Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1911-03-30
FLAMES LICKES = UP STATE
IIBRARY'S 100000 BOOKS
Building Like Rabbit Warren and Full of the
Most Inflammable Material-Pail of Water
Would Have Checked Blaze When First
Discovered -Watchman Lost Life.

Albany, y. Y, March 2e.-Fivc million
dollars probably could repair tie dam
Rge done by fire In the State capitol to-
day but money cannot restore the histor-
ical records which were the pride of its
State library. After examining the exte-
rior wall with transit, STATE Architect
Ware declared tonight that the massive
pile Of granite was as plumb and true
rs ever and that the loss would be no
greater than appeared to the eye. The
flames licked UP the State library, the
court of claims. Nc assembly library and
document rooms, most of the offices of
The excise department and the quarters Of
he Senate finance committee. and water
and smoke took up the work that the
aames laid down and the damage from
This cause extends to every part OF the
building.
Although the fire started in the north
west corner of the building il caused the
greatest havoc in the southwest corner.
tere the red-tiled pointed cupola fell car
rying down part of the carved granite
work that supported IT and a towering
stone chimney. The entire west wall
above the second floor was blackened with
frames We're melted by the fierce heat
The granite cornice was ruined. Pieces
of granite varying in size from a dime to
mans head were split off and hurled
20 the ground below. where the sidewalks
we're heaped high with the debris. Con-
servative estimates place the damage to
the exterior stone work at 100000
The interior masonry was damaged to
H., Of r.k,l nl :
will represent the loss on the contents Of
tho State library.
ONE LIFE WAS LOST
No trace had been found tonight OF
Samuel x. Abbott. tho aged night watch
man in the State library, and there is
little doubt that he perished in the flames,
His son and daughter who reside in West
Newton, Mass. have been notified
The fire was stll burning to-night in
the ruins beneath what was once the
beautiful cloud-painted ceiling of the
state library reading room. anu the water
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
dre was subdued and the work Of repair
Nad already begun. A hundred national
Euardsmen stood guard In the deserted
corridors tonight and 80 policemen pa
trolled the streets outside to protect the
ilsmantled end OF the building.
WILL DELAY GOVERNMENT.
Next to the destruction Of historic rec
ords and the financial loss, the chief eff
'ect of the fire will be an inevitable de-
av in the machinery OF State govern
aka ,l..r
,tands practically untouched and a few
thousand dollars can restore the meeting
place OF the lower house to its former
beauty. week or longer may inter
vene before executive business can pro
seed in its accustomed channels There
was talk tonight OF a recess, and only
lhe constitutional requirement OF taline
daily ballot until n United States sena.
lOr is chosen, keeps the legislators here
Such a recess was expected if the sena
orship tsnEle could be unraveled to
morrow.
To-day both houses met In the city
nall. across a short stretch Of park from
he capitol building. the Senate In thu
common council chamber and the AS
Iembly in the county court room, wher,
he Joint session also was held, and tn,
tame arrangement will be followed to
morrow.
The burned-out department forces founC
temporary quarters where they could, tn
tducation department, which includes tn
State library, moving to the new Stat
Normal College building at the north
west corner OF Washington Park.
Discussing the fire loss. State Archtec
Ware said tonight: Based upon the ori
the damage would be between five an,
six million dollars. but in view OF NOR
economical methods OF construction
which can he employed In the restoration
this amount can be materially reduced
BEST TO REMODEL INSIDE.
Mr. Ware will recommend that whe
the burned -out portion Is restored the e9
terror be rebuilt as il was originally, b,i
that the interior be remodelcd to sui
the other State departments which wi
occupy It, The magnificent new buildn
In process of erection for the educatio
department on the north side of Wash
lngton avenue, diagonally opposite tn
capitol, is nearly finished and by hurry
Ing the work Mr.. Ware hopes that tn
department can move in there soone
than its old quarters in the capitol ca
be repaired
The states architects official Do
rcription Of the fire damage follows
'lt would appear that the entire Stat
library located IN the third and fourt
foors, including the northwest an
southwest pavilions. are completed
destroyed. This includes also tn
court of claims and some of the CON
mittee rooms of the Senate and As
sombly. The ceiling OF the Senate az
pears to be intact and apparently n