The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-03-30
STATE LIBRARY IS
 COMPLETELY RUINED
Fire Started From Fused Electric Push Button-Can Not Replace Priceless Original Docu-
 ments Burned

library. Alter examining the exterlor walls with a transit, State Architect Ware declared tonight that the massive pile of granite was as plumb and true as ever. The flames licked up the state library, the court of claims, the assem- bly, library and document rooms, most of the offices of the excise department and the quarters of the senate finance committee and water and smoke took up the work that the flames laid down and the damage from this cause extends to every part of the building
 The state carried no insurance, as the capitol building has been regarded as absolutely fireproof. It was, in fact, not the building that burned, but its contents.
 Most precious from the historians standpoint of the fuel the flames found in their path were the 23 manuscript folio volumes of the famous official records of the governors of the city of New Amsterdam, covering period from 1880 to 1874. These. were in course of translation by A. J. T. van- laer, and his translations were burned with the original Dutch documents.
 In addition to these the state lost the correspondence of Governor eGorge Clinton, 5000 pieces in all, and the original letters of Sir William Johnson and Governor Daniel D. Tompkins
 Among the documents lost were rec ords dealing with the history of South Carolina during the revolution At the request of that state a bill was pend- ing in the legislature here to permit the department to turn them over to their original possessor
 Although the fire started in the north- west corner of the building, it caused the greatest havoc in the southwest cor ner Here the red tiled pointed cupola fell, carrying down part of the carved granite work that supported it and a towering stone chimney The entire west waa.Sabo-se the second floor WAS black ened and many of the stone window frames were ruined by the fierce heat. Granite Cornice Ruined The granite cornice also was ruined. Conservative estimates place the dam age to the exterior stone work at s2.- 100000.
 The interior masonry was damaged to the extent of s1,5Qo,Ooo and the same sum will represent the loss. on the contents of the state library.
 No trace had yet been found tonight cs Samuel J. Abbott, the aged night watchman in the state library.
 The fire was still burning tonight in the ruins beneath what was once the beautiful cloud-painted ceiling of the state library reading room and the wa ter kept pouring in from seven lines Of hose. Water still dripped through the ceilings in nearly all parts of the west wing and cascaded down the stone stairs but the fire was subdued and the work of repair had already begun. A hundred National Guardsmen stood guard in the deserted corridors tonight and 50 policemen patrolled the streets outside to protect the dismanted end of the building.
 Delay State Government
 Next to the financial loss the chief ef- fleet of the fire will be the inevitable delay in the machinery of state govern ment Although the senate chamber stands practically untouched and a few thousand dollars can restore the meet ing place of the lower house to it's for mer beauty, a week or long CT may inter- vene before legislative business can pro- ceed in it's accustomed channels. There was talk tonight of a recess and only the constitutional requirement. of taking daily ballot until United States sem ator is chosen keeps the legislators here. Such a recess was expected if the sen atorship tangle could be unravelled to- morrow,
 Today both houses met in the city hall across short stretch of park from the capitol building, the senate in the com mo nd the assembly in the county court room, where the joint session also was held and the same ar engagement will be followed tomorrow. The burned out department forces found temporary quarters where they could.
 Discussing the fire less State Architect Ware said tonight:
 Based upon the original cost of the capitol, the extent of the damage would be between $5.0O0.000 and s6,0O0,OOO. but in view of more economical methods of con- ,truction which can be employed in the restoration this amount can be materi- ally reduced"
 Recommended Rem0deling
 Mr. Ware will recommend that when he burned out portion Is restored the Interior be remodcled to suit the other departments which will occupy it.
 It is believed the fire was started by used electric push button becoming beCtrlI1eu. II was ulSCONtISQ Dy a nlgnt vatchman and the alarm was sounded at :4G o'clock. Before the fremen. reached he massive structure priceless docu- nents, books and records stored in the assembly library haG been destroyed and sther departments were threatened. The imitation oak ceiling of the assembly .samber, composed of papier mache, YVES iartia,iy destroyed as was also the Amous million-dolar staircase in tlle vest wing.
 On the third floor, where the flames lalned their start, all the many depart- lents were wh oily or partially restfoyel Ey fire or seriously damaged by water.
 Practically all the offices below tho hird floor, including the executive cham er were damaged by smoke ana water.
 While the fire was at its height four hen were reported missing. sOns cf hem, Samuel Abbott, was thought to lave been iJlcinerated when the s.ate brary was flame swept but he later lrned up in the huge crowd sthat gath red to watch the millions of the state To up in flames and smoke.
 Alter the fire was under control. Fred Eeylor, 75 years old. watchnan in the -->----~7-- ~1------~>~-~ -~~~~------