The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1845-06-26
Pittsburg.
fCorres pondence Of the Herald.

Correspondence OF the Herald
EXCHANGE HOTEL, PITTsBURe, Pa, June Il.
Aspect Of the Cify-Hs Rise from the Ruins--Curi
Gus Results Of the Fne-IHe Charity Fund &c.
find myself in city that has acquired name by
reason of its misfortunes. Pittsburg, formerly
known as the " Iron City, is now called the fire
city, so severe have been the fires since the 10th OF
April last.
With these impressions approached it, on my
way to the West, from Baltimore, ard as the steam
boat came within sight of the city, stood expecting
to see field of ruins, knowing that the burnt dis
trict was the first we would come to but nothing
met my astonshed eyes but new walls and roofs,
contrasting strangely with the smoke begrimmed
buildings, constituting the gas works and the roll
ing mil, where the government iron ships being
constructed they being almost the only buildings in
TINS part Of the city that escaped the fire. True
there stood the PIERS OF the Mono ngahela bridge,
like monuments OF the past; but upon my APP
proach, perceived they were covered with work
men busily engaged IN tearing them down, prepare
tory to rebuilding the bridge the suspension prIn-
cip!c Upon advancing still further, long rows Of
fine warehouses were TO be seen, some finished,
others being rooted, and Just rising out of the
ground, as 1t were from their graves and all swarm
ing with workmen as busy as bees, nor did they
conduct their work as noiselessly as the workmen
at the building OF King Solomon's Temple, where
there was neither hammer, nor axe, nor any tool
OF iron heard IN the house when it was building"
uleIt WAS mere no emu 10 SnOutlng laugh
ing of rlshmen the rafting of carts, timber, bricks
and the sound OF the masons hammers. In the
main streets leading from centre of the city the
verthere Is scarcely vacant piece of ground and
many places, where there were formerly small ire
gnar built houses, there are now rising rows of fine
warehouses, aswe as could Judge from distance as
1t Is almost impossible to approach them on account
OF the masses OF rubbish and the crowds of heavy
vehicles. The wOrkmen are busy at the picturesque
ruins OF the Pitsburg Bank; the fine Corinthian
pillars and archtraves were but little injured, and
will answer. Just as they stand. for the new build
ing, where, III two or three months you can have
note discounted if you are too we'll of to need It,
and can get two or three endorseIs as independent
as yourself.
The greatest distance which the fire traversed was
little over mile in direction and five squares
at the greatest width; that great pace at this mo-
ment looking like new city, rising, as if by en-
chantment, from its ashes formng most singular
contrast, with the dlngy and ancient looking houses
that surround it.
Where the other fires took place. the houses were
mostly frame, and while the sustained but
small loss, the city was much benefited by an acct
dent that destroyed various nests OF small frame
houses, which always endanger the city, and sooner
later must burn down. These districts will soon
be covered by good substantial brick houses.
While prowling about the ruins few days since,
was shown where large mass of melted nails
and bar iron had been found in the cellar of one of
the iron warerooms, that it was found impossible to
remove It or break 1t to pieces; the only mode of
getting rid was to bury it. which was actually done
much to the astonlshment of some future genera
tlon OF rats who will come across 1t in their geoo-
gcal researches On all sides are to be seen singu-
lar evidences of the Intensity of the fire the 10th
OF April. Every thing that was at all consumable
was destroyed the most wonderful masses of heero-
genlous compounds, bars OF iron, rolls of wire
nails, clusters of horseshoes, and coils Of chains all
soldered into solid masses, and in tie most gro
tesque forms, are to be seen in the rubbish every
where. Boxes Of window glass fused into solid
block OF beautiful sea green yet each plate seeming
ly perfectly distinct.
Have you ever been in theatre or ah0tel, when
on fire If you have, you can imagine the fright
which the inmates of the Exchange Hotel here re-
ceived a few nights since. We were awakened
about 3 o'clock, AM, by the reiterated cry of fire.
under our windows, and before we were exactly
conscious OF our situation, the gong beaten
through the passages to waken every one. All this
while the light of the fire was garng in our win
dows, so that we thous ut the enemy was surely
upon us. plead guilty OF great fright on that occa
sion, but still had to laugh at some old fat fellows,
IN grand dishabille," acting the principle Of
every man his own porter.
The danger to the hotel was imminent, but through
the exertlons of the fremen, we allowed to go
10 our peaceful couches, to dream of fire, water
bells and engines. Speaking of the Exchange Ho-
TEL II you ever come west you will stop here,
and am sure find it as comfortable hotel as, any
IN the country, with most accommodating land
lord, Mr.. Henry Nj. Smith, table grooming under
all the good things of the land and cellar filled with
choice wines Some other time will write to you,
telling you OF the many wonders to be seen in this
city OF smoke, such as the FORCES, foundres, glass
houses, iron steamships, suspension aqueduct, ho-
nest politicians, &c.
There has been some difficulty in relation
to the distribution of the munfcent charity,
called the fire und, which now amounts TO
S2WCOO. Many men who were worth their tens of
thousands, making application for their share of
money that was never intended for such objects of
charity wealthy colonies and esquires. The
councils very properly rejected their claims.