, 1874-07-25

Blh. Parts Of ChioaBo having aa rot sory
largo tofritotibs toYutr1 Almost exclusively by
wooden buildings, tho Bmallost hpatks Of fire
fanpol by tho regularly prevailing dry wost aud
southwest winds at certain tmes Of tho year
nre suro again and agaln to 1i,tdlc thom into
flames, md at some time with such torriblo effect
perhaps nB 10 lay tho whole Of our beautiful ro-
built city in ruins once n1oio.
Now If syBtem Of platn, substantial, potfoct-
II ilre-proof structures, Hay about threa~atorioa
high, with largo water roaorvoirs op top, con-
stanlly kept fltod by stnuding. .pipea from tho
MATCHMAKING, weso planted III botweon tho framo
houses at comnandinE points, on and noar thu
lines where tho wooden districts approacli tho
bettor paris Of tlls city, and the upper story
thproof nladn into woll-socurad room. fully
protectoii from without, and furnished with
appi'allces by which largo streams Of wntcr
could be thrown through woll-doviHed openings;
in whutoyor directions required. aueh tlro-proof
structures would thon form kind OF improg-
nable fortress, frotn the nstao Whereof tle fire.
tiend without could DO fought to advantage and
subducd In Bhort order; such fortressos to bo
placed aud arranged 80 aa to constitute rogular
batricAdes from which croBa-asrcafns OF pouring
waller could DO directed OH tho fro approaching
It, coming, "a tho. stroans would, with groat
forco from higher polntB than the burning
houses. frame, buildings being generally only
two storiea high.
In districts nl,ore buildings lfgher Than tro
storos exist let tho fortresaos hnyo to*ors OVER
reaching all buildings [tte erection Of stcll higher
than tno towcrH thereafter to bo prohibitel),
and from the protected topa OF Bucli towors lot
tho streams doacend. pipo md and nozzle could
be constructed mud handled 30 that tue wator
rain, which, it it had como 1t our great confia-
Erations, wonlu hnyc done moro to nxttngninh
fluent from aboyo ti'hn all tho firoengincs IL the
country together applied from below. With
first having tho water forced up Into tho air,
agangt tho pressure thereof before it falls with
bit rory little power on the fro, but lot tho wnter
eonao ont Of the nozzle, and heMlled at . point
higher than tho burning building, aud It will
rush down upon Il from above, with isa forco
and power, insisted thorein BY tho pressure Of
the atmosphere, and sometimes tho Wind, 10
drive it homo with . vengeance, 30 to apenk.
Conducting the water up into such foftresseB
mud from the reservoirs may be contriyed 40 as
to afford extra pressure upon tho stream when
let loose upon the doyouring o'amenr, and here
ITO bursting Of loBa would over occur, Which ia
o mont important itom.
1t may be found preferable to havo such fire.
fighting fortrossos erocted at Intersections Of
atreets mud alleys, or ut onls Of tho latter, anil
but upol arclos so aa not to Interfere with tho
traffic. They would then stand On city ground,
md no land required to bo purchased for aites
thereof, md thus tho cost DO considerably
lessossed. The stzo and width OF Ruch structures
| yeoms iosB important, 90 they bo high enough,
iiro-proof, aud tile top parts 10 constructed that
tho mon worliing therein, to combat the fro
without, aro perfectly protected against nil ac-
cidentB. Tho water-conducting apparatus and
Appendagcs for throwing itB streams should be
| 10 arranged that thoy could not get out Of
| order.
But how asa those are-psoof structures. Of
| which there would be aomo hundreds required
%1i irF4 IL jrhE hNft Wiz r$ $.r
city against fires from tho wooden districts. t.
| bo prdyiIcd and paid for, costing as thoy woulc
| nj least Is, QUO to ?l0,O00 each. perhaps? Aut
| fn places whoro with tho slto lousoB hal first tt
10 purchased at high prices. aud again sols
cheap for removal, the cost would bo consider
| ably enlaHceI.
| lii tho frat place, Increased taxation haH to be
reBortad to, Of course but It aoonn to me TINT
| it euol ayatom al iiro-tghtiug fortrcasca ht
| conceded perfect Bafoglarl against largo con
| who1s thoroof completed together at ono time
| t1o insurance companies would accept Of, nut
our cltizeua hayo to pay, much lower inauraao'
rates generally, 10 ~ to fully make un for villa
tAey liaye to ray iu additional taxoB. Deside
| tho insurance companies themselves, Of whicl
| there arc over LOO duing business hero, wouls
! probably be willing TO subscribe iibprnliy to
wnrds tic carrying out Of such systom,. Niloso
by their r'sks wou!a te infinitely losssnea. The.
may tAcn 10 longer hayo to fear paying Million
in losseH again, which without son,o such pre-
| caution would DO tho case, should conlagratiol
| like that Of 157l sweop awaY cur city again.
| Last, hut not least, It should also be re.nen
berad, that oil thoBo 1ro-fyatiug fortrcsae
could bo n,ado available, 80 as to pay for them
solvoB, by In parss being bnilt for atoros, dwell
inga, or other sale occupations, bringing y yer.
good rontal, preferred, III they would bo, to ot1o
buildiugH around theui, the top partH t1oroo
only bong required for fro.fghling.
| Such MO tue incomplete outlines OF nj idea 81
| It occurred to mo immediately after tho larg
| Firo Of lSil and which Anye now folt cnlot
| upon to make Known to tho public. II doenlo'
worthy to be considered, ! shall expect no 70
wardi II iinpructlcnble, no conBuro.
| CHARLES J. SUNDEIt..
CHICAGO, July g, 1874.