Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-05-14

$4,000 in the District bill for metal cases,
shelving and racks for this Office and have
come to see what necessity. If any, there
Is for such an appropriation"
Mr.. Dutton assured his visitor that he
would not only be delighted to show him
through the Office. but that if the represent
alive was not convinced. after a personal
inspection, that there was an imperative
necessity for the improvements contem-
plated, the deputy recorder would be quite
willing to have the item stricken from the
bill, the measure then being in conference
The office. as Representative McCieary
saw 1t that day, was a dark, ill-lighted one,
filled with dingy wooden shelves and cases,
with Anticipated furniture and occupied to
practically every foot of it's limited dirnen-
sions. Mr.. McCleary saw the records of the
Office. running back for more than 100 years,
practically unprotected against mice and
other destructive agencies. and absolutely
unprotected against destruction by fire. He
learned that these records represented the
title of not only the citizens of the Dis
trict to real and personal property, but as
well the title in many Instances of the
United States and Of the District of Co
lumbia to real estate. The inspection over,
Mr.. McCleary frankly stated that he had
been convinced and promised that the APP
preparation would have his support. At that
time there was q proposition to remove the
office of the recorder of deeds from the city
hall to the new municipal building, and Mr..
McCleary not only successfully opposed
that: but also induced the House to agree
to the Senates proposition to provide Tor
the improvements in the Office requested by
Recorder Dancy. As the result of his ad-
vocacy OF the Senates amendment to the
then pending District appropriation bill the
office of the recorder of deeds of the Dis
trict Is today medernly equipped one,
and the records therein are now stored in
handsome steel cases and practically safe
against fire and other destructive agencies.
X
The office Of the recorder of deeds occu-
pies the rooms on either side Of the west
ern basement corridor Of the city hall. and
the rooms on the northern basement corrt-
dor running east and west for about half
way between the western and eastern walls
Of the building. When Recorder Dancy
asked Congress to make the appropriation
referred to, little more than a year ago, the
records of the office numbered about be-
tween 3.100 and $500 volumes. and every
Owing to the crowded condition Of the
city hall. the recorder could secure no ad-
ditional rooms, and he and his deputy were
at a loss where to place the next COM
pleted records. Correspondence with metal
construction companies was commenced and
estimates obtained from them which made
1t evident that the improvements desired
could be effected by an appropriation Of not
more than 10000 Plans were drawn which
showed that the capacity of the office for
storing Its records would be more than
doubled. The improvements have now been
completed, and 1t Is stated that small
part of the amount appropriated remains
unexpended, while the Office today has a
capacity for $500 volumes of records. More
than that, It has q capacity for storing mis-
cellaneous papers, uncalled for deeds and
certificates of Incorporation for five or ten
years to come.
At the request Of Recorder Dancy and
his deputy. Mr.. Dutton, the Senate COM
mittee on appropriations, in amending the |
District appropriation bill for the purpose
pressly provided that Mr.. Elliott Woods, |
the superintendent of the Capitol, should ]