The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1851-01-11

DESTRUCTION By FIRE OF THE PHILADELpHrA
LEDGER OFFfCE.-We published, several day,
since, brief Geographic account of the destruction
by fire, on the morning of the Both ult,, of III,
Philadelphia Ledger office-one of the most ex
tensive newspaper establishments in the country
From letter to the Baltimore Sun we extract
few paragraphs in regard TO this great calamity:
"The building had been put up of the best mate
rails and in the strongest and most durable manner
and stood the fire admirably. In the fifth story
there were two heavy presses--one a hydraulic
press, the weight of which, it was feared, would
break through into the lower stories and damagt
the presses below and the other double cylinder
Napier press, put up there only some two or three
weeks since. The floor of the fifth story gave way
finally, and the presses came down to the fourt
story, but the immense strength of the floor pre-
vented their descent
In the fourth story there were six steam. powel
presses-two of which were Adams book presses
and four Of them cylinder machine presses, manu-
featured by r. Hoe & Co, New York, which art
all entirely ruined, although the floor did not giv
way with them
g The third story which is the composing room
Of the United States Job Printing Office, great
ly damaged by the water, and the materials were
injured or partially destroyed. The second story,
which Is the composing room of the Ledger news
paper, was washed out with the water. The case
and furniture were damaged, and the types thrown
into confusion. They had TO be removed into
room in an adjoining building, where the compost.
tors performed the work necessary to get out the
issue Of the Ledger for tomorrow morning, which
will be accomplished despite the untoward events
of the day.
Tie origin Of the fire cannot be accounted for
The building was heated by novel apparatus, in
the construction of which every precaution had
been taken to avoid danger from fire. A powerful
blower, driven by the engine, was placed beneath
the steps on Third street, which forced cold ali
through cylinder with tubes, ard heated in lit
passage by the interior of the cylinder being filee
with steam from the boiler, with which il comm,l
ncated. From this apparatus the heated air passee
through hues into every room of the building. Al
no hre ever came near this apparatus, il is Difficult
To conceive how the flames originated.
ths Ledger building was The most extensive
pruning establishment in the city, and the ma
chinery II contained was of the most EXPENSIVE de
scripuon. Besides the Ledger prjnting machine,
IN the basement, and the composing room in IN.
second story, i embraced the Office of the Dollar
newspaper ana the United States Job Office On
the first floor adjoining the publication Office wa.
the publication and periodical store, formerly oecu
pied by Mr.. A. Winch, but lately by Wood g. Pc
terman. Their stock is completely ruined by tn,
water, and, We are sorry to say, without cent o
Insurance. Their loss is about $500.
The building was about ten wears old. an
originally cost $500. The heating apparatl
and other fixtures made the entire cost NOT lie.
than $500 The presses also cost over $50 .OOl
and the entire value of the building, fixture
presses, machinery and materials was estimated I
from 100000 to Sl50,OOO. There Was an ms,
rance the building of $40 900, and ON the stoc
Of $4,000. The actual value of the properly d.
siroyed cannot yet be aseertained The press
and engine in the basement are NOT mate rial
damaged. These presses are Of Hoes " last fast
four cylinder descripion-the only ones of the kin
used in this clty--and cost over $4,000 each"
We are not able to give more space to an a
count Of this calamtous event. There was co
siderable destruction of other property by the fiji
besides the Ledger Office. The Evening Bullet
occupying an adjoining building, narrowly escape