New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-03-30
Fire Destroyed Only Part OF
Building. but Property Loss
Was More than S. 900, 600.
CAUSE is NOT YET KNOWN
Work of Restoring the Building
Will Be Begun as Soon as 1t
Is Authorized by the
Legislature.

had left the Democratic senatorial cau-
Gus scarcely an hour bcfore-early this
morning-fre broke out in the western
wing OF the state Caritol and swept
across the entire Washington street. or
western, frontage OF the big building, on
the third and fourth floors. The actual
property loss is estimated at between
$5.OoO.OO and SG.nOOOOo. but it 10
thought repairs to the building may be
completed within the former figures
Thousands OF books. state records and
historical documents, whose value can
not be measured in money. were de-
voured by the flames. The greatest
damage from the FIRE centred i'm the
State Library. with its six hundred thou
sand volumes The library which was
on the third and fourth floors. was COM
pletely DESTROYED. The origin Of the
fire is unknown.
The fire ate its way into the Assembly
chamber but was extinguished there
without much actual damage from tho
flames Water and smoke worked havoc.
however in the meeting place OF the
lower house. and the famous papier
mache ceiling bulged out in spots, giving
the appearance OF sponges cl!nging to
blocks OF slate The huge brass and
crystal chandelier in this room crashed
TO the floor, demolishing many Assem-
blymen's desks IL fell.
The luxurious chamber Of the Senate
was not invaded by rhe flames. The
massive panels OF the ceiling apparently
vithstood the tons OF water which were
poured into the building above the cham
Der and remained intact There was
only slight water and smoke damage to
furnishings In the chamber.
Granite Blasted Away.
Massive granite blocks ot the outer
walls and the beautifully carved sand
stone arches and marble columns In the
corridors Of the western wing fairiy
melted away in places from the blasts
Of intense heat In the path OF the flames.
The grand western staircase. costing
hundreds OF Thousands Of dollars. was
badly damaged AT the fourth and hfth
floors
The IRON framework Of the slate roof
along the western side OF the building
twisted and broke from It's fastenings
from the intense heat. and the roof fell
in nearly the whole way across this
western frontage. The massive tower on
the southwest corner. one OF four which
lend so much to the architectural beauty
Of the four angles OF the Capitol.
crImbled and fell int" the building.
One man Is undoubtedly buried under
the tons OF stone and iron which fell
from the roof to the fourth floor He Is
Samuel J. Abbott. seventy seven years
old the night watchman in the state IL
brary. II was impossible To make
thorough search of that part Of the
building tonight where his body Is
thought 10 be. He has been missing
since the fire started and it is supposed
he was caught By the flames and burned
10 death.
None Of the state officials would vent
ure a close estimate ~ the property loss
tonight. state Architect Franklin Il.
Ware said il was impossible 10 co 50 AZ
this time He said. however, ;hat II
would probably be not less than 5000
600 Judging from the relative cost OF
the whole building. which vas over $2'.-
900 600. many estimated the loss at
million or two more :han that Mr..
Ware said that IN view of tho more eco
nomical methods o: construction which
can be employed to-diy In the restora-
ton the relative loss might be consid-
erably reduced.
Rivers Of Water in Building.
Though the flames swept only one emo
Of the building. the water and smoke
damage was heavy throughout the
structure Rivers OF water hon ed down
the western stairways and spread out IN
a veritable flood over the lower floors.
Great streams of murky water ran down
CAPITOL Hill, over the car tracks and
backed up in large pools in most OF the
side streets in the lower part OF the city.
The Offices of half dozen departments
housed on the lower floors Of the vest
ern wing were rendered useless by the
water These included the offices OF the
State Tax Commissioners. the State
Treasurer, the State Lunacy Commits
sion, the Attorney Generals once. the
he adauarters OF the national guard on
the second floor. the Lieutenant Gov
ernor's office and many committee
rooms.
Governor Dix's private office was not
damaged. hut furniture and documents
| In the adjoining room. occupied by the
Governors secretary. were damaged by
water. The Court Of Claims and sew
era, of the committee rooms OF the SEN
ate and Assembly lay in the path OF the
names and burned up like so much
himsy
The state Architect Mr. Ware. saio
| tonight that tho work OF restoration
| would bc begun Just as soon a 8 the Leg
islature should authorize the prepare.
ton OF plans and the making OF the
necessary contracts Both houses OF the
legislature have taken up temporary
quarters In the CITY Hall. which was
proclaimed the temporary State Capitol
by a formal resolution adopted at a
meeting Of the members OF the Legisla
ture there Al O'Clock to day.
Appalling Disaster, Says Dix.
The Lieutenant Governor took up his