, 1872-11-18
Report of the Citizens, Relief Com
mittee-Speech Of tho Rev. Laird
k11I

Report OF the Citizens Relief Conn
mittee-Speech Of tho 1kev. Laird
Collier.
at the public meeting in Boston, Nov 49, Mr..
William Gray presented the following report
from the Citizens Relief Committee
On the nomination Of the Mayor Of Boston, q
Committee, consisting OF William Gray, William
Clafn, Mayor CASTOR, Otis Norcross, anu a1ty :
Six Others were appointed to take charge or a4e'
distribute any contributions which might be
made in aid of sufferers by the recent fire, and
to consider and advise what act1on should be-
taken on the various subjects presented by the
event.
relief, with headquarters at the Charity Bureau,
in Chardon street, to whom all applications for
assistance may be made, and VINO WILL lnVessl-
gate all cases presented and advise as to the
relief to be granted. The General COMMITTEES
has H. ois Nosctoss f as its rfaaa
in money which may be sent to him.
It has appointed a Committee of Finance, un-
der whose direction all pecunia1y subscriptions
will be applied; also, Committee Of seven to
take into consideration the whole subject OF the
fire. and to report such recommendations to the
General Committee as it should see ht-
a Committee Of ladies Was appointed, con-
sisting Of Mrs. Harrison Gray OTIS Mrs.
William Gaston and twenty-si1 others, to
secure work and aid for such women as may have
been deprived of employment by the fire.
The General COMMITTEES has approved the fol-
lowing resolutions, and directed that they be
| submitted to the citizens Of Boston at apnblic
meeting ta be held on Wednesday, Nov 13, at
noon:
Iesotred, That the appeal to the City Of Boston to
establish anew in the burnt district the lines Of al OF
the streets which too or too crooked for the
present nad future wants Of the chief city OF Ne"
England tnperatively demands immediate action:
Resotud, That the citizens Of Boston respectively
but earnsly request the Commissioners Of Streets and
Tn1nc of Boston EBtab<
is thenes Of the streets In the district upon com-
preheuve and liberal plan, relying On the eha.acter
such aston, and pledge ourselves to support the
Commssioner and City Council in the exercise Of the
powera and responsibility belonging to them in this
regard.
pens Of Mansard roofs and to limit the height Of
confsgration as has just taken place may not bs re-
Kssoired, That the time and opportunity for the
erection Of Merchants Exchange in the centre Of
eapte eu, pursuits las arrived and Strongly advise
that seps ba taken at once to procure charter from
the Legislature to purchase proper se and to erect
stable building adapted to the uses and worthy Of
| th, merchants Of Boston.
The General Committee has appointed Mayor
/. 1aston, Postmaster Burt, and Hon. E. S. Tobay
Committee to petition the General Government
to acquire streets so as to enlarge tho present
site for Government buildings.
It has aiso appointed the Hon. Josiah Quincy,
Collector Russell, and 11r. James l.. Little
Committee to request Massachusetts Senators
and Representatives in Congress to procure the
passage OF an act of Congress allowing the same
drawback On building material az WAS allowed to
Portland and Chicago after the fires in those
cities.
1t has appointed the Hon. William Gray, Mr.
Avery Plumer, Mr. Martin Brimme1, Mr. William
B. Spooner, Mr.. Samuel Hooper, and Mr. Will
lam C1ahin, q Committee to request His Excel
lency the Governor to call special meeting Of
the Legislature Of Massachusetts for the pas-
| sage OF such acts a. the present emergency re-
! quirea.
The General Committee adopted the following
votes and resolutions:
Voted, That, in the opinion Of this Committee the
position and construction Of the Coliseum makes its
eoht1nua1ce dangerous to its immediate neighbor-
mood and they advise that 1t be removed as soon al
Rssolred, Tint the Mayor be requested In behalf
Of the city, torequest his E1ceency the Governor Of
the Commonwealth, to call an extra session Of the
General Council for the following 3ho pIrRoss VIZ
and Issue bonds not e1ceeeing $4,000, COO In
amount IN the WHOLE TO- BE- BE- payable Il aot les
per cent for those PAYABLE in currency to be called
the Summer Street Fire Improvement bonds, to be
i've persons, to be appointed by the Mayor, with the
approval of the City Council whose duty 1t ahan be to
lend such bonds Or their proceeas % such owners o1
plication therefor and commence rebuilding On the
burned land within year from the date when the
ready for rebuilding md shall secure said loan upon
.sd a0 tor sns u5s ei
and conyeYiup title satisfactory to the City Solcior
and the proceeds Of said loan not to be & adSanssd
until the building upon said land has made sncn
gress to insure its completion IN the pehe1 u su
Comnisaion and such further provisions and eonal-
tons to be annexed to said loan BY the
Of its use for tie purpose Of rebuilding said land,
and Of its being repaid to the city.
Votad That the City Council be requested to appoint
commission composed Of engineers and other scen-
tc to investigate the cause OF the rise and pro
gress Of the fire. with the view to the adoption o. sa
able measures to prevent the recurrence OF sucn
| calamity.
Voted, That copy Of this report, attested BY the
Chairman and Secretaries be sent to the Mayor vain
request that he will lay the same before tne 1"o
branches Of the City Council.
Mr. Henry P. Kidder. Of Kidder, Peabody d