Wilmington daily gazette., 1873-07-28
rhe RaltImore confIagratIon.

Inc 9aIgtInOr0 GOuuuA5T0StOUs
The great fire at Baltimore on Friday, has
caused great deal of discussion by the press, in
the several large cities. ...,-,
In nearly every instance the failure of the paid
Fire Department to meet the necessities on such
occasions Is recognized and admitted. And the
difficulty to find means to supply the deficiency
is anxiously inquired into
New York has as yet been exempt from such
caIamities as has befaren Chicago, Boston and
Baltimore. But there Is an evident dread of such
visitation by the press and people of the COM
mercial metropolis. The press seems to see end
admit the insuficiency of their fire department.
The World says:
The apparatus for extinguishing fires in Balti-
more Is as complete, for aught we know, rs In
any other American city. The Fire Department
of Boston waq declared to be more efficient then
In any other American city. But tae Fire De-
partment of Boston proved helpless and broke
down, as the Fire Department of Baltimore hes
proved helpless and broken down, under the strain
OF such an emergency as is likely to erl5e IN any
city any day. There - no American city, and no
city anywhere, provided with certain merus of
extinguishing or even restricting FIRE so fierce
as this. 1t Is only tue gC.d luck of New York
that worse thing than hrs befa'len Baltimore
has not long ago befallen her. Aud we have no
reason to suppose that New York world not be
as poweless IN the face of great fire as CbiesSo
or Boston or Baltimore.
The terrible loss sustained by these c7'ar7 ties
are looked upon too carelessly. The loss is not
to the cities only where they occur. They are
just so much loss to the na,'On at large, end r.
tard the growth of the country to the extent of
their destruetiveness; and It becomes the duty Of
every one to insist upon such measures being
taken as will 50 far as human Judgment Is able,
provide means against their re-oecr-rence
Had proper measures been adopted 10 Ba'ti-
more many thousands of dollars worth Of pro
perty would have been saved. Every city should
have large supply Of steam fire engines BaIti-
more should have at least twenty instead Of eight
or ten. Each company should have its reserve
engine. The force of men engaged is quite equal
to attend double the number of machines at q
hre. Helpers could very soon be impressed into
service if needed. But the great want at each of
the great fires In Chicago, Boston and Baltimore
was machines. New York and Philadelphia are
in need of this provision now. Boston has just
taken steps to increase her force. With good
supply Of steam apparatus and sufficient water,
fires could be kept under control with fair man-
agement. But without these cities are at all
times at the mercy of the elements.
In referring to the late fire In that city, the
Baltimore Nes0s says; f
While there was nothing in the nature Of a
panic at the fire yesterday, there was great dis
play of helplessness. Thousands of men able
and willing TO work were walking about looking
on, without being able to do anything. There
was no organization In which they could work,
and no material with which TO work. II there
had been supply of extinguishers or buckets in
the possession of some man of nerve and judg-
ment, he could, in i've minutes, have assembled a
corps of volunteers which would baqR ofinvaua-
BILE service in the section lying north of the fire.
Instead Of this, crowds sauntered purposey
around the hre, sweatlng and looking helpless
That paragraph exposes the want. Orgnniza-
tiOns Of men with light hose and buckets In the
time OF conAagTatiOn could render Invaluable
service. And fire plugs should be made to sup
ply light hand hose in addition TO the hose for
engines, in all sections where the water will fow
with sufieient force to be Of service. man on
house-top with light hose can perform ser
vice which is almost equsl to that of steamer
on the ground. 4--
The lower part of our own city could be rem
dered comparatively safe by the use of such hose,
were the fire plugs furnished with small pipes
and appertures to correspond with such hose as
could be quickly handled.
Fires occurred in Norfolk, Virginia, where q
hundred and ffty thousand dollars worth OF pro-
perty was destroyed on Saturday and Sunday,
and on Saturday another In Portland, Maine, where
larger amount wss lost.
These cities are about the size Of Wilmington,
and the fires go to prove that they shOr'd be as
careful to protect themselves against such vista
tlons as their larger neighbors. We hope our
Council win see that our very efficient Fire De-
partment is amply provided with hose, aud that
all the provision for supply Of water has been
made that can be made with our present water
works. d tfIJti 5GliI If. i