The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-04-28
THURSDAY, APRIL %, 1870.
THE RICHMOND DISASTER.

The terrible catastrophe that occurred
yesterday morning at Richmond, Virginia,
by the falling in of a portion of the
Capitol building, will call forth the profoundest
expression of regret and sympathy in all Sec
tions of the country. The melancholy character
of the disaster has been intensified not merely
by the fact that large number of distin-
guished public men are among the sufferers,
but that, of all other places in the country, it
should have occurred in the late capital of the
Confederacy. The people of the South have
suffered SO much both during and since the
war, that no right-minded person can look
upon such an additional visitation as this
without more than usual feelings of pity, and
a desire to aid, if possible, in the ameliora-
tion of the misery caused by the Gala
nifty. The conclusion of the war
found Richmond in ruins and her
people in poverty, and setting aside all poll
tical considerations, the victorious North owes
it to itself, to the South, and to humanity, to
do all that can be done, not only towards re-
pairing the ravages of the war and laying the
foundations Of future prosperity in the late
rebellious States, but towards cultivating a
cordial and hearty sentiment of friendship
between the two sections of the Union. The
political controversies of the day have to
some extent at least served to intensity the
bitter feelings excited by the war, and many
persons at the South are still impressed with
the idea that they have nothing to expect
from the North in the way of kindness or
respect. This terrible catastrophe furnishes
an excellent opportunity for such an express
sion of hearty sympathy and regard as
will convince the people of Richmond
and the whole South that, in spite of
all differences past and present, we are dis
posed to regard them with none but the most
fraternal feelings. 1t is almost certain that
among the families of the killed and wounded
of yesterday there will be many who greatly
need assistance, and the condition of
those injured could doubtless be much
ameliorated by the prompt tender of pecu-
MARY aid. 1t is to be hoped, therefore,
that the expressions of sympathy in this and
other cities will take practical shape, and
that handsome sum of money will be made
up Immediately and forwarded to Richmond
for the benefit of those who need it.
One of the lessons of this disaster is the
ueC6SSlty AOr Iuo Sroatof ooCuIlty VI puouC
buildings that are likely to be occupied by
crowded audiences. The Capitol at Richmond
was doubtless more or less injured during the
war, even if its construction in the first
place was all that could be desired The pro-
liabilities are that all who were assembled in
it were confident of its strength, and abso-
lutely unsuspioious of danger; but with re-
gard to many of our public buildings, it is
certain that no such feelings of security are
likely to prevail, and in many of them there
is constant apprehension of disaster. The
laws on this subject should be stringent, and
no building intended for the occupation of
crowded audiences should ever be permitted
to be used unless it is built in such man
ner as to be absolutely beyond suspicion.
Particular care should be taken in the con-
struction of State, municipal, and national
edifces that are expected to last for many
years, and that will undoubtedly be called
upon to bear severe strain on many occa-
sions.