Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-09-17
CON TRACT AWARDED
IMPROVEMENTS IN OFFICE OF
RECORDER OF DEEDS.
Sum of $4,000 to Be Expended-Metal
Book Cases, File Cases and
Shelving Provided.

Acting under the authority of the cur
rent District appropriation act, wherein
Congress at its last session provided the
sum of $4,000 for metal book cases. file
cases. shelves and racks for the Office of
the recorder of deeds. Mr.. Elliott Woods.
the superintendent of the Capitol has
awarded the contract to the Art Metal
Construction Company of jamestown. N. Y,
and 1t is understood the company expects to
complete the work in about sixty days.
In asking for the appropriation Recorder
Dancy invited the attention of the appro-
priation committees of the House and SEN
ate to the fact that the records of the office
are practically unprotected against fire and
other destructive agents, inviting attention
also to the fact that in the preservation of
these records depend not only the title of
the citizens of the District to real and per-
sonal property. but also the title of the
United States and of the District.
Representative McCleary of the House ap-
preparation committee, chairman of the
subcommittee in charge of the District
appropriation BILL personally visited the re-
corders office, and. after being shown
through it by Deputy Recorder Dutton
expressed establishment that the records
had so long been allowed to remain I'M
protected against destruction. promising
that he would favor making the desired
appropriation 1t was largely upon Mr.
his efforts that the House agreed to the
Senates insertion of the item in the bill.
Mr.. Elliott Woods being placed in charge
of the work.
Preparation of Plans.
Recorder Dancy requested Deputy Re-
corder Dutton to confer with Mr.. Woods
after the appropriation had been made and
after several visits to the Office by Mr..
Woods and conferences with Mr. Dutton,
plans were prepared under Mr.. Woods di-
rection, which mean when the work is COM
pleted a practically new and modernly
equipped office and one which, it is be-
lieved, will be fully protected against
fire as it is possible to render a MONTH";
proof building. Not only will this be done.
1t is believed but it is also believed that
the cost will be we'll within the appropria-
ton. go. '--..t.ss :. ,..-
The plans on which the contract has been
awarded to the Art Metal Construction
Company provide for notable extension
of the facilities of the office for filing pa
pers and shelving the record books.
Under the old system of wooden shelves
and cases the available room for them III
the Office had been exhausted. and the &C
uuisition of additional space was most
serious and perplexing problem. The do
ing away of this woodwork and the cree
ton of the metal cases, racks and shelves
will. it is estimated. more than double the
facilities of the Office. At the present
time the record books of the office amount
to 5000 volumes. and the plans under
which the contract for the metal work
was awarded provide room for 5000 vol
umes. Mr. Woods. who has taken the
greatest interest in the matter and has de-
voted much time and thought to the work,
has arranged to remove about every piece
Of woodwork In the office and substitute
therefor metal construction, providing In
the specifications that the work shall be
done in the most substantial and artistic
manner.