Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-04-10
A HALL OF RECORDS
SENATOR FAIRBANKS REPORTS
ON HIS BILL.
Necessity of Its Immediate Construc-
ton Shown-Commission to
Select Site.

In the Senate this afternoon Mr.. Fair
banks. chairman of the committee on public
buildings and grounds. made report on Sem
ate bill 5113, to provide for the purchase of
a site and the erection of hall of records.
This report is the result of much discussion
on the part of the committee of the project
for a hall of records. The bill provides
that the Secretary of the, Treasury the
Postmaster General and the Secretary Of
the Interior be appointed a commission to
select site in this city for the erection
of a building for hall of records. They
are to cause plans to be made for the build
ing by competition of architects desig-
mated by the commission for that purpose.
The building. when completed, shall contain
not less than 5OeO.CO0 cubic feet.
Site and Size of Building
The Secretary of the Treasury is d.
rected to acquire by purchase. condemna-
ton. or otherwise. the site selected by the
commission, but the cost of the site shall
not exceed the sum of $500 600.
The Secretary Of the Treasury is directed
to cause to be erected upon this site suit
able building, with fireproof vaults, heating
and ventilating apparatus, elevators and
approaches. TO contain, approximately,
l 500. 900 cubic feet, to be In conformity with
the plans for the completed building ap-
proved by 1.-THE commission for the use and
accommodation of hall of records for i'm
mediate necessities. The cost of that part
or wing Of the building. exclusive of site,
shall not exceed the sum of $5OO0OO
The Secretary of the Treasury is directed
to purchase the land as soon as practicable
at such prices as may be fixed by agree
ment between the Secretary and the re-
spectitve owners and approved by the COM
mission, not exceeding its cash value.
If the Secretary shall be unable to pur-
chase the necessary land for site by
agreement with the respective owners
| within ninety days after the passage Of the
act, he shall acquire the same by condem-
| nation, and for that purpose he is directed
to make application to the Supreme Court
of the District of Columbia at a general
or special term. by petition.
Immediate Necessity Shown.
In the report of the committee the great
immediate necessity for the construction OF
a hall of records is shown
THE necessity tor the erection OF a suit
able hall of records has long been recog-
| nized," the report says. Many efforts
have been made to provide for the construc-
ton of building in which could be safely
| stored and preserved the valuable records
| of the government. Many of these records
| are now, and for long time have been, In
serious peril. The destruction of many OF
| them has been seriously threatened at va
riGuS times. Their loss would be almost al
| irreparable one to the government. Your
committee believes that the erection Of a
] hall of records should begin at early
| date and the many departments which are
| now used for storage room to the NANTES,
\ embarrassment of the public business
| should be relieved and the records and
| documents stored therein and worthy OF
| preservation, should find permanent placs
| in a building erected for the specific purpose
| of accommodating them.
| 1.-THE subject Is one which has been pressed
| upon the attention of Congress for nearly 9
| quarter Of a century. The necessity fol
| such building has increased during the
| past few years. and In the very nature Of
| the case must continue to rapidly increase