Evening star., 1932-01-01
COMMERCE MOVING
TASK UNDER WAY
Cold Rain in No Way Holds
Up Huge Task of Occupy
ing New Building.

Moving vans concentrated from all
sections of Washington today, carrying
furniture into the $l7,500,000 new
Temple of Fact Finding" from the va
rious old bureau buildings Of the Com
nerce Department.
Over $500 employees of the Commerce
Department are to occupy the new
building Monday. Others are to follow
at intervals during the next two weeks,
and when Spring arrives total OF 5,OOO
will be housed under the red-tile rooted
limestone and marble edltlce covering
eight acres Of ground.
Four Washington and Baltimore con-
tractors yesterday hired small army
of men to move the equipment, for the
greater part of the furnishings and
records must be in their allotted space
by Monday morning. The Job Will cost
the Government $4,000.
While thousands of WaShington1ans
were noiSily welcoming the New Year
more than 100 men marched into the
9l-year-old Patent Office Building and
few minutes later the first filing
cabinet was deposited into a moving
van.
Continue Hauling in Rain.
All through the remainder Of the
night rain-soaked trucks rumbled back
and forth between the Patent Office
and the new structure hauling we'll
boxed patent papers that have nctted
the industrial world billions of dollars.
When the first gray streak of morning
came over Capitol Hill, the movers had
not made dent in the vast amount
of filing cases and their contents.
TWenty-one days will be required to
move this important equipment, the
bulk Of it consisting of 1,840, 600 original
patent grants and 100000 copies
Besides, more than $4,000 volumes Of
scientific books, $4,000 periodicals and
bound volumes of 100000 foreign pat
ents will have to be carted off.
At 8 o'clock this morning more NOV
ing vans backed up to the executive Of
fee building of the department at
Nineteenth street and Pennsylvania
avenue and another army Of men
started to work on each of the II floors,
deserted by the thousands of clerks be-
cause of the New Year holiday
The workers found all records in this
building well Grated and ready for the
vans. Each desk, filing case, chair,
typewriter and other equipment was
tagged as to what Office it belonged
in the new building All yesterday en-
ployeS packed in advance of the moV-
ing men, and the contractors this morn
ing said they were confident all of the
furnishings will be in the new building
Monday.
Small Trucks Busy.
Throughout today men pushed small
trucks through the Easements and
upper Railways CT the new building
The front entrance and the beautiful
marble corridors were not used nor were
the Railways leading to the Secretary'S
suite, located in the center wing of the
building.
This suite is being equipped with
new furniture to fit the surroundings
of American walnut paneled walls and
vaulted ceilings. Secretary Lamont and
other executives will be housed here.
The furniture used by them in the old
building will equip the Offices of minor
officials
Down in the basement near the beau
tiful aquarium of the Bureau of Fish
cries, mechanics labored setting up the
three presses to be used by the Geo
oetic Survey for printing coast and
aviation navigation maps. One press
came fresh from the factory, bought
for $50,00G from 100000 appropriated
originally for furniture.
From present indications only one
section Of the building will not be oc-
Cupied for some time-the aquarium.
80 elaborate Qld the architects design
! these quarters that it has been esti-
mated that $4,000 will be needed an
nually for their upkeep. Department
officials are frank in saying they
haven't the money and because of pres
ent economic conditions they are not
inclined to over press for this appro-
| priation.
When the Bureau Of Fisheries moves
into its quarters. located directly over
the aquarium, officials will leave behind
] several hundred fish in tanks at the old
+ building to remain there until the silver
lining appears in the economical
! clouds. Inasmuch rs the aquarium is
to be one Of the buildings show spots
| and certain to draw thousands Of visi-
tors during the Washington Biccnten-
NAL, an approximation will be sought in
one OF the deficiency bills.
! When the building Is Informally dsdi-
Gated Monday an information desk will
be set up in the main lobby and guides
will direct the employees to their Offices
When the building is occupied by all
bureaus-Censuas Geodetic Survey, For