786 CONGRESSIONAL PKOCEEDINGS. 



in viivh ))iiilding; that all woodwork touching flues be removed, and that guards be 

 used around all pipes, whether for smoke or for steam, wherever they pass through 

 woodwork. 



Second. The removal of all combustible shelving and the use in their stead of 

 metal shelving, the files arranged upon them to be protected by metal doors or metal 

 files cases. 



Third. The use in all rooms for storage purposes and in those which have not to 

 be visited frequently of some electrical communicator, to be placed so that unusual 

 degrees of heat may be signaled to the watchmen; thus making known the fact of 

 the presence of fire, should any occur in these aiiartments. 



Fourth. The use of electrical recording signals to be turned in by the watchmen 

 at fixed intervals of time through the night and day from given stations in the 

 building. 



Fifth. The establishment of regulations in the several departments limiting the 

 number of files to be stored in any apartment. 



Sixth. That the large apartments and spaces devoted to files in the fireproof 

 structures be divided into moderately sized compartments, so as to lessen the degrees 

 of heat that would be generated by the combustion of the materials, and the conse- 

 quent injury to the building and difficulty of subduing the conflagration. 



Seventh. That where practicable all power steam boilers be removed from the 

 basements of the buildings to structures exterior to the main building. 



In conclusion, this commission wish it to be understood that the buildings herein 

 described as wholly or in part fireproof are those built of thick masonry walls, with 

 stone or iron stairways, having the stories separated by groined arches-of brick, or by 

 arches of the same material resting on iron beams, in which wood is used only for 

 sash and doors, and in some cases for floors laid on the brick arches. 



It is not claimed that these are absolutely fireproof, nor do they know of any 

 attainable construction which will resist without injury high degrees of heat, such 

 as might be generated by overcrowding large rooms with combustible materials. 

 They are, however, of the opinion that with the measures of caution herein sug- 

 gested the public records and buildings will be well protected from loss or damage 

 by fire. 



December 10, 1877 — House. 



The Secretary of the Interior (Mr. Carl Schurz) submitted to Con- 

 gress the following estimate, in accordance with the report of the com- 

 mittee to examine the public buildings in regard to their security 

 against fire, appointed September 27, 1877: 



* * * To provide additional security against fire in the Smithsonian building 

 for the Government collections, $3,000. * * * 



March 27, 1878. 



Letter from the Secretary of the /Smithsonian Institution^ Joseph Henry ^ 

 to lion. A. A. Sargent^ United States Senate. 



1 haVe the honor to inform you that shortly after the fire at the 

 Patent Oflice the Smithsonian Imilding was visited by the Govern- 

 ment Committee of Inspection, and suggestions made by them as to 

 the fireproofing of the portion of the edifice devoted to the collections 

 of the National Museum. These suggestions were at once acted upon, 

 at an expense of $2,803.29, as per detailed memorandum herewith, and 

 I write to beg that you will kindly consider the propriety of having 



