, 1873-03-28

Hl""o Ill tho Houtn"oBt part OF tito city, Wlorn
thoro aro already Thousands Of wooden houses.
80 closely built that, in cnao Of anothor combine
tIon Of flro and gallo, thcy will 10 awopt away
like pratrlc-grass. A 1argo number Of pormn-
mont buildings isavc boon orectcd In tho North,
'Toas, and South Divisions on tho uunrantoo
from tho city that no moro frn,no or wooden
buildings should bo erected Within certain
1initn. Upon this guarantee tloro hayo beo,,
expended at loaat ono hundred millions of dol
lars In permanent buildings. Not only
havo these boon oroctod In tho burnt
district, but In oil otI,or parts OF tho
olty,-Nortll, South, and Wost. They lavo boon
erected rndor tho Legal assurance TINT not only
should thoro DO no moro wooden buildings
erootod within certa1n prescribed distancoB, but
that thoso framo buildings alroa1y existing
should only bo replacod by brick atono, or iron
ones. Having rebuilt Chicago, aud having in
duced thousands to oxpond thoir money ir por-
manont and costly buildings in nll parts Of tho
fro limits, It Is now proposed to rorea or eHRcri-
italy change tho guarantee Of projection, and to
give FREQ loavo for tho erection Of all kinds of
wooden structures again.
Tho pormanont buildings Of Chicago, fnc1ud-
Ing oil those within tho present fro limits, with
thor contents, pay a tax for insurance on nearly
100000, 900 Of property. This tax ranges from
to por cont. This high ratio is due to tho
groat number Of wooden buildinga which oxist
not only within tho fro limits but beyond IT, and
which surround tho city to tho west aud south.
The prevailing winds, aud therefore 80 langor~
olls winds u cases Of fire, aro tho southwest mud
west winds. Thoso wooden aud inflnmmabo
structures are betwoon tho wiutf and tho por1nn-
mont and costly improvements of the city. Honco
the high rates Of insurance. At mn average rato
Of per cent, this city pays out s2000,000 ann1-
ally for insuranco This doos not include what
is pnid on tho wooden buildings thom-
solves, whore tho ratio ranges from
q to 8 per cont. To tampcr with, restrict,
or contract tho present fro limits will result in
tho virtual ropoa1 OF the whole ordinance 1t will
bo accepted by the whole country aa tho certain
precursor, il not direct invitation to- another
connagration ; 1t will weakon our credit cause
an advance in tho rates of interest OH all inyos-
monta in Chicago, and lead not only to MI ad-
ranco III tho ratoa Of insurance. but cause t1o
withdrawal or tho reduction of tho amount Of
risks by tho best insurance companies.
For what is all this cost md trouble to bo
brought upon tho city7 Is Cl,icago
ever to bo wel-built city, or aro
no to continue like tho Indians dwollors
In tents and other temporary habitations2 No
wooden building can be regarded ns a permanent
structure. They arc not b,silt with my rotor
onco to pormanoncy. They aro built to bo
burned down, or to 10 sold and moved to Bo1no
other placo, whore thoy arc finally to bo food for
fire. For this purpose, these buildings are
placed OH atilts,-a convenient arrangement in
case they aro moved, and convenient to giyo good
draft to 4 fro gottiug under thom. The Com
mon Council now propose to throw down tho re-.
ntrants upon tho erection Of such temporary
buildings, theroby putting dampor on tho oroc-
tion Of permanent buildings and making Chica-
SO once moro vast 1umbor-yard, with o cook
ing-stoyo, ashoot-iron pipe, md Il kerosene lump
In full operation In oyory twenty-five Square
foot Of ita aroa. i
The Slate of Illinois has m interest in Chica-
go. This city paya ono-flftl Of tho State taxoB.
The State has incurred, in consequence Of our
neglect of rational precautions against fire, a
debt OF three millions OF dollarH. 1t has wit:
messed tho destruction of two hundred millions
Of taxable property, Tho Legislature Of Illinois
cannot afford to let Chicago bo again burned
down, even it our City Government provides the
means for tue conlagration, From the Common
Council, so lost to reason and common sense,
Chicago will appeal to the Legislature for pro-
against fro anu the Common |
Council.
"REVERSING THE SUPREME COURT"