The Norfolk weekly news-journal. (Norfolk, Neb.) 1900-19??, 1911-03-31

available.
Lacking these, the flames spread un.
Ill the room with its infammable fur.
nishings and papers was all ablaze.
Firemen Slow in Arriving.
II was some time before the firemen
arrived and before they could get
streams playing the flames were rae.
ing toward the state library.
The grand western staircase, which
was regarded as one of the most beau.
tiful in the world, occupied the center
OF the western wing and consisted of
an immense double stairway OF Corse-
hill sandstone deliberately carved. II
was surmounted by glazed dome.
which soon fell 1t may have to be
rebuilt.
The structure was commenced in
March, 1884, and took five and a half
years to build.
Save These Priceless Manuscripts.
State Commissioners Of Education
Andrew Draper stated today that the
state library contained 900 volumes,
100000 pamphlets and 100000 histor-
ical manuscripts. Two years ago Com.
missioner Draper transferred from the
state library proper to the safe in his
Office on the first floor the original
emancipation proclamation, the orig
inal OF Washington's farewell address,
the original manuscript OF the state
constitution and fifteen or twenty OF
the other priceless manuscripts, as
we'll as all the Washington relics.
These were all removed from the
building to place Of safety after the
fire started.
Library Loss Two Million.
Commissioner Draper said that most
of the manuscripts that have been lost
were original documents and cannot
be replaced. The early Dutch records
were lost. OF the books on the state
library shelves which can be dupli-
Gated in the open market today, such
duplication would cost, according to
Commissioner Draper. $1,500,000, but
he says the value OF the other books
and manuscripts, because OF their be-
ing rarities, Is priceless. Commission
er Draper estimated that the loss OF
the documents and equipment OF the
state library which could be replaced
was in the neighborhood OF $4,000, 900.
| He has arranged to carry on the work
OF his department in the state normal
school.
New Start During Forenoon.
Starting afresh in the northwest
angle, the fire got away from the fire.
men shortly after 10 o'clock this fore
| noon. After several tiremen had been
knocked unconscious by falling debris
they were cautious about penetrating
beyond the shattered arches in the
west wing.
| Governor Dix was on hand before 10
O'Clock and took personal direction OF
the salvage effect in the offices still
untouched.
A Sad Scene Of Ruin.
The assembly chamber is a wreck
Streams of water are coursing over
the carpets, while the desks and chairs
are piled in confusion. Water is drip
ping from the ceiling and from every
article in the chamber.
In the north wing the walls and cell
ings are stripped of their ornate por
celain blocks, the arches rising gaunt
and bare, with steel rafters stretched
across them. Doors have beer
smashed in and brown stone archie!
have crumbled.
Militiamen were pressed into ser
vice to remove the records, relics ant
flags from the adjutant generals OF
fees and in policing the fire lines.
Legislature a. City Hall.
Scores of legislators have visited
the chambers and committee room
and removed their personal effects
Both houses met at the city hall dur
ing the forenoon In response to a cal
by Governor Dix,