, 1874-07-26

out conE0GFat1Ons While NUN erous scheme
are atioat for the expenditure OF enormous sum
OF public money in order to attain q state {
security, it may bo worth while for practic:
!, minds to recall facts and suggest practical an
Inexpensive means for the surest attainment 0
the end
In 1850 Chicago had about Sc, 600 Inhabitants
Rookeries were the rule; brick buildings an OK
= ception. THO present business ceutre wa,
deusely packed with Tookeriea. Yet for twenty
one years to come under an unprecedented
growth in consequent extension OF 1ookeries il
every direction. with means wholly inadequate
4 to battle with condagrations, We met with bu
one instance of 3 conaagration, or extensive
fire, among those rery rookcries. Fires we're al
wars reached at m carly stage, and put out be-
fore they had time to assume proportions. The
largest fire occurred III 1859 If recollect the
right year,, on tho West Side, sweeping from
Lake to Carroll, and from Clinton to Desplaines
streets, among the lnmber-yards. anu quite q
number OF frame and brick buildings. It VAS,
however. Soon conquered.
Other large fires occurred On Luke street corner
OF Franklin, Oh the corner Of Wabash AND Mich
igan avenues and near Clark street. They wero
exclusively among tho better class OF structures,
not among the rookeries. Tho most dangerous
fire occurred lin 1oG3, belieye,) on Fulton
street. consuming s. I. Russell'B mammoth plan
ing-mill and basEet-tactory. t: :anae structure
l II.
tindcr-box ever constructed, q threatening men,
are to tho best interests OF cur rising c,.y But
the fire WIS carly discovered, and confined to it's
own block.
| Fow let Us inquire why this state Of corapa1a-
tive security existed. Tic solution is in tho fact
that there WAS day aud night-watch upon the
! tower OF the old Cou1t-House, erected in 1851.
| Until shout Ei1 years back from the present
| time our City Fathers had littlo to do with
politics, and majority were bcnt upon
| the pnbiic good. Tho watch couscquetlv
WAS efficient one, though not organized
on military basis. But when corruptionB be-
| gan to grow rank in our Council; when the CITY
had extended beyond tho coutroi of apv ono
watchman to be ever SO faithful aud when this
watchlnan too had grown careless, the mcmor-
able fires of the 6th aud 9th of October were not
early reported and tho fato Of our city WAS |
sealed. The Fro Department. was found unable |
to grapple with fires that had assumed propor-
tions among rookcrlcs under the auspices Of a
keen wind. The late fires have proven, if they (
la7e done anything. that the fate of dostruc-
ton hangs over Chicago like the sword of Dam
ccles until we make up our minds that the c,ty
must be strictly. carefully, and promptly watched
t'ay aud night, and every fire reported upon its
first outbreak. The firemen in the engne-houses
Laye ever been found 70 be on the alert and full |
Of alncrity. They will cxtinguish every tire il
promptly notified.
Lave cuuclusively shown in nv letter Of the
22d Of tas month, published in The TRIBUNE.
that the cause Of the confagration Was nothing
|
between the outbreak OF the fire aud the giving
OF the signal, aud that the delay Was caused by
iguo1t1.ce and indifference of tho people as to
operating the alarm-bo1, and by the nonexist-
euce OF any watch. in regard to the late fire |
On State street, have to note the fact that /
he fire Was first seen By q man lodging in q (
building opposite. Awakins, he noticed glare .
through the window, md rising he saw the flames ]
bursting frem the doomed building. There is :
hardly any doubt that an efficient watch would
have noticed tue fire half an hour sooner, and 4
hat in such an event the lower stories might !
1ave readily bteE saved b
TIE Fire aa5ssl informs 1 mo that he keeps
ne-houses- But this wat:h is, aud must be, o
nefdcient, for throe palpable reasoas: n
Firs.-The towers ARE not elevated enough to o
ford good chance. Ii
Sscond-Tls watch is not on m efficient basis | 81
1lhtary seEtincls are put on duty for but two n
onsecutiye hours Experience has amply f.
royen that mans nerve is sufficiently worn
y Two hours accute attention and that ci,arr-
IL him with anv moro is detr,mental to tLa
diciency Of the watch r
Third-TLere il no certainty that tbe watch il I
ct in,r1s:cd to an AtiermaI's pto.esc. VINO.
,r political reasoas must be fod at the pal,i: ! I'll
i'd. i,
All these different facts in this matter nrora To cf
10 conciusiveiy that We must az a MISTER of -
If -preservat,on, Immediately and without loss ~
time, es.ablEh an ei;cien: watch This NAV III
o done By the erection of two brick towers IN
lie largo chimneya) OF sufficient height (say re
20 fect) one At the foot of WasI,ia .oa stree ye
mother ut the foot Of Tweuty. uccpud streer' oc
it'll military guard Of five men to each II
Is per week are given a. salary. tle hest ma
riale, such as engineers, drausLtsn,en, and ine
ren,ost mechanics. wouid readily be- obta,ucl
ut these TOW ern csnnut be L,,,lt G7 tie city nor
10 men selected Nv tha an,hor;tias Raj +ana 4s
III hiuder the begir1,irr. and 1oafer1om VII
ean into ti,e crsr,s TE''. w".ci, ca, o,,,r IVA
after of private enterprise, And since Il ia in CO
; honest estimation. Of such vital Importance Ct
tue pest interest OF our city, appeal 10 the pa
~, w. snH1ord ~ 5onu.o9 ~ ~: c4'.1ehs 10 mi
trv snrn NJ s55 mn syh;ch ,,,,1J o,,t,;aa! ~ rel
ect the towers and pay the guard for one ycor ta!
10 subscribers may form an association. and. Co
committee, determine the Dartlcnlars Of tho III,
terprise, This watch onca pronerlv eatah .
he'd hare no doubt world positire1v d,a. ~
var every fire at i.s startinr-nnint and 4ha at
.rt firenen, promptly notitiea. would in ali the
1o - ~ a;+,o.;,,, a.. III.