Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-01-28
Secretary Garfield Asks Con-
gress for So, 100000.
PRESENT QUARTERS UNSAFE
Valuable Records Exposed to Dan
ger From Fire.
SPACE ALSO IS INADEQUATE
F Street Rented Structure in Many
Ways Regarded as Unsuitable
for Purpose.

Secretary Garfield has asked Congress
to appropriate S2.5o0h00 for a new fire.
proof building for the geological survey.
For many years past that branch of the
Interior Department has occupied quar-
ters in the building 1890 + street north
west. The Secretary does not suggest a
site for the proposed building.
In his communication to the Secretary
Of the Treasury, through whom all rec
concentrations for appropriations for
buildings are transmitted to Congress.
Secretary Garfield characterizes the pres
ent quarters of the geological survey as
Inadequate. unsuitable and unsafe" for
the purposes 1t is now used for. The
general land Office and office of Indian
affairs, now quartered i'm the old Post Of
flee Department building at eth and F.
streets. will go in the new building with
the geological survey. Secretary Cortel-
you sent Secretary Garfield's recon-
mendations to Congress yesterday.
More Space Needed.
In addition to the lack of space.
the danger of fire at the present
quarters of the geological survey and the
saving in rent are the principal argu-
ments advanced by the Secretary in sup
port of his request for new quarters.
Such a building, Secretary Garfield de-
clares. would save the government SOL, 400
per year in rent, which. he says, is being
paid out for inadequate quarters. The
rent of 1890 F. street and the annex
across the alley is $4,000 for the geo
logical survey and $1,000 for the reclama-
ton service.
On the subject of possible losses through
fire the Secretary's recommendation con-
tains some strong statements. Records
and manuscripts to the value of 81, $40 600
are constantly exposed to such danger. he
declares. This amount is said by the Sec
rotary to be conservative estimate, since
the loss of certain of the maps. records
and plates would be absolutely irrepar-
able.
Mr.. Garfield calls the attention of Con-
gress to articles in scientific engineering
journals crfticising the government for
allowing these records to remain in a
building that is not fireproof.
On this subject he says:
The main building occupied by the
Geological Survey contains over 100000
square feet of vanished and inflammable
wood partitions. so that fire once
started makes rapid progress.
Twice within the last five years. on
December y, 1908. and again on Decem-
Der 16, 1908, serious fires have occurred
in this building at night. The 1903 fire
originated In the sixth moor. and was
confined to that ffaO~ destroying $4,000
of government proper
Two Recent Fires.
The 1908 fire originated on the fifth floor,
and caused a loses in government property
of $3.50 on the fifth and sixth floors.
In both instances the presence of survey
officials, in addition to that Of the night
watchmen contributed to the prompt
eXtinguishment of the fires with these
comparatively small losses. The build
ing is safeguarded as far as practicable,
steel safes are placed wherever the
strength of the building will permit. and
many record cases are fireproof but If
fire originates on lower floor. or in
an adjacent building, those most familiar
with the geological survey building and
its contents expect to see the complete
destruction of these government records -