The Express.
London, England, 1864-11-29 00:00:00

18,934 auks of tallow:

It was estimated at that time, that between
London-bridge and the London Docks, on the day
that fire occurred, there were deposited not leas
than 150,000 tons of inflammable goods. The
same state of things remains to this hour ; and
it is probable that at Meriton's-wharf, on Friday
evening, there was just as great a store of inflam-
mable materials as there was at Cotton's-wharf in
1861. Neither the wharfingers, 110! a-. merchants,
nor the Insurance Companies, appear to have pro-
fited by the experience then acquired.
Now, observe the situation of the wharf at
which this fire occurred. It is thus described :
The property of Meters. Barry Brothers occupied several
acres of ground in oat of the narrowed sad most densely
populated districts hi the parish of Bermondsey, which is
studded with large wharves, mills, and factories. Messrs.
Barry's premises are probably the largest cm that side of
the water. They had a frontage in Millatreet, Dockhand,
sad extended backwards to the doek at Shad Thames. In
doge proximity were the extensive biscuit works of Peaks,
Freon, and Co., and also the immense oil stores of Menem
Sankt and Co. ; and at one time it war feared that every
building near would havebeen levelled with the pound.
_ . _

Why should inflammable materials and goods
be permitted to be stored in such a situation as
this ? What class of the public is benefited by
the deposit of such articles in immediate proximity
to crowded localities ? When the construction of
the docks of London was originally proposed to
Parliament, it was one of the arguments in their
favour that they would afford opportunities for the
proper sorting and classification of goods. But,

even to the present hoar, "they will
one of their most infi trential supporters, Mil=
Carron, a Director of the Bank of England, 1011,1isem
not very long ago—" they will persist in storing
" tallow at the bottom of a warehouse, hemp in
" the middle, and valuable goods at the top." No
one profits by the storage of articles in this way ;
whilst on the oocurrenoe of a fire everyone loses.
It is perfectly practicable to classify goods so as
to prevent hazardous materials being stored in
hazardous situations. It is even capable of proof
that it would not merely be convenient, but that it
would be profitable, to insist on such arrangement.
None of these hazardous articles require to be in-
spected in bulk. They may all be sold by sample ;
and the space which their storage in bulk now oc-
cupies might be appropriated to goods that are not
hazardous, and that require to be inspected in bulk.
It is also capable of proof that it would be advan-
tageous to the purchasers of goods to insist upon
this warehouse classification. Economy would be

secured in lighterage ; and if goods were brought
together in one warehouse, instead of being dis-
persed over twenty, the purchaser would have
better opportunities of examination and contrast ;
and consequently would save both in time and
money.

Now that the Dock Companies of London are
on the eve of amalgamation it is to be hoped that
they will take measures to prevent their ware-
houses, within the limits of London and Middle-
sex, from being occupied by inflammable materials
of any sort. The amalgamation will afford the
opportunity of carrying out this arrangement, as
far as they are concerned. The case of the wharf-
ingers ought to be provided for by the Legislature.
By act of Parliament warehouses should be classi-
fied according to the class of goods received into
them. When " HAZARDOUS " and "DOUBLY
" HazAanous " are distinguished from " Nos-
" HAZARDOUS " warehouses, we shall hear yak/
rarely of " Waxanoras