Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-08-08

!. Continued from First Page)
wall l searched carefully the rec
prds in our Office and have been I'M
able to find any permit for excava-
9ion work. This should have been
obtained, and then we would have
hRd an inspector on constant vigil
10 consult and advise with the con-
tractor"
/: The law provides penalties for fall
alre to secure a building permit,
Dehmann said, but he refused to
discuss what action he might take
an connection with the case.
ST want to see the contractor first, y
he explained.
|. -. Khan Makes Inquiry.
: James S. Vance, editor of the Eel
Iewship Forum, a fraternal publica-
ffon friendly to the Ku klux Khan,
fhrloughed all employees of the paper
AEntil further notice at the suggestion
of the building inspector. He said
4here was no insurance to cover the
3oss. as the building was insured only
against fire. He estimated the dam.
Rge as from $4,000 to 100000"
: A delegation of men said to be from
4he national headquarters of the Khan
Aisited the scene today and made in
Haliries regarding published reports
4hat the building had been bombed.
yhey departed shortly after learning
fhat the consensus now was that there
bad been no explosion.
Streams Make Little Progress.
Firemen began playing their hose
on the weakened walls shortly before
noon and an hour later had made
but little Roadway in raZing the stand
1ng ruins. Mai Hesse, superintend
ent of police, took personal charge OF
the situation and directed the eXclu
sion of spectators to a point out OF
gange of flying bricks and timbers
The garage Of the Joseph Phillips Sau
Sage Co., 10 feet away from the stand
ing walls, was ordered vacated during
zhe razing operations, as were also
Several alley houses.
A note found by a policeman in the
alley after the crash, purporting to be
q; warning by an anarchist that he
svould blow up the city, was laughed
off today by police officials as "ridicu
lous" The opinion prevailed that
Some one was trying to play practi
cal joke.
Survey Revealed Danger
In a feature article in The Sunday
Star. March 10. 1922, partial history
of the building was given, showing
chat for many years it had been un
safe. The building at 339 Pennsyl
Sania avenue is described as follows
mot at all modern, well ventilated
br lighted, and not fitted with SAM
tary equipment of modern type.
This building is we'll worth specia
~ II prQcfad in S44 anC
was the scene of receptions, banquets
and inaugural balls for Andrew Jack
son, Martin Van Buren, and Abraham
lincoln"
{: At that time, five years ago, thu
building had been in use as the Gov
ernment's seed warehouse for abou
so years. The description continues
<there are three floors in the front o.
fhe building and five floors in tbs
rear. The second and third floors have
~ feet of head room. The third floor
(which was the banquet hall. is sus
aended by four Pinch iron bars ant
measures IL by IS feet. This was don,
80 there would not have to be support
Eng pillars from the floor below, which
was the ballroom.
: Presidents Ducked Door.
s."The only entrance that the Presi
gent ndu 10 the DdIlfOom was GOWN
winding stairs and through a small
yioor not more than feet in height
SO it must have been an interesting
Spectacle to see Andrew Jackson ant
Abraham Lincoln bending their tai
frames TO duck through this small
doorway.
1.-The third floor is now braced from
Che second floor with big timbers be
cause during the Spanish American
War the floor collapsed due to the fac
that in a space % by % feet boxes
bf ammunition were piled without any
Thought of weight until about 43;
TONS was too much Of a load, and tht
foors fell through This is not A Gov
srnment-owned building, but has beer
rented by the department and useC
fs a seed warehouse.
There are Ga big seed bins which
when less than half full, contain abou
$4,000, 900 packages of Seeds