, 1873-08-04

connnoa npnco, tho concealed fro WAS raging,
only nanifesting itBolf ns 1t found outlets
through tho cortlico-wors. In this Bpaco, nftor
much pulling down and cutting away, tho FRO
mon had 10 search for their enemy, and in
addition to this had to contond with tho
torno volumes Of smoke Which tlllol the
whole building. Tho orowdp Which Ind congro-
gatod about tho building, and tho largo number OF
poopto who insisted upon tlocling into It without
any purpose, ns people afwaya do at fro, also
potled tho fironaon n tho onrlior atagea Of lilo
fro, aud would hayo continued to do 80 had 1t
not bcon for tho timely arrival OF tho poloo su-
rorintondcnt, by Whose energetic action tho
building waB aoon clcarod, a:l ample room was
afforded tho hromon, It n,tlst further bc re-
memlorol that tho aremon wore not nntlor the
command Of tho Firo-k1aralAal, that individual
having boon romovea by tho Mayor Oh Saturday.
His dutiea therefore Govolyed upon Assist
mt Tirc-A1arsha1 Donnor, who found
himsolf, Immediately upon tho assumption
Of hiH dutios, faco to face with fearful and OK
sraordnary responsibility, and with tho obstacles
we hayo montionod working against him. It
Was a worry trying poaition, and lad the 1amos
got beyond hts control ind destroyed a consider
sblo amount Of property, 1t would probably have
boen tito last time ho would hayo exercised tho
authority Of Fire-Maraha1. Assisted by tho In
tolligont mud woll-dlrccted efforts OF Commits
sionora Wright and Sheridan, h1r. Bonner
proved hinsolt to DO equal to tho emergency,
and, although 1T first somewhat hurried by tho
suddon and very unexpected problem ho was
called upon to solyo, Us any other nun might
hayo boon, undor tho cireumatances, he
ovontually proved hin1oo1f TO DO tito master
Of tho situation, and, contrary to the expoeta-
tions Of ovory ono who Witnessed the fire, tho
Singer Building stu stands o. good as eyor,
with tho exception Of tho 1oss Of the roof and
cornico.
While the preservation OF this handsome
structure and OF the adjoining buildings la d
matter for sincere congratulation, tho Lesson
which tho fire suggests Ia nono tho loBa impor-
tant. There arc othor lofty buildings, many OF
them, with iron roofs, and thoy aro all tho time
linblc to get out Of repair. Thoro aro many
city, who may loaso their brazors in
dangerous Places go that tboro ia no
/ immunity from fro, md thorc is an
| alarming possibility Of widespread destruction
should auch tlro occur In the night~timo, when
tho difficulty Of rallying tlo Department and ex
| tinguishing It would be greatly increased. rhe
worry fact that tic Singer Building has lost ita
roof and cornico show that no hayo not got
given heed to all tho warnings Of tho Great Fire.
In this connection wo would again urgo the
recommendations which havo boon already
printed in THE Tribune. They cannot bo
| stated too ofton OF emphasized with too much
earnestncss. Tho system Of iton-tubiug which
! has boon adopted i'll some Of our high buildings
entirely removes tho danger OF bursting hose.
We reproduce, therefore, tho recommendations
| originally mado by a writer III Tue TRIBUNE
aftor tho areat Fire. He says:
Among other regulations let 1t bo compulsory to
havo pcs OF Size OF not lesa than two and ouehalf
inches {hnt being tho stzo Of our onyue-hose} built
In and carried to the roof Of MI walls Of certain
height Mt proper distances such ppes to hayo inlos
tho bottom, accessible from the sidewalk with co,y,-
linge to 1T onGnc-hose, md arranged to connect with
Aoao on tho roof or on c1ter floor inside tho building
md furnished With permanent Iadt1crs, making 1t
practicable for man to climb upon tile outside, and
carry hoHo on TO tic roof Tlero Ia probably fire.
engine III tho city that has not ample power to forco
good strcam from nozslo ut height Of 15o foot from
Tho ground in from four to eight minutes afar light
ing tho fuel III tho fur1laco wrro tho water is kept
constantly hot 1t Ia hero Ths however, ca,not be
dono through loso alone, the great weight OF long
column Of full hose suspended ca1,scs It to buckon and
collapse tho cornico windowsiu where 1t entors
| tho. building.
Such pipes or tuboB, when they aro placed in
building at the time Of its construction, involve
q u,ore tsitto Of expense, which ia nat worth
| mentioning in comparison with tho minimum to
which tho risk iB reduced and tho consequent
saving Of insurance. Notwithstanding tho conn.,
| paratiyo1y fortunnte result Of tho State street
| fro, it is ono moro warning, IN ndlition to tho
costly onea Of tho past. which tho people Of this
! city onght not 10 Disregard.
TIE SMITHS OF VERMONT.