Evening star., 1928-01-09
The Old Printing Office.

The Governments neglect of its own
interests was never more graphically
illustrated than by the fire which oc-
CURED yesterday in the old section of
the Government Printing Office. where
flames did damage to the extent. it is
estimated, of $4,000. and menaced
property worth several millions That
structure, where the blaze occurred. has
been repeatedly condemned as unsafe
1t was erected in 1870. and was for a
long period used as the sole housing of
the public printing establishment. Its
inadeQuacy was proved at least thirty
five years ago. when it was found to be
unsafe for use by large number of
workers and dangerously incapable of
supporting the weight of machinery
and materials Of printing. A move
was made TO replace it with a new
structure. but Congress was unable to
decide upon the site and several ses-
sions were spent in maneuvers In favor
OF particular plats of ground before
finally agreement was had upon the
area adjacent TO the old building There
after further delay a new printing Of
fee was erected and the personnel and
the machinery were moved into it. II
was then expected that the old building
would BE- RACED. but in a mistaken spirit
OF economy it was retained as a ware
house after some strengthening changes
were made and as such it has beer
used ever since.
The ordinary rules of safety would
have required the demolition of this
building long ago. 1t should have beer
removed Immediately upon its vacation
by the working force of the printing
Office, and the space filled by a new.
substantial structure for storage pur-
poses. But not until very short time
ago was provision made by law for the
substitution OF modern building for
it. That process has dragged alorg
until the fire of yesterday comes as
reminder Of the danger of delay For
tunately comparatively little damage
was done. but that fact is due to
efficient firefghting work and not to
any qualities in the structure itself.
The present building program of the
Government will correct many condi-
tions almost as bad as that at the old
printing Office. which it is to be hoped
is now at the end of its career. As the
new structures arise on the Mall-Ave-
nue. triangle they will accommodate Of
fees that are now housed In provisional!
buildings some OF them OF the most
fin1sy and infammable character. wit,
immense quantities of records that arc
daily exposed to destruction. In some
OF these Offices the working fiIes OF the
Federal administration papers that can
never be replaced. are under risk OF
total loss. In addition there are the
older. permanent files. historic records.
accounts OF great prospective value as
future research is required, which arc
eventually 10 be housed in an archives
building. itself proposed many years
ago as one Of the urgent needs OF the
Government service. and yet existing
only on paper and in somewhat
nebulous form.
A business organization that neglect
ed its affairs on this basis would be
hopelessiy distanced by more up-to-daie
rivals. The United States Government
is not in competitive career. 1t has
its own Obligations and responsibilities.
which In many respects, however effl-
cient II is IN the main things, II some
times neglec:s until disaster occurs 10
jar IL into action.