The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1912-12-01
PREPARE To BUILD
NEW DORMITORIES
Students Made Homeless by Fire at
M. A. c. College Housed
Near By.
TOTAL LOSS REACHES
MORE THAN $780, 900
Trustees to Meet at Once to Make
Provision for Contingency.

On account of the destruction wrought
by the fire at the Maryland Agricultural
College late. last night, the officials have
issued an order postponing the re-
opening of the institution until Wednes-
DAY next at l O'Clock. Accommodations
for the cadets have been secured in
Berwyn, Riverdale, and HyattsviIle, and
a number OF them will be taken care of
by members of the faculty and profess
sors who live at College Park in the vi
entity Of the college.
Prof. Thomas H. Spence, vice presi-
Gent of the college, to-day asked that
he be quoted as saying that the Hyatts-
vile fire department undoubtedly saved
hye of the most important laboratories
and lecture halls adjoining the burned
buildings. He declared that the engi-
neer building, including the valuable
equipment would certainly have been
destroyed except for the heroic action Of
the Hyattsville firemen. This loss would
have approximated $4,000
Prof. Spence and the other members
OF the faculty appreciate deeply the
genuine sympathy and kind offers to
house the cadets received from the
entire neighborhood. After calm re-
Election and going over the destroyed
property, The total loss by the de-
struction of the new administration
building and the barracks" is esti-
mated at $4,000. This loss includes
the destruction of ordnance, includ-
ing many rifles. furniture. and stu
dents belongings. Very few of the
300 or more rifles were saved, and all
were damaged. There is an insurance
of $4,000 on this property. The large
safe secured by the late DR.. Joseph r.
Owens when he was treasurer of the
college, from the First National Bank of
EVANSVILLE, dropped into a large pool
of water caused by bursted water
pipes, and is believed to be intact. The
safe contains valuable college records
kept by Treasurer Ford. There was no
money in the safe.
Last night when the fire was getting
the better of the fighters. the students
were especially active in rescuing col
lege records even to the extent of sac
rifiClng their own property. 1t has
been definitely learned that the insur-
ance on the two burned buildings, in
Guiding contents and ordnance is about
100000, and the property is insured in
about a dozen companies.
Band Instruments Gone.
The band instruments recently pur-
chased by the college authorities at an
aggregate cost of about 5000 were all
destroyed, only two pieces being saved.
The instruments were stored in the top
story of the barracks" and when It
was seen that this building was doomed
it was too late to get the material out. |
The college and State authorities have
begun preparations for the cree
ton Of new dOrmitories at the college |
to replace those destroyed. Mr.. Charles |
II. Stanley, OF Laurel, chairman of the |
executive committee of the board Of !
trustees, was at the institution to-day |
~ Lob, IT,rI,s
president of the Second Branch OF the !
City Council of Baltimore. who is chair |
man of the building committee of the |
board Of trustees. After a somewhat |
lengthy conference, the faculty of the |
college was directed to proceed in the |
premises as the emergency seemed TO !
demand. This means that the trustees !
will make adequate provision or paying !
for whatever accOmmoda tons are af-
forded the cadets.
Chairman Stanley has called meeting |
Of the executive committee for Monday
morning at II o'clock at the Rennert |
Hotel in Baltimore to discuss the mat
ter, and Gov. Goldsborough, as chairman |
Of the board of trustees, has called
meeting of the entire board for Tuesday |
at the same place and hour. At this lat
ter meeting a report of the confagration !
will be made by the executive commit
tee, which will also make recommended
tons as to what steps to pursue to make
good the damage. w. D. NJ Thomas.
the firm of Turner &
Thomas, of Baltimore, insurance agents,
was al the college to-day and asserted
that his people were ready to draw for
$40, COZ, the amount of Insurance placed
on the buildings, as soon as the money
was needed. There is no doubt that all
the money needed to erect new buildings
will be forthcoming, especially in view
Of the fact that the State will make the
money good so soon as the Legislature
meets-that is, early in January, 1914.