The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1871-10-27
G II &c A G o.
TIE ACTUAL STATE OF AFFAIRS.
Interesting and Reliable Statistics.

WHAT 10 BEANED O5,
"Our columns have been SO extern
sively occupied during the past week
with reports of the enormous losses of
life and property in tho late fire that
there is some danger that tho damage
sustained will be over.C stimated. True,
we have seen $500 acres in the most
central portion of the city swept baro,
10000 buildings destroyed, and 100, 600
persons rendered homeless, tho total
pecuninry loss being not less than
THREE HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS ;
but we have still great deal loft. We
may roughly estimate the situation as
follows:
"Above " 10000 persons have left the
city; population remaining, 2SO,OOO.
Five grain elevators were burned,
with 1 100000 bushels of grain leaving
us with eleven grain warehouses intact,
containing 100000 bushels.
"ODe.half of our stocks of pork pro.
ducts were burned up, with tho Same
proportion Of flour.
6" OF lumber, 5O,000,00O feet were
burned the stock remaining is 90 ,000,-
eco feet.
"Of coal, $4,000 tons were burned up;
we have 10000 tons on hand.
Our stock Of leather was decreased
one.quarter, the value Of That burned
up being $4,000.
The greater portion oi the stocks Of
groceries, dry good, and boots and
shoes were burned ~, with moro than
ono half the ready made clothing; but
he quantities destroyed were scarcely
equal to moro than q three weeks sup.
ply,and arc now being rapidly replaced.
NOT MORE THAN TEN PER CENT
of the currency was destroyed by the
fire we have $4,000 houses left stand
ing, and our real estate could not burn
up.
A careful average of these larger
items, with smaller ones that need not
be enumerated, shows that the city of
Chicago has suffered a loss of not less
than 20, nor more than %, per cent. on
her total asscti-real and personal. Tho
loss is great one; but, so far from
irretrievable, that we may confidently
hope to see return TO former prosper
ity ere long. The ratio of increase dur
ing the past thirty-four years has aver
aged 1Ol per cent. per annum. This
rate would restore the status OF month
ago within three years. Making every
due allowance for the terrible set back
experienced, there can be no doubt
that
FIVE YEARS HENCE,
1t most, the exhibit of population,
wealth, commerce and manufactures
will be greater than month ago. Al
'eady the city is rising from its ashes at
4 rapid rate, thanks to the large hearted
iberality of our countrymcn every
where, and the resiStless energy of our
)wn citizens. Let the faint-hearted
mes take courage; the real workers
lave not wasted a moment in regret
'fter have repaired their losses there
viii he no occasion for 1t.
ATROCIOUs FABRIcATIONs.
"The papers Of the Eastern cities arc
personal experiences of per-
IONS protesting to have been sufferers
~ the fire in this city. These stories
re for the most part fabrications. The
given of murders and rapes
~ bullies, thieves, and ruilians, during
he progress of the fire, are
wRETCIIED INVENTIONS.
"a respectable New York paper
ives room to a long recital of the mar.
ow escape of 200 abandoned women
rom their lodgings in Reynolds Block.
The pictures of obscenity and profanity
re drawn by an expert, but are wholly
of truth. No woman of that
n any other class, occupiC rooms in
hat block. The fire was horrible
nough in all its details; there was a
ull share of the selfi-hness and heart
essness peculiar to human nature;
here were frequent cases Of drunkenness
nd Indifference to the impending ca
amity, but there was no general bru-
ality, liendishness, nor crime. The
housand stories of incendiarism and
rime during the progress of the fire
ARE GROSS EXAGGERATIoNs,
pcrversions or pure fabricatons. There
vas little time for stealing the fire was
90 close upon the heels of honest men
md thieves, and but little even of what
vas stolen could be carried off.
"The news Of the fire brought hither
THOUSANDS OF THIEVES
rom other cities but these did not
,each here until Wednesday and Thurs
lay, and by that time public vigilance
had been aroused, and their stay was
short and Improbable. The suffering
Of our people was terrible enough it
needs no eXaggeratiOn to make it the
most extensive scene Of human misery;
but for the credit of common humanity
we desire to stamp these stories of muir
der and other no less atrocious crimes
as false in every particular.
THE DISTRIBUTION OF SUPPLIES.
"The system of relief inaugurated
on Tuesday appears now to be working
with the most gratifying smoothness,
for which the Relief and Aid Society is
deserving Of the warmest admiration.
Though colossal in its proportions, and
labyrinthine in its .ntricacy, it is almost
selfdirecting. The impulse once given,
every piece of machinery is set in per-
feet motion. By Saturday, it is believed
that every applicant will be recognized
and registered; every bushel of flour,
every pound of meat, every cent OF
money, will be also registered, and its
distribution strictly accounted for.
Meantime, the amount of provisions
in store at the great depots is gradually
diminishing. AT the warehouse of