The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1911-03-30
ALBANY CAPITOL
SWEPT BY FIRE
New York Statehouse Par
tally Destroyed.
PRICELESS BOOKS BURNED

! uS0o0u0o ~ -VVs0USo NUO 00SOUSuSo
Which Cannot BE Replaced Are
Consumed and The Famous Million
Dollar Staircase May Have to Be
RebuiIt-Loss Estimated at From
Five to Ten Millions.
Albany, N.Y., March 30.-Two wings
of New York's statehouse, the north
and the west, have been severely dam
aged by fire, causing property loss
estimated at from $5,000,0O0 to $10,-
100000. Magnificent works of art and
sculpture have been destroyed and it
is believed that most of the priceless
contents Of the state library and legis-
lative libraries have been lost.
The famous west staircase, one Of
The most beautiful in the world, may
have to be rebuilt. ...s.ss. ,..>:.z
The flames were brought under con-
troll after stubborn seven.hour fight.
1t is said that the state carried no in
surance on the capitol.
Several firemen and employees of the
building were trapped by flames, but
all escaped with possibly one excep-
ton. =.
A fused electric wire or cigarette
is believed to have started the fire.
The fire started in the assembly IL
brary and before the firemen reached
the massive structure priceless docu-
ments, books and records stored in
the assembly library had been de-
stroyed and other departments We're
being threatened. The imitation oak
ceiling of the assembly chamber, com
posed of papier mache, was partially
destroyed, as was also the famous
million-dollar staircase in the west
wing. I.,%
Priceless Documents Burned. -
On the third floor, where the flames
gained their start, the departments
wholly or partially destroyed by fire
or seriously damaged by water were:
The state library, containing 100000
volumes, among them the most valua-
BILE genealogical works in the United
States, with relics and priceless docu.
ments, some of them dating back to
l176 and irreplaceable. ....>.
The assembly and senate libraries,
stored with thousands of volumes of
law and code books, also a number of
documents and manuscripts that can
never be replaced.
The finance committee room, in
which were stored drafts of all the
appropriation and other bills of the
present session.
The chamber of the president pro
TEN. of the senate. T.
The lieutenant governors room,
damaged but not wrecked.
The senate and assembly chambers,
both flushed with water that has
ruined their rich furnishings, and the
ceiling of the latter hanging in wasted,
tangled shreds Of half-dissolved paper.
This ceiling, with its handsome adorn-
ment, is said to have cost great sum,
and was one of the show sights of the
capitol.
Damage on Other Floors.
On the fourth floor, in the west wing,
the wrecked offices are: The court of
claims, in which many important legal
documents were on file: the bill draft.
ing department; the bureau of weights
and measures; the state regents
rooms; the state educational depart
ment, containing many valuable books
of scientific and historical interest,".
+. On the second floor the damaged
rooms are: The attorney generals Of
hce, the state excise department, prob
ably swept by flames.
On the first floor the damaged de-
partments include: The Offices Of the
state treasurer and state tax coInmis-
sion; the state board of charities and
the state commission of lunacy; the
lower Office of the state educational
department. >.<i :
Practically all the offices below the
third floor, including the executive
chamber were damaged by smoke and
water.
The departments which escaped the
ravages of fire and the deluge of water
include: The court of appeals, secre-
tary Of states office, department OF
publ ic works, the state superintendent
OF prisons office, the state civil com.
mission, the forest, fish and game do
partment, the restaurant, telegraph OF.
fees and press bureaus.