Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1860-05-09
Tbs Lesson OF the Ere.

may be bitter, but they are net the les:
valuable they may contradict our thee.
ries, and be n opposition to our opinion:
and wishes, but the facts remain, and can
not be gainsayed.
First among the lessons which the re-
peatcd terrible fires which have occurred in
this town, Ehegld teaeh,-is the urgent ne
cessay Of guarding against their repetition
al future.
The fact that within the last fourteen
years, the principal part Of the business
portion of this town has ben destroyed By
fire three times; that Warren has suffered
morefossIn proportion to itspOpulation than
any other town in 0hiO,-perhaps more
than any other in the United States. lex
cept sene in Galifornia) should teach US
tconquire for the causes OF such devesta-
ton, for causes there mast have been. It
is true that before the first great Ere in
1876, the means Of extinguishing fires were
very insufficient; that there were NJ reser-
ycirs of water as there are now. and only
inc small engine, with 4 very inadequate
supply Of hose; but such was not the case
at the late fire. The town was as well pro-
vided with Engines, hose, and water, and
had asgood Fire Companies as any other
town of its size in the State. The undeni-
able truth is that in the very heart of the
town, there was. each time, a compact mass
Of wooden buildings of the most infamca-
bic kind, which burned at the slightest ez-
posure, and consumed not only the prop
erty Of their occupants, and owners, but in
spite of the utmost cndeavors of fremen and
citizens, also burned good substantial brick
buildings. whose owners regardless of ex-
9cnse, had exerted themselves to the utmost
70 make them fire proof.
Thus every time has the property of
those who have striven to protect them
selves by their substantial edifces. and to
protect that Of others. by providing a per
Mancnt barrier to the spread of fire, been
sacrificed to the penny wise and pound fool
ish system of the builders of wooden finder
boxes. Not only have these exposed wood
en- buildings, caused the destruction of vast
amounts of property again and again, but
they were a constant source Of danger to
the whole town. Had this last fire oc-
CURED at midnight instead Of noon, no Y
ertions Ct the citizens could have preven-
Ted the ~cQnfagration from extending over
the whole Of the north and east parts of
the town, and the morning sun would have
locked upon hundreds Of homeless families.
and the ashes Of more han half the dwell
lings that now remain. If again the burnt
portien is to be rebuilt with the same kind
of buildings as before, then beyond all ques-
sOn. again will ike causes produce like re-
.sults. But the increased danger frOu fire,
is not the only evil which these chcapwOod-
81 buildings bring upon the town. The
poorer the buildings are, the worse the uses
70 which they are. put; and the worse the
characters of their occupants, as a general
rule. If It is desirsb bic to have in the Every
cente, Of town, another Rotten Row
With grog shops on the first floor, and
brothels on the second, as schools for the
young, helps to the morality Of adults, and
aids to the prosperity Of the town, then
by all means again put up the wooden
shanties. But if it is any object to have
a stop put TO this wholesale destruction
of property. and this terrible exposure Of
lie; any object that sound and respectable
business men, already here, be encouraged
to remain. and more of them induced to
.come and make this place their homes; any
to have the town greatly improved,
bOthin reality and in appearance; then the
erection of these miserable shells for dog
ceres should BE- stopped, if the authorities
.of,tlc toxin have the power to do ii.
tits not true, as has been urged, that the
true interest Of men of small capital viii
sAaferb the passage and enforcement Of 4
law prohibiting the erection Of such build
ings for If men have little property, that
is thelrcry reason why that property should
be seeure; they canuot afford to expose 1t
dangerous buildings. The principal Oh
jeStors are not men of small capital; on the
contrary the strongest opposers are rich
men who have got hold of real estate in
good locations. and like dogs in the man
ger, viii neither erect safe buildings upon
It, or sell it at such rates that others can
afford to doit but caring for nothing OK
ccpt to put money in their pockets would
lease It 70 be occupied in any way the les
zee chooses. whatever may be the eonsc-
asenee to community. But If it was true
that . few individuals Of another and more
deserving class would make less money, 1t
is the good Of the whole community which
SHOULD FIRST be ensured, whether individu-
ais suffer or not. No man has a moral
right to endanger the property of his neigh
Dor: no man has a legal right to erect nui-
ssnocs Of any kind in the corporate limits
II any town. If this were not 50. n own
eF OF renter Of real estate in the most crow
Odd part Of town. might build a pow
der NIL. on 2 lime kiln, or a poudrette
mandatory. But such is not the case
and the same lay which gives the citizens
of Incorporated towns, the power to protect
themselves against such nuisances, gives
them also the poEcrt s prevent the est4b-
Ishment ofothcrs Of a scarcely less danger
Gus kind. We learn tkas tie Town Coun-
eiIhaye passed an ordinance of this nature,
go II l.. IL. g. g 4hn !