Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-07-31
Storm Does Little Damage
to Government BUILDINGS

Most OF the government buildings suf-
fered but little. The White House and
Treasury were not damaged at all, and
the Mills building and buildings in the
navy yard had only a few windows
broken. The high wind blew two or
three thousand birds against the National
Museum building. killing most of them.
A number of valuable papers were sent
flying through the broken windows at
the Public Library and the National Mu-
scum. Persons reading in the library
saved a number Of books and periodicals
from possible damage by taking them to
places of safety.
When corner of the roof Of the Army
War College was blown away a number
of valuable maps and papers were dam
aged by water. some of them being rem
dered completely useless.
A number of tracings and maps of
great value to the government were
destroyed when the wind carried away
part Of the roof of the Atlantic Building.
forestry service is housed It is said that
1T will require many months work on
the part of the entire corps Of draughts-
men to replace these drawing and maps.
Pension Office Damaged.
Although part of the roof and a num-
Der Of skylights on the pension office
building were blown away, and some of
the office records damaged. the full force
or clerks was able to go to work today
very little handicapped by the storms
ravages. The stationery and disbursing
bureaus of the office were the most
seriously damaged, but as soon as the
storm abated a force was put to work
making temporary repairs, which were
completed early this morning
pox :l,.x,,
Public Library. was at the office of Com
missioner Siddons soon after the storm
nad abated, and told Of a great amount
OF water That was in the cellar at the IL
prhry. Tie was anxious to have the Com
missioner order out an engine company
10 pump the water from the cellar.
IIease send company to the library
, neIore tney are called to private build
water out of the building before it
reaches any records"
Today ID. j. Leeman, assistant SUPER
ntenoent or machinery of the fire de-
p I,a.t n went to the library building
with reserve engine No. and soon had
the water pouring into the street The
water was more than five feet deep, and
II VIII be taken from the building before
shutdown today.
Afternoon Mail Lost.
several hundred letters comprising the
iiooii ihoi addressed to the bureau of
mines was lost during the storm. The
mail was being brought from the post
office to the Office of the bureau, on the
south side OF r street between 7th and
sth stree6 northwest. when the storm
struck that portion Of the city. A large
sack OF mail was blown from an auto
mobile In which 1t was being carried and
soon us contents were scattered for
squares. A large quantity of the mail
was recovered. but several hundred let
tiers are still missing. 1t was explained
that many of the letters were REQUESTS
for publications issued by the bureau
and that as the result there will he many
people throughout the country who viii
wonder why their requests have not been
answered.
The Office of the bureau of mines
windows on the fourth, fifth and sixth
floors on the north side of the build
ing were broken in and the rooms
flooded. Many records were destroved
and also a quantity OF chemical Iahora
tory apparatus. While the storm was
at its height an electric wire in the
building became unloosensd and short