The Washington herald., 1921-01-15
SAYS FIREPROOF
ARCHIVE BUILDING
CAN HAVE BEAUTY
Evolves Plans
To Increase City's
Noted Structures.

Washington may gain structure
which will outrank in beauty ana
style some of the best of its public
buildings in the erection of an
archives buildins recently proposed
in Congress, according to Frank P.
Milburn. arehitect, of the Miiburn'
Heister Company.
Construction of an archives build
ingN with the highest possible de-
gree of protection from fre VIII
not mar beauty of material nor de-
sign, Milburn says.
The archives structure may De
constructed with the same materials
present government buildings con-
tain, differences lying in the elimi-
nation of the present wooden floors,
panellng and furniture. No wood
may be used in a truly fireproof
building, Milburn says, and the
substitution of wire glass windows
for the present plate glass would
be necessary.
No Wooden Floors.
Washington has not a really fire.
proof building, Milburn says. 1t is
impossible to eliminate wooden
floors from the departmental build
ings because of the employment of
such large clerical forces, unneces-
sary in an archives structure.
Erection of the proposed store
house for government documents
and records. including the original
Constitution the United States and
Presidents documents and army
records, in the block on Ohio ave-
nue. and Twelfth streets, would be
possible and ideal Milburn believes.
This location would be central and
would permit of the proper size, he
declares.
"An archives building, absolutely
flreproof, should be erected by the
government and should be placed in
centrally located spot easily ac-
cessible to all of the departments y
Milburn said.
Gives Dimensions.
"a building to satisfy the present
and future demands for the storage
OF government records should be
erected on a base OF about one city
block by two, or 400 feet by 800
feet and four stories high.
ITO insure protection against fire
it should be divided into three main
sections with an inner court in the
center. The building should be sub
divided with portions for each of
the departments.
Material should depend upon the
style and demands of the govern
ment but anything used in present
CONSTRUCTION other than wood would
be satisfactory. Steel filing cases
would be used"
He estimated the cost of such a
building at $5,OOO,OOO.
In speaking of the construction
Of the present government buildings
which are called fireproof, Milburn
declared they were fireproof in the
ordinary use of the word but the
use of wooden floors and furniture
prevents absolute protection from
fire and these factors often lead to
damages. He also charged that
piles of waste materials were al
lowed to collect in the Easements
OF some OF the buildings, preventing
safety.
Need of Building.
Government records are now held
in the various department buildings.
The need of an archives building
has been increased. officials say, be-
cause of the necessity of storing the
immense volume of army draft rec
ords in buildings Of the Washington
Barracks which are not considered
impregnable to fire. The records fill
twelve of the brick buildings at the
barracks. One folder contains an
average Of ten papers for each of
the 2S,OOO,OOO under control Of the
United States army during the war.