Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1809-04-04
FOR THE ARGUS.

Believing that every remark which
may lead to the control of that destructive
element, Ere, would at least receive the
indulgence, il not the attention of the pub.
lic-wIth these Impressions, / take the lib
erty, through your paper, TO remark, that
could but look III astonishmet at the op-
creations Vi the physical force of the citizens
OF this place OH Monday last during the RAJ
wages of the fire.
At the time of alarm, the wind blew from
a, fM points north of w. and the fire was
communicated from a wooden house situate
on E. street, with brick hose on The N.
w. five wooden tenements, S f.. on the
same, with an alley IA feet wide To fire.
proof house on the II. l.. Of F.. street stood
:undry wooden buildings. such as Kitchens.
Lumberhouses, sc. The first point OF rem
devious was in E. street, opposite the fire,
where, in short time, there were five En-
gines; one of them took position N. of +
street, and from this situation, il could, by
being well supplied with water, nave 80
restrained the fire, as TO have prevented
its extending to any OF the back buildings,
except some few which Immediately com
municated with the house first on fire al
tho the utmost efforts were made by some
to form lines so as to supply that Engine,
yet all were unavaiIing; two different op
FIRE might have been stopped. These for
want OF few minutes judcious excrtion at
particular place, thousands have been
lost; added to this the fountains fed from
the pipes leading from the basin Of the James
River Canal, were Unfortunately open,
and the water which had from running IN
the CATERS, become quire muddy, was con-.
yeyed to the Engines, which soon DESTROY
ed their force or effect. In vain may we
boast of our liberty or refinement, while
cur citizens stand, at time like this, Idle
spectators, and look on with Indifference,
at the destruction of Their fellow-men.--
While Imake this remark IS applicable TO
some, too much cannot be said in behalf of
the meritorisus exertions of others, com
pretended in al classes of society," In &.
deed, when feAect on the Inducements,
blush for the comparison, and hope that the
liberal contributions of the citizens, will be
directed in part, TO reward the cxertions of
many VINO distinguished themselves by un..
paraleied exertions On this melancholy &C
casion.
4, IS tobe regretted that some better me-
thOd has not been adopted to supply water
from the basin such quantities a. 20 make
IL usefu ~ eXdugulshiDg FIRE This cam
no, however, 81 expected from the fouu-
tains already 10 use, as the leading pip :
are only from three and half TO four ~.
ches diameter, and the pressure at one
point not exceeding. from four e. FIVE feet
little more than suAcient TO overcome The
fr cton when all the fountains are open.
There is, perhaps. no place where "a more
pieuuiul supply OF water Can be had,
than tia. paTt Of the city situate few feet
below the level of the basin of the canal
On certain points, where the st;sation win
admit, reservoirs should be placed, with
valves TO shnt both the receiving aud DIS.
1rihuting pipes, So that when the water is
depressed by the quantity used at the ioan.
sains, the draft may not be from the reser.
voirs, but from the BASIN that IN case the
water should be wanted in the particular
situation OF any reservoirs, the size Of the
Pipes should be 40 proportion to their length