Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-03-10
UNSAFE REPOSITORIES
CONDITION OF PUBLIC RECORDS
CAUSE OF CONCERN.

The committee on appropriations of Con-
gress had its attention called to the unsafe
condition of the records of the District Su-
preme Court in a letter written today by
Mr.. John r. Young, clerk of the local courts.
Mr.. Young points out the danger of the de-
struction OF the records by fire. His letter
is. in part. as follows:
The files rooms of this office contain
the records of this court and that of !ts
predecessor, covering the period from 1891
to the present time. There have nccumu-
lated since the organization of this court,
in March, 1863, over 5000 chancery TUFTS,
$4,000 law causes and 25.000 criminal cases.
besides United States district court and
bankruptcy cases.
while the rooms occupied by this office
are of fireproof construction, the file cases,
furniture and all fittings, except safes. are
made Of wood, mostly pine. and are of q
crude, cheap and Anticipated style. Should
fire occur the destruction of these records.
In whole or very large part, would be inev-
liable. and their loss would be irreparable.
Titles Involved.
ut is fair to say that title to practically
a greater part OF the real estate in the city
Of Washington and the District of Columbia
depends on one or more OF these ehaneery
suits. The law causes also. through execu-
ton sales, are important links in many
titles. The same is true of the proceedings
In rem in the District Court
Congress has already made provision to
safeguard the records of the register or
wills. recorder Of deeds and surveyor or
the District of Columbia, located In the
same building. The records of this office
could not be reproduced In case OF destruc-
ton any more than the records Of those
above referred to, and they are quite as
important.
"It Is a matter of common knowledge
that destruction of records affecting titles
to land Is always great calamity. Al
though thirty years have passed since the
great Chicago fire the loss and inconven-
fence resulting from burnt records has not
yet ceased to be felt, although the legisla-
ture went to the utmost verge of its power
in efforts to provide relief, the cost to the
public being very burdensome. A moments
reflection would show what would result
from even a partial destruction OF the rec
ords in question.
Metal file cases, that will make these
important records comparatively safe, will
cost about $4,000 A fire lasting not more
than thirty minutes could infict many
money could not repair.
Rebinding and Repairs.
There is also needed an appropriation of
$1,000 to rebind, repair and save from de-
struction several hundred volumes of the
records of the late Circuit Court of the
District OF Columbia, covering the period
from 1901 to 1868 the date of the organ
ization of this court. Some of these vol
umes contain very important records, and
are consulted nearly every day by search
ers of titles to real estate.
This improvement would add quite one
half to our storage capacity, which is at
present inadequte with no available room
for extension, and also greatly facilitate
the work of the office.
There can be no doubt that the public
would heartily approve the measure of
protection which Is sought, as every owner
of real estate in the District of Columbia
is interested in the preservation of these
records
ut is therefore. respectfully submitted
that this improvement should be promptly
provided for, and your assistance to that
end is earnestly solicited"