Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-12-25
Wrecked Office
Building to Be
Repaired.
HOOVER MAKES
INSPECTION
Visit Is Made Today
Despite Danger of
Roof Falling.

W
firemen that the roof of the
executive Offices of the White
House might collapse at any mo-
ment, President Hoover today
made an inspection of the dam
age done by the fire last night
He at that time expressed the
opinion that an entirely new
structure would be necessary, but
later in the day it developed that
the structure could be repaired
and it seemed likely that bids
would be asked tomorrow.
The President had just finished play
ing medicine ball in the rear grounds
with Secretary of the Interior Wilbur,
Mark Sullivan, Alexander Legge, chair
man of the Federal Farm Board; Lieut..
Comdr. Boone, his physician, and Law
renee Richey, one of his secretaries,
when with this little group the Presi-
dent went all over the Office building,
even to the attic, where the fire ragged
and was generally confined.
Mr.. Hoover seemed unconcerned as
to any dangers, regardless OF warnings
on the part of several of the firemen
who were still at work In the building,
that the burned joists and rafters were
weakened and likely to tumble at any
moment,
The President wore heavy overcoat
and a soft hat, but no overshoes. and
consequently his feet became soaked
because Of the water in the building.
Interior Badly Damaged.
Although the FIRE itself was confined
mostly TO the attic and in the parti-
tlons between the walls and the various
chimney dues. the entire interior or the
building was badly damaged by water
principally and by reason Of breaks In
the walls, ceilings and skyligl1ts, most
OF which were caused by the firemen
in their efforts to make openings incl
dental to their work.
The President will have temporary
quarters In the suite occupied BY the
Battle Monuments Commission in the
State, War and Navy Building, and
Wnne THESE offices are being prepared
VIII use the old Lincoln cabinet room
in the White House for an office. The
telephone and telegraph linemen were
at work all night running in new ca
bles and a temporary communications
room was established early this morning
IN the old billiard room, on the base-
menC f1oor OF the White House. which
was turned over to DR.. Boone. the
White House physician, as an ONCE
and clinic.
Clearing Work Begun.
The work Of clearing up the results
of the flremens axes was entered upon
early this morning. This was being done
by members of No. 3 engine truck and
engine company No. ! and by Ia
borers detailed to the job by Lieut., Col.
U. S. Grant, 3d., officer In charge of
public buildings and public parks. who
is directly responsible for the physical
upkeep of the White House and ex-
ecutive offices and who was on hand
last night during the raging of the
flames, to give what assistance was pos
sible.
The newly created office rooms in the
basement floor of the executive Office
building were not damaged to any ex-
tent by flames. In one of these
rooms at the southwest corner
most of the files are kept. These
records are in heavy steel supposedly
fireproof cases and were not removed
during the excitement of the night and
were in no wise affected. The various
private and other papers in the desk in
the Presidents room and the rooms of
his secretaries and the other Offices on
the main floor were, along with articles
of furniture and decorations such as
rugs, statues and pictures, clocks and
vases, carried to safety during the fire.
fighting.
The Presidents own room in the Of
flee building, which is situated in the
middle on the south side of the build
ing, suffered probably more than any of
the other rooms on that floor. Several
huge gaps had been torn in the ceiling
of the room and two gaps had either
been cut or eaten by flames in the side
walls. The handsome chandelier had
been torn from its fastenings in the
ceiling and the glass panes in one Of
the several built-in bookcases were
knocked out The books in the Presi-
dents room, of which there are several
hundred, but for the most part docu-
ments and digests, suffered very little
and what damage was done to these
was done by water.
Big Holes Cut in Ceiling.
Lie IOOul duJOIllIi6 I1tAo W CiAG WcSC,
occupied by George AkerSon, one Of the
Presidents secretaries, suffered nearly
as much. Several huge holes had been
cut into the ceiling and there were sew
eral openings in the walls. The chan
delier was missing and the water dam
age extremely heavy.
Most of the furniture and other arti-
cles from these various rooms which were
rescued last night are today resting on
the snow in the rear grounds just south
OF the building. Tarpaulins and cover
ings had been thrown over them to
protect them from the weather. Some
articles of furniture we're carried into
tne laundry and old engine room, which
Is IN the building adjoining the office
wing.
The handsome bronze statues Of
George Washington and Count Kos
clusko the Polish hero, which were pre-
senteo to the White House by the Pol
isn government during President Cool
loges administration, which were on
peuestais on the main lobby Of the OF
nee building, were saved and are today
occupying positions in the rear grounds.
After their inspection of the ruins