Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1872-11-15

THE LOSS GREATLY EXAGGERATED IN THE FIRST
AcoouSTs.-fT Is NOW SKI Al EIGHTY MIL
LIoNs.-A CHEERFUL rIKw OF THE DISASTER
The Boston Advertiser says: The area OF

THE LOSS GREATLY EXAGGERATED N TIE FIRST
AccouxTs.-fT Is NOW SET AT EIGHTY MIL
LroNs.-A CHEERFUL VIEw OF THE DISASTER
The Boston Advertiser says: The area of
the burnt district will be found, when care
fully estimated, slightly to exceed sixty-four
acres. or 2,7S7 $40 square feet. DeductIng
the space covered by streets. the area occu-
pied bv buildings II a little less than two
million square feet. The structures did not
cover all the remaining space, but assuming
that they did. and that they were worth
SO Der square foot, the entire loss in build
ings will amount TO twenty millions OF dol
lars.-an estima te TO the correctness OF when
we have the testimony OF many sagaclons
holders Of real estate The total number OF
buildings consumed may be roughly stated
at about seven hundred. The loss IN mer-
chandise Is set by the most competent eA-
merits N not over three times the amount OF
los in bail ings,-it being borne IN mind
tIat on member Of streets tie structures
were used principally for offices and con
tanned nothing very valuable. and that m
mann, warehouses the stocks of merchandise
were low some Of the dry goods commits
sion hoasr-. for example, having hardly any
goods in $, Our estimate, therefore
set. the entire loss at Eighty Millions OF dol
lare-a prodiaiauS destruction in itsell, bat
bv mn means one to infict crushing blow
upou the prosperity of Boston. All the old
boot and shoe manufacturing and eommls-
sion firms are solvent and even strong a.
before the fire, and by their soiyency wall
preserve % Boston, unlmpared- their
valuable line Of bushes Very many
of the iob5ing firms, also, IN the same
line. came ont of the IRE Win large
losses. il Is true, but able 70 meet
an their engagements. and 10 continue their
busineSs. The same may be said IN general
terms ofthe large manufacturers and dealers
IN clothing; their stocks IN hand are con
sumed. but their surplus Of assets IN bills
and accounts receivable, together with what
insurance they will be able 10 recover, Will
save them. That there will be failures IN
several Of tine leading lines OF business IS
probable. but IN the case OF many nrms We
believe II will be found that after sns-
pension If payments until they can
how much OF their insurance
can be realized they viii resume pay
ments and 20 ON As before. In the
of IL destructiveness the Boston |
connagration of 1872 Is second IN rank z
among all the fires which have occurred IN |
the United States. that of Chicago OF course 4
standing al the head Of the list. by the I
last-named most terrible event some seven
teen thousand buildings, covering an area 4
of l24 acres. were consumed but the diff 4
ference In the comparative value OF the |
buildings and goods destroyed there and /
here may be inferred from the fact that the |
total actual los, by the Chicago ire was I
: 1876 900 600. - the amount assigned 20 /
buildings beng So, 900 600, and 10 mer- 1
chaudisa and personal effects Sli3 100000 1
Tie destruction by or FIRE. covering les /
than a thirtieth Of the space, was therefore I
by value very nearly one-hah that OF the |
great Chicago calamity