The Washington herald., 1908-03-11

Fear that the valuable public documents
of the various executive departments of
the government may be destroyed by
fire or otherwise. led Secretary Of the
Treasury Cortelyou yesterday TO send to
Congress a strong recommendation that
a suitable Hail OF Decords be erected
in this city, and that the money there
fore be appropriated at the present ses-
sion.
In his letter Secretary Corteiyou shows
that the ground has already been ac-
quired for this building. which he deems
OF imperative Importance. and further
shows that yearly, a recommendation that
building be erected, has been made by
the Committee on Public Buildings and
Grounds. Notwithstanding these facts,
Congress has repeatedly failed 70 allow
any appropriation for the building. which
is considered by the head Of the Treasury
Of the utmost Importance.
The Letter Itself.
The letter says IN part:
The earnest consideration Of Congress
is invited TO the necessity OF providing
at the present session an appropriation
for the erection of Hall Of Records IN
this city in which uncurrent files OF the
various Executive departments and other
branches OF the government may be
stored
This matter has been agitated for
many years and. on March 3. 1902. was
made the subject Of a special communi-
cation from thu Secretary OF the Treas
ury TO the chairman Of the committee or
Public Buildings and Grounds SENATE
document go. in which the pressing need
Of such A building was fully set forth
since that time, under authority Of an
act OF Congress approved March 3. 1853
square rs. situated between Eighteenth
and Nineteenth, + and r streets north
west, has been acquired for a Hall OF
Records, and title thereto is now vested IN
the government. Recommendations have
been made yearly for an appropriation
for a building to be erected on this site
and I'm l90i, tentative plans for such a
building We're prepared by the supervising
architect Of this department.
The necessity Of some structure OF
the character described. grows constantly
An investigation made in 1906 showed that
The files then on hand IN all the buildings
under the control Of the Treasury Depart
ment, in Washington, and in the space
rented exclusively therefor. occupied over
a million cubical feet of space. and that
they were accumulating at the rate OF
$50 cubical feet per annUm.
Condition Is Precarious.
The condition Of these uncurrent files
IS preearious in the extreme. In many in
stances they occupy space which is fire.
quented by the public. and are unpro-
tected in any way from depredations.
Some Of them are stored in rented build
ings. which are not freproof. and are
liable at any moment 10 be destroyed by
FIRE
"All OF the available space in the gov
ernment buildings under the control OF
this department is now occupied. as vel
as two and half floors in a large storage
building. FOR which this department pays
an annual rental Of $500, and in addi-
tion the department is compelled 20 use
corridors and other available space which
IS badly needed for the transaction Of cur
rent business.
While these files are referred 10 as un.
current 1t must be borne in mind thai
reference IS made 10 them almost con,
stantly' that in most instances they per
tain TO questions Of great Importance
that they have been accommodating sine
the organization OF the government. ans
that the distraction by fire wouIC caus,
/ irrepairable injury. confusion. and delay
In the transaction Of the public business
1t Is therefore absolutely necessary
that sufficient space BE provided Il
| assemble them IN such a manner tha,
they may be OF ready access. They ar,
now inaccessible for reference excepf
with great labor on account OF :nsun
/ cient space. and AT the same time ar,
daily exposed 10 loss, decay, and acci
dents, which may at any time DESTROY
them in whole or in part.
Is Same I'm All.
While there is no consideration gov
erning the other Executive department,
and governmental establishments. II i
I believed that similar conditions prevail :,
all In my opinion there are but few. {
any. public Improvements OF which Their
/ is greater need than a Hall OF Records
and the matter is presented with tn,
earnest hope that action will be taker