Wilmington daily commercial. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1866-1877, 1872-11-12

An experienced financial and commercial writer
in the Boston Advertiser says
"lhe fire in the business district is one Of the
most severe and disastrous that ever occurred
in this country, and, while but few dwelling
houses were burned, ard but comparatively
small number OF families left homeless, the fin
est warehouses and stores Of the city, and the
entire space occupied by the wholesale dry-goods
dealers wool merchants, boot ard shoe and hide
and leather dealers and clothing houses were en-
tirely destroyed.
NOT WOOL HOUSE STANDING.
mot wool-house is standing in the city. The
whole of Pearl and High streets, which were
devoted exclusively to the boot and shoe and
hide and leather trade, are heap Of ruins
Every Wholesale clothing house, with a single
exception, s burned and but three or four dry
goods commission houses are left standing The
loss In buildings is immense, and, together with
the large stocks OF imported and domestic fabrics
that we're burned, cannot be estimated at less
than $50, 900, 900.
STOCK OF WOOL DESTROYED.
"All the domestic wool in the city has been
burned, and the total number Of pounds of for
egn and domestic fleece and pulled wool de-
stroyed by the fire cannot fall short of 5000 900
pounds, while the entire stock remaining in this
market consists Of foreign wool, and is less than
5000 bales. The destruction OF boots shoes and
leather has been quite as complete as that of
wool, although the stock Of boots and shoes in
warehouses; is much lighter at this season than
il would have been about q month later, and the
loss will consequently be less to the owners
Besides this, large quantities OF boots, shoes
and leather were saved, which will materially
tighten the loss Of the sufferers. The wholesale
clothing houses, with one or two exceptions
were completely burned although considerable
quantity OF goods were saved, and the stocks on
hand were not very large.
THE COMMISSION DRY GOODS HOUSES BURNED.
''Wtb very few exceptions, all the commits
sion dry goods houses are burned to the ground
not even the walls OF the buildings being left
standing. The destruction Of the jobbiDg houses
has been nearly complete, and the agent of the
largest mills in the country say that but one OF
all his customers in the City has place left for
his business. The fire did not reach that section
of the city occupied by the provision produce
and flour and grain trade. nor were there any
losses to the fish or salt dealers, and but slight
damage to the wholesale grocers. None Of the
hotels have been destroyed, and the railroads.
with the exception Of the Hartford and Erie
have not suffered, as the fire did not extend in
that direction.
EXTENT OF THE BURIED DISTRICT - THE TOTAL
LOSS, S80,000,000.
" The area of the burnt district will be found
when care fully estimated says the Daily Alder
tiser slightly to exceed sxty-four acres, or
2,787, $40 square feet. Deducting the space COW
cred by streets, the area occupied by buildings
is little less than 1900, 900 square feet. The
structures did not cover the remaining space
but assuming that they did, and they were
worth $40 per square foot, the entire loss in
buildings will amount to $20, 900, 900, an esti-
mate 70 the correctness Of which, we have the
testimony Of many sagacious holders OF real
estate. The total number OF buildings con-
sumed, may roughly be stated at about 700. The
loss in merchandise is set by the most comps-
tent experts at not over three times the amount
Of the loss Of buildings, II being borne in mind
that in number of streets the structures were
used principally for offices, and contained moth
ing very valuable. and that in many warehouses
the stocks of merchandise were low, some of
the dry goods commission houses, for example,
having hardly any goods in store.
EFFECT ON BosIoN's BUSINESS.
"Our estimate, therefore, sets the entire loss
at $50 900 900, prodigiOus destruction in itself,
but by 1no means one to infct crushing blow
upon the property OF Boston. All 1.-THE old boot
strong as before the fire, and by their solvency
will preserve to Boston, unimpaired their very
valuable line of business. Very many of the
jobbing firms also In the same line, came out Of
the fire with large losses, it s true, but able to
meet all their engagements, and to continue
their business. The same may be said in general
terms of the large manufacturers and dealers in
clothing. Their stocks in hand are consumed,
but their surplus of assets in bills and accounts
receivable, together with what insurance they
may ibe able to recover will save them. That
there will be failures in several Of the leading
lines OF business is probable, Dut in the case of
many firms, we believed will be found that after
a suspension Of payments until they can ascer-
tain how much of their insurance can be realized,
they will resume payments and go on as before.