New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-10-11

iron or slated TOOLS, archou hooio WV"
wooden coverings laid in cement, do not'
r. ia found, under the conditions OF the Chi-
caoo fire, make fre-proOf building. lneso
NAV stand against an ordinary ASSAULT. Du'
sncb a relative power OF resistance Is not COM
nIoto securty. Wide and unprotected win
dows wooden floors and finish, and other
.oominply small concessions to cheapness,
robtness, and comfort have sufliced to destroy
tho impregnability of the structure. The iron
buildings. 40 ornate and airy in appearance,
which have been greatly affected by the Chi
caoo builders, have about them almost no ele-
mcnt of resistance to sweeping flames. Ihey
ORC for the most part, thin frames OF metal,
with immense openings for the admission OF
LIGHT and air. and are finished inside
with lath and plaster, and filled with wooden
doors and floors. The raging flames nave
warned these light iron shells, and curlcd them
I'D like elm boards IN an August sun, or
Southern railroad bars in tho fires OF Sher-
mans "nmmersn Walls, then, of thin from
or brick, or stone, cannot alone make build
ing proof against fire; and tho mere addition
of brick archcd floors, iron shutters, and outer
doors, does not, it is clear, sufficiently re-
enforce the other precautions. There are loop
holes enough left for the ingrcss OF the eager
flames, which, once inside the shell, leave 1t
only when it is reduced to ashes. Are not
science and ingenuity adequate to this emer-
gency9 There were absolutely no firc-proof
buildings in Chicago. Why mott Let MS know
tho reason, and build better and stronger,
taught by Chicagos hard fate this lesson of
tho hour.
IL u 1f min ,fn inf
the contrary, it looks as if tho Fire Depart
mcnt and water facilities of Chicago were IN
adequate to the emergency. 1t IS at any rate
striking commentary on the weakness Oh
man that great city should be burned to the
ground on the borders of mighty lake whose
waters, rising above the original foundation OF
its streets, arc ample to submerge the whole
State. Tho flemcn were, undoubtedly,
wearied by the large fire OF Saturday
night, but, in spite of wind and the IN
Hammable nature of the materials, such
thoroughly organized service and system
of water distribution IA Chicago demanded
and might have had, would have been able
to stay the waves of the fiery sea long before
they could have reached the central portions OF
the city. 1t is probable that the city builders,
in their cagerncss to hasten the fungus-llke
growth of Chicago, have overlooked the dire
possibilities which have now taught lesson
To be remembered to the latest generation.
The experiences Of Sunday and Monday in
Chicago will be long quoted against the Nicol-
son paycment or any of it's kindred. Further
details must be awaited before final judg-
ment can be made up, but it is already apparent
that the flames were enabled to spread much
h1 IF inHammahla
ments. For tho same reason, the means OF
subduing tho fire were immeasurably curtaned,
since no engine or fireman could stand for an
instant in streets which, if covered with any
stone pavement, would still for precious half
hours have been passable. AS the case now
looks wooden pavements must be banlshed 10
the limbo of wooden houses; or some fire
proof means for extingushing fires must be
invented.
Chicago may be taken as a fair type of
American material energy. We are proud to
claim her as a representative city, 30 Tar as
vgor, boldness, sclf-poise, industry, and far
reaching enterprise are the characteristics OF
| the American Republic. The destruction OF
three hundred millions of substantial property
| is a lamentable disaster; and we shudder at
the statement that hundreds Of human lives
went out with agony in the midst of the
fiery furnace; but the indOmitable energy
of the great community still survives.
As Chicago was a representative city in the
nation, 80 it shares in all the recuperative
qualities of the Republic. The city which has
been laid waste was not alone that of the
three hundred thousand people who inhabited
it it was the city of many mighty States
whose messages of cheer and trains of relief
are this moment speeding to it from every
quarter of the Republic. A nation that has
survived q great rebellion and has grown
stronger and mightier in the work of replacing
the wreck of four-years war has an interest
in rebuilding Chicago and in making it
stronger, nobler and more admirable than be-
fore.
Though this is great calamity to the City
of Chicago and to the whole country, we shall
doubtless be surprised to see how soon both
city and country will recover from it. The
elasticity of community which built a city
by the Lake within the limits of brief life
time, raised it's foundations again and again
from the mOrass, drove tunnel under Lake
Michigan and turned the course of river
against its natural flow, will be equal to even
the present emergency. There will be no
panic, but the audacious and CHEEKY confidence
of the people-nOt of Chicago alone,
but of the United States-will sustain
the enormous burden; and mutual for
bearance, help, and cooperation will
tide over the disaster. Already there are COM
Portable indications that the Insurance Com
panies will weather the sudden storm, and
that the two hundred millions of dollars which
are represented in the risks in Chicago may