New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-01-12
Ts1K LAwsRNCE DISASTER.

The appalling calamity that has Just taken place
at Lawrence, in Massachusetts, is of character to
startle the most apathetic in regard to the fragty
of the modes of building in this country. We have
long been used to hear not only of whole blocks and
streets of buildings burned up, but of whole towns
and cities as well. We have in a manner become
used to these overwhelming deyastations by fire.
This great evil, we are happy to know, however, IS
gradually being diminished by the substitution OF
fre-proof buildings for tinder-boxes. We do not
now hear, as we formerly did every sixty days, that
some extemporized city on the Pacific Coast had
been utterly burned out, and that the population
were busily engaged in erecting an another.
1t is a comparatively new experience this OF huge
masses of brick and stone buildings coming unex-
pectedly down by the run, and burying the unsus-
pecting occupants or passers by in the runs; ana "
is as horrible as it is new. In one OF our own
thropeed business streets, the other day, huge
warehouse suddenly buged and fell into the public
street, killing in its fall old and respectable citizens
vending their way home without dream OF dan
GER Now, we find, in the heart of New-Ensand,
among people of thrift and wealth, in city spo-
ken into existence as il were, in day by the COM
bined enterprise and capital of Massachusetts man.
ufactures-we find one of their enormous castles OF
industry suddenly falling of its own weight, aud
bury ing hundreds of innocent and unsuspectlng OPP
eratves in the awful crash. 1t seems to be an
event as impossible as il is dreadful.
In view of this unparalleled calamity, something
beside unayalpg lamentatiOn aud empty denuncla-
ton is demanded. Something should be done to
prevent a recurrence of such hideous disasters.
After enduring frightiul destruction of life for
long period by the explosions and burnings oil
steamboats, Congress was finally driven to take up
the subject and enact code of regulations in
respect of steamers that has been of vast service
in putting an end to the wholesale slaughter of Life
among passengers. The long and judicious labors
of the late Hon. John Davis Of Massachusetts on
that subject in perfecting the existing statutes, are
annually saving multitudes of lives on lake, river,
and ocean, and enttle him to a high place among
public benefnctors.
What has been done in one case can be done in
another. If not by Congress, then by State Le2is-
latures The State of New-York and the State of
Massachusetts each owes it to ITSELF TO adopt meas
ures to prevent the possible recurrence of such
disasters as that which recently took place
in Broad street, and which has now taken
place in the City of Lawrence. Means should
be devised to regulate the erection of oil
buildings over a certain size, by putting them
under the supervision of an authority competent to
arrest their construction, or to prevent their occu-
patton after being constructed. Power should be
lodged in some distinct and wellknown quarter, i'll
a Board of Building Comm ssioners, a Bureau OF
Architecture, or some such body, whose duty it
should be to supervise all edces of every descrip
ton that could by any possibility mperil the safety
of the citizens, whether as an employee therein, or
otherwise. power of this sort exists in European
countries, and it should he established here AT
present our means of prevention are totally made
quate to the demand of the case. The only author
lily now existing is lodged in Fire Wardens, or
scattered among the general powers of the District
Attorney, or the Grand Jury. In each case, how
ever, it is alike inefficient and defective. Fresh
enactments are needed; vigorous treatment OF
the whole subject is required. We trust our Legs-
lature, at least will not adjourn till it has given its
careful attention TO the matter.