The Washington times., 1921-01-11
CENSUS DATA
LOST IN FIRE
Priceless Records Ruined at
Commerce Dept-AIexander
Urges Archives Vaults.

1.-THE need for a public archives
building in Washington for the safe
keeping OF important Government
documents never was more forcibly
demonstrated than by the fire at the
Department of Commerce yesterday
afternoon" declared Secretary of
Commerce Joshua w. Alexander to-
day, as he gazed at the vast quantity
OF priceless records OF the Census
Bureau ruined by the flames or by
the water from the hose.
CONFINED TO CELLAR.
The FIRE, which was confined to the
cellar, was discovered about $50 by
James Foster. a night Waterman. less
than an hour after more than 1,400
clerks and officials had left the
building. Secretary Alexander and
other officials OF the bureau today
themselves that the
Are did not occur during working
hours, declaring the smoke might
have caused a panic.
An investigation conducted this
morning by Secretary Alexander
showed the fire originated in the back
of the cellar among the important
census documents OF 1890, and past
records OF the steamboat inspection
service. The cause of the blaze Is not
yet known.
1920 RECORDS ESCAPE.
Fortunately, none Of the 1920 CEN
sus records was In the cellar. 1t
is housed in the temporary buildings
at Sixth and b streets northwest. with
the exception of Information dealing
with mines and quarries and manu-
features. which are on the fourth floor
of the Commerce building.
Thick smoke found ready drafts
through the elevator shafts and
stairways and penetrated Into every
office. Two hremen were overcome
by the smoke. Frank Newman, who
last week received The Times medal
for valor. and William G. Parater,
Engine Company No. %. Both re-
sponded quickly to treatment at the
Emergency Hospital
Twenty streams of water were
poured into the building. In or
der to get at the flames f1remen
floor, thus directing streams to the
chopped seventeen holes in the first
basement They had to cut through
wooden floor and six inches OF
concrete.
CANNOT BE REPLACED.
These records were priceless"
said Secretary Alexander today, as
he walked through the water-filled
basement "They cannot be replaced.
and there is no method of restoring
the legibility of water-soaked
volume"
Secretary Alexander declared many
OF the census records of 1890 were re-
ferred to almost daily and often used
in important legal cases.
1.-The report that the fire started in
the carpenter shop and that the shop
was full of shavings is absolutely
wrong" declared the Secretary. The
Are started in the back Of the base
ment among these old records. Fur
thermore, the carpenter shop is kept
unusually clean and no shavings, to
speak OF. were there at the time OF
the fire"
OTHER SLIGHT FIRES.
A blaze that originated in books
and papers stored in the basement Of
tho home of the Rev. Paul A. Mcneil.
1851 Tilden street northwest. caused
loss estimated at 5000. The Rev.
Mcneil is general secretary to the
Synod of North America The build
ing itself was not damaged. The cause
OF the fire Is mystery.
Fire In the rear room OF the SAM
tary Grocery Company's establish
rent at 316S Mt. Pleasant street
northwest caused 500 damage
A defective gas connection Is held
responsible for s25 blaze in the
lunchroom at 600 Eleventh street
southwest.
An exploding oil stove on the sec
ond floor OF the house 324 G street
southwest caused $40 damage.
Slight damage was caused by n
blaze in the basement OF the Bellevue
farm lunch, 1888 New York avenue.
Grease accumulation on n revolving
fan used to carry off the heat from
the kitchen ignited.