The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-01-11


Of for the purpose Of building up cities and
Soroushs We believe the Erie and Northe .st Company
that sn arc Il e.
vent y force All object TO Ia the abusive language
smp,0yeo x some editors against all PsnnylvanA
account on their conduct Our courts will DO their duty
In the matter, and hope eur Legislature viii not b.
vnit penind 'nose New York and Ohio in the nbsrsty
u IT, policy In railroad matters Lot the three States
appoint eacn three commissioners to meet and settle
smicaby al former dfHsultiss and recommend muts.
ally liberal policy for the future We have all along re-.
still. Tie Pennsylvania gauge law was repealed last
winter, in . spirit Of Hbsraity towards Ohio and New
York.
Destructive Conhagration In Portland.
IMMENSE LOSS OF PROPERTY-CUsrOx HOUSE
IN RUNs-POsr OFFICE AND UNITED STATES
NATURAL HISTORY soCIETY's COLLECTION
LOST, ETC.
Our Custom House. form erly csed the Exchange build
Ing in ruins The most desrucdv and db astrous Ore
that has visited city for many occurred between
y destroying noble Custom House and vast amount
Of other valuable public and private property 1t is i'm
possible for as to convey to our distant readers any de
OF the extent OF the loss The nconvenences and ds
lays Of the public business are possible greater than
the ptcunary value Of the pery destroyed great
that known to DO. The building itself Of tbs
finest public sciaces Of the country and cannot b. 70
placsd short OF $500 00O Its principal fsr
New York. or Philadelphia.
In addition to the several offices come ted with the
collection Of the customs there same build
with the oes of the Marshal OF the United Stats tia
Clerks Of the United States Circuit. District Courts
the Altar tic Bank, the Comm e;cial News Room Bal
leys book store and the extensive and valuable oos,
tons OF the Natural story Society
Ont Of the building nothing was saved except portion
Of the tents of the Post Office and part of BAeys
books except such matters secured BY stes Tbs
condition Of hsse Is not yet fully Known but the belief
story containing specie and valuable papers Of the gov
nent ia unip ured The vault Of the Atlantic Baak
Il not jet and its outer door slightly sprung
that 1t viii probably have to be forced
The safes containing the records OF the United States
Courts have been examined and the records all saved
The Post Oase was in good measure cleared and the
Postmaster has opened new ohoe in Mr Clapp's new
block In Federal street. to which place the letters and
has removed into the old Custom House building In Fors
street. and will shortly Do in readiness for the Transaction
Of business ct these quarters All tho furniture Of
the Custom House and all its books and papers not In ths
safe burned impossible to enter the Custom
House rooms and every thing Is gone except what ths
The Custm House building was Of granite, fronting %
feet Ndcls street and extsndng back 1874 feet bstwsea
Exchange and Lime streets, with two stories above the
basement story dividing the building into two parts On
Exchange street side Of The toward Middle street.
the Postmaster private siaee, next came the oics
Of the United States Marshal next that Of the Clerk
Of the United States Circuit Court and thsn the oe
for boOlltois The other half q the basement story
pied By the Post oo. ard the rear one for NsW.roo
In the second story Of the building the large
60 feet In height making altogether the finest Ia
the city or State Between the Custom House room and
Of tbs Port Above these in the third story tie
Offices Of the Inspectors Weghers and Gauger there
FsDiIn IS store house. for Instruments, maps. sns
charts Of the United States Coast Survey and Light House
Bard At the northern end Of ths building the ssoooA
Hn{ ~ intn hal
Court adjoining which were ths Judges Chambem and
the Unsi States Court Law Literary. ard the once q
above ths Court room, large hail. occupied BY the
collections Of the Portland Natural History Society," Ill a
The court room furniture, the law library, and judge
Wares valuable private library were AL destroyed Tie
library Of Judge Ware eannot b replaced With money.
Law, admiralty and civil law principally foreign Ian
guAges containing original notes and sfsreness
Tbs Nswsroom, directly under the Judges ohsmSsr w.
recently fitted at much expenss and contatnsd sew
r valuable public document which c.nnet BE- easily
Spaoed The collection Of the Natural History Society
Of the most and valuable In the country.
These all burned and cansot DO replaced The value
Of the collection could net b Less than S25, 900.
We do not attempt to give estimate Of the losses,
either pubic private for they b measured b.
To- Of p ),
not 80 the various collections Of public and private
character, with which the builiing wa dlsd
vats OH and perished with the rest Of the property
The mails and letters In tho Post Office al Aved
and portion Of thu furniture The Individual loss Of he
Postmaster viii b very considerable.
Lni: Eeat building Vas completely finished and fsr:
nishsd hIoushout Ihsrs was an air Of comfort e ws
Of the building, which makes all parties in the eiR
share onmon feeling Of regret 1t the results Of tSs
The origin Of the Ore involved in mystery. The b.,s
that originated In the second story ct the northsrn
law library suoS, We are informed Is the opinion q
those Who have been engaged In the Investigation Of the
The alarm given ct about half past Eve O'Clock o.
Sunday morning and the Ere broke out after wards
and In the nrst instance from the windows Of the osur
room, On Exchange street. The second starry Of tie
northern end Of the building DANES and tAs
fire into the Cussm House the top par
Y wall which was carried no higher than the caves a
the building.
The court room occupied all last week In tAS
hearing Of the Of Myers the York and mbsrAsd
at half past O'Clock P sAtu day order to gvs
the plaintiff and lis ocunfel time to examine the books
Of the corporation.
Messrs. John Myers, F. J. Smith, Cen Fssssndsa,
j. Herics, and Others occupied the court room fof
tbi' purpose till past O'Clock, whom Mr. George shaw.
the porter Of the Used sta!ss Court closed the room
for the night Its MAPS Plans pronles geld noss and
other papers Of the company used saturday al
lsf In the and lost The OF the stock
holdsrs directors and treasurer were taken from the
room BY Mr. Poverty, after O'Clock, and therefore
preserved impossible at the Tins OF going 10
press to what hA been lost AMI uhat have
been saved
No Are had been made in Judge Wares room duri.s
Mis- Hannah Watts who occupies the wooden building
next above the Custom House. fronting on ExohaDss
street, gave the first alarm in the street
Nv. r. Jordan night clerk In the Post Once, waS
aroused By the noise Of the are in 10 give the
alarm and save the contents Of the Post Offoe
The vatchmen duty Saturday night, were Wn,
H. Ritter Hstherly BArstow, Daniel Gerts, BarthoIo.
new Marks, Albert Huston. Tm, BrAckets Bspjsmin
Sweetser, samuel Bond At Ephraim Moo-s.
Mr.. 8arrtow informs us that he with two other watch
men, and the b. nk Waterman al the front part OF
the Ese hsr 60 coon .ter aud that ne pssssd up
without noticing any signs Of nre
Since TIE aoovs written learn Ii Of the Atlantis
Bank safe opsaed yesterday afternoon, AMI eli its
papers and books found to be- safe and usinursd
The outside door fouod 70 be eighty sprung
forcing this sign of are appeared in ida rhs ors
guard tbs yhoe Of the door melted
or IL jured The inside door op-n wi perfect
rh' safes vaults In tina building aud II
In lisved that all f'bs proved worthy OF their trust
Amorg the ether properties destroyed vss, under
stos the Lodge books, sto Of the
6rsnd o. se and Grand Enosmpment of the o of y.
f. which we're kept ia the Custom H5iss room By the
Secretary, Mr.. Kinebury