The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-01-09
New York, Monday. january 0. 1854.


We give to-day detailed account of The destrac
ton Of the Lafarge House and Metropolitan Hall
The recent great fires in this city, BY which m i'm
ruense amount of valuable property has been destroy
ed, in6uce to look back and form some estimate
the aggregate value OF buildings and merchandise
which have b,en lost by the destructive elamen
within the recollection Of the present generation
say, during period Of thirty years. We are no
now prepared 10 Give statistics on the subject ba
We are inclined TO believe, from facts within on
own recollection that the value Of property destroy
ed by fires in his city during the last thirty year
must have amounted TO a sum which, if invested
woull " Ia interest exceed the total valuation
al the buildings a. present il this city. The assess
ed value OF real estate in the city according TO I'll.
returns Of 1852 was little over two hundred ant
fifty three millions Of dollars, 1928 27s 3S4,) whicl
of includes the assessed value OF the lots fo
which large deduction should be msde-perhap!
more than sufficient TO balance the value of buildings
belonging to the corporation, and property moi
subject TO taxation, such churches, &c
There can be NJ doubt, We think that the amount
destroyed by fire l. thirty years with interest as We
have said, you'd exceed the valuation OF buildings
standing; and he question arises whether mos
Of this immense amount could not have been saved
had a thorough system of fire.proof building beea
Introduced mo the city previous 70 the year 1929
and since enforced by law. II seems something like
infatuaton that the insecure style OF combus-
tibe bu dir "a has been and still is continued not
withdrawing the constant W rninos the great fires
have gwen from year to year. The time must come
when combuslible matsxisls will be banshed from
buildings devoted to business and public purposes in
this great metropolis. The present mooe Of using
fues in public hotels i very dangerous and
worthy Of condemnation. To them can be traced
most of these large confag niions.
yery destructive fire occurred AZ Portland, Me
on Saturday morning. The Custom House building
owned by overDment, entirely destroyed To-
gether with the contents OF the Post Office the
United States court rooms, the Society OF Natural
History and various libraries and other valuable e.
adjustments The loss will probably amount to hall
million Of dollars most OF which falls upon govern
menL
In another column will be found the full particu
iar OF the accideht-if accident i. BE- 50 termed
that tefel the Umpire City on Tuesday night last
From this account il appears that her running ashore
on BaInegat beach the result Of the carelsssnes
of he officer in command so, al least all the pls.
seugers agree in saying Their complaints of the
treatment they received, in being left on bleak
coast ninety or hundred miles from New York,
and il beiug forced 70 pay their travelling expenses,
are cerainy not very credable 10 the character Of
the company who osn the vessel, alth ough taey
may be legally right.
The steam:l STAR OF the West and George Law
arrived about NO clock this morripg with the de-
tails Of nine days LATER California news Geographic
synopsis OF which wss published exclusively in yes
te1lay's paper The statement with regard 10 the
defeat Of the hlbusteros a. Enciaado turns ont not
70 be 81 discoursging u those who sympathize with
them as Vas at 6rst represented. They constituted
oniy potion q Col. walkers parry,
sibiy have been succor,d by the large expedition
yhich sailed to their relief from Ssn Francisco on
the night of tne l2.h. At the last dates, rotoaa
YGlksr uds stu President Of The Republic 81 L9tcer
California.
The general news from California Is quite IN
,ercsting The mining accounts were very favorable,
but the abors OF the dggers would probably be re-
tarded Tor while by the freshets produced by re-
cent heavy rains. The continued heavy impor.atons
of goods, an limited demand from the interior,
caused dulness in every department OF trade Flour
Sas only worth Sl4 or SIS, and mess pork 80 or
eco per barrel.
me Intelligence which re 70 day furnish from
Washington Il unusnany interesting, and IN many
respects very important l. embraces let and de-
upondents relative % the leading topics Of the day
with regard 70 our foreign and domestic policy in.
GLIDING the iadsden treaty With Mexico; the bill
introduced by Senator Douglas for the organization
OF the Territory o. Nebraska, upon which there will
doubtless be some exciting debates before the close
of the session. also various schemes before Congress
&c.
A private correspondent writes to u TIA. spe-
cial messenger left Washington on Friday WITH
instructions for our Minister TO Mexico. This tends
70 confirm the statement that the administration has
In it, hands and is erpeased or displeassd with
the project Of a treaty negotiated By Cen Gadsden
II il inferred that the instructions principally relate
to the amount Of money be Il authorized 70 ohcr
for the Territory 10 ae coded 70 the United States.
We regret to learn tina. Hon. Henry A. Mullen
berg democratic representative from the Eighth d.
trict OF Pennsylvania, died Of typhoid fever in Wash
mgton, last evening
III. excitement ID Cincinnati in relation 10 the
sence Of The Pope's ucio, Father Bedni,
in thai city. appears to BE- working more in.
.ens,ly, and uew scenes aad new proceadngs
with fresh phases aid features, have presented
themselves on each succeeding diy since the alleged
riot occurred. At first we were astoGished With
account Of 3 dread i'll riot, with az attempt 20 Inn,
khe Pores ambassador, ana bloody conflict be.
tween the German cit zels and the whole pol C.
,orcs OF Cincinnati Then &c had the exs nin alton
q, tie alleged rioiers and tHeir unconditional dis
,retso: Gu0NibE Nl Gu were 81 citations or 21 70
=. 81 Gle woun e 1nd ~ bury the anfor.go4ss 10.
ssvidua whose life was saaiacSd 70 sustain the law