between the Supreme Court
and the clerks office VIII not exceel s20-
coo. He insists that this is the outside
figure
The clerk To tine Supreme Court has
made a cursory survey of the Supreme
Court record room and finds that all the
documents stored there are damaged, but
hat, d rule. only the margins of the
records are charred. 1t is likely that NOT
one document was destroyed The rec
ords are confused and water soaked. the
streams from the hose Of the flremen
having forced many Of them from the
shelves and piled them in disorderea
heaps upon the floor. A little time and in
dustry will adjust matters in the record
room.
The damage in the law library is not
as great as the librarian feared il would
be, even after the fire had been extin-
guished. Not "a volume was lost The
only injury was to the binding OF those
books which were shelved at the south
end of the library close TO the passage
way which was blown up. The carpet
WIS soiled by cinders and slightly dam
aged by water and the walls were discol-
ored by smoke.
House cleaning is proceeding in the
Supreme Court room. Cotton shrouds
have been folded ever the marble buSts
that are ranged around the semi-circular
wall. The red velvet carpet has been
taken up and sent ia a carpet cleaning
establishment and the crimson cushioned
benches have been removed to the corri-
dor. II viii he necessary TO renew the
upholstery CT a few of the benches that
were in the south half OF the chamber,
but all thar is needed by majority of
Them TO pat them IN good condition is
little cleaning
ainters are preparing 10 recolOr the
walls and ceiling OF the court room ara
within two weeks the chamber will bc
ready for occupancy. Cntil the chamber
Is renovated the sessions OF the Supreme
Court will be held in the room Of the
Senate Committee on the District of CO.
lumkia The United States marshal also
has his office III the same room.
I re walls of the office % the United
States marshal have been stripped of
plaster and al! The charred woodwork
has been taken out. Pias;ereTs began to
recover the walls this afternoon and car
DenterS TO renew the window frames,
doors and door frames. II VIII be ready
for occupancy IN tw0 Dr three days.
Glaciers are putting new glass IL the
skyiisht over the north airweli and the
little court directly to the north.
An inspection OF the gas meters. fiXt-
ureS and plumbing throughout the sub
basement ana bassment1S being made t.
day and hereaf,e- Src1- Cnls' 'derI'io1 Will
be given TO the matter Of plumbing so
that accidents. like that Of Sunday even
may i,.a avoided