, 1874-07-19
SUGGESTIONS.

| ArRonISEST INSURANCE AGENT,
| IN conversation vita q reporter OF this paper
yesterday, gavo expression to some suggestions
| that seem userul and practical. As = member
OF tho Committee appointed by the Board OF
| Underwriters to visit the Council Monday night
and give their views, perhaps the suggestions
| will indicate the character OF those to be mada
| on that occasion.
The first il, radical reform in the Fire De-
paTtment. both as to methods and extension.
It should not only be released from
mismanagement, and from any political en-
tangloment whatever, but new engines of great
force should be added now hose al,ou1d be
bought, and should be subject to public and
critical test md the fremen should ba put
under the most strict discipline.
Another idea is TINT OF the erection of brick
walls 18 feet high along tie alleys Of each
block in the extra hazardous quarter. This Is
considered feasible aod valuable plan but
perhaps the best suggestion OF all, and one that
will commend Itself for immediate adoption, is
thas Of arranging for supply OF water In the
large frame districts. The day after the fire TIE
TRIBUNE pointed out tho fact that it WAS not 80
much the Fire Department, nor tho southwest
wind, which waa not blowing outside Of the
fire. nor the frame shantfes, nor anything else
that did not meet the emergency, so much as
it was the startling fact that the water-supply
was insufficient, and that two engines would en-
tirely> exhaust the square formed by the block
which is supplied with D OF inch pipe.
It also showed that the different streets travereed
BY the tire were iamentably short In this
particular, aud brough: special and general opin-
ion to confesu that the streams thrown by the
engines wero not great enough to arrest the
flames until the engines removed perforce to
that point "hero they tapped the large 6 and 8
confess that, although wo may have minor
charges to make against the Department on this
thing and that, anu may sustain them, yet when
the q, truth Is looked s9uasely in the face, the
failure to- suppress the fire must frat bo
not been made to suppress IL by giving the Fire
Department proper supply of water. Perhaps
the failure in this respect can and will be ao-
counted for Il the water appropriation has been
addltons 10 sell. and who must have water 80
they can sell their country lots, no matter at
what hazard to the city, then the people should !!
know it. and will.
But to return to the suggestion, which is om-
mineutly practicable. In order to get 3 supply |
Of water in the frame districts at once. lot |
there be sunk on each block a ciste5n to hold |
say, 500 barrels OF water. This can be fed BY
half-inch pipe and will cause no vaste. fhe
probable expense Of such cistern would not ex-
!, YAuo, aou 6oV u LIEN "ou!o cost T2D, ,uuU With
his number down the city would be relieved in q
srea. measure from the terrible risk that over
aangs ua. in the fact that We have immense fields
# dry lumber in every shape ready to blaze up
q moment, and no water, comparatively, IL
1aud TO put ont the fire..
LITTER TnoN GEN. DucAT ON THE FIRE DEPART
nEET AND TTs cH1Eg
70 the Edftor ~ The Chicago Tribune:
S11 Much has been said and written within
ne psst few days In condemnation Of our Fire
department. For the sake Of simple Justice. |
nd sympathy With the under dog in the
Eghs, feei compelled to say fow words.
There Is. believe. no finer material for q Fiso
Department. IN The country than oaQ b. found In