, 1874-12-06

HreSS street 0nd lWenty-nlnth.
| ="-@.-.-~---@
CHICAGo's DANGER FROM FIRE.
| Mr.. Francis jackson, who has been q resi-.
! dent Of Chicago for thirty years, aud during
that time has been an acute observer Of fires,
has just issued pamphlet for private oircu.
lation, in which he reviews the peculiar dan.
gers of this city, and criticises Gen. Shaler's
method of meeting them. It should be stat
! ed that Mr.. Jackson is large property own,
| er in Chicago, and cannot therefore bo justly
regarded as an alar1nist. He sets out with
| the statement that the same causes
| which have contributed to the mar
| velous growth Of Chicago have also
contributed pari pasu to its danger
from fire. Among these may be emu
merated the level site, cheap pine lumber,
high winds, and heterogeneous population.
To these might he added an. implicit fifth in
the glorious destiny Of Chicago, which, be-
ing deeply imbued in the hearts of all its
citizens, has been the occasion Of the general
ignorance of danger. Supreme confidence
has engendered supreme indifference. The
result is that, after tho awful experience OF
Oct. 9, 1871, and the great fire of July 1C,
1874, the same causes exist today as exist
ed prior to these trials, and there is
the same apathy among the people
as to the impending danger. We persistently
Close our eyes to the fact that we are as likely
to burn now as We we're in 1871, or last sum-
mer.
A1r. Jackson's objections to tho present
policy for overcoming the danger are prac-
tically the same rs those urged by THE Tk1n-
uSE in commenting on Gen. Shaler's recon-
mendations, viz: ~ We are putting too
much confidence in the sovereign power of the
man, and (2) that man (Gen. Shaler] wants
to spend money above ground when it ought
rather to be spent below ground Mr.. Jack
son goes into practical details in regard to
our water-service. Unlike most cities, we
do not depend upon elevated reservoirs and
the force OF gravitation for our supply. We
have al inexhaustible reservoir, but it is
practically on level, and the water must be
distributed by force-pumps. Mr.; Jackson
contends, in the first place, that the main
pumps should be located in the geographical
centre of the city, which he locates about the
corner Of Polk street and the South Branch.
If the principal works were here, we would
have, along with those now at Chicago
avenue and those in progress at Ashland
avenue, three sets Of pumps about
two miles apart. Add second crib
and tunnel off Thirty-frst street, and con-
struct auxiliary pumps about the neighbor-
hood OF Michigan avenue and Twenty ninth
street, and another set at Clybourne bridge,
and Mr.. jackson believes we would have
every arrangement necessary to secure a
proper pressure at all points in the city. He
believes that standard pressure of 80 pounds
to the square inch ought to. be maintained in
all parts of the city, and very reasonably
wonders that there has never been
systematic test to ascertain whether the
standard Of pressure and supply is
sustained at any given point. Mr.
Jackson holds that, with minimum
pressure of so pounds per square inch,
Chicago would need no more fre-engines;
and that hose carts, by attaching the hose
directly to the plug, would then do more GER
vice in extinguishing incipient fires than en-
gines do now, since they would reach the
spot sooner and get to work Immediately.
Hose at houses, stores, or in the neighbor-
hood, could likewise DO rendered serviceable
even before an nlnrm could be sounded. A1r.
Jackson criticises the insurance authorities
for recommending 8-inch pipes, and be-
Geves that there should be no pipes smaller
than II inches on any considerable street.
Certainly economy suggests this p1an, as
the largo pipes cost no more for the laying,
and, if properly nnde, will do service for
many generations. Finally, in regard to the
cost of the thorough system Of water-service
which h1r. jackson advocates: He believes
that the cost of moving the main pumps
would be saved within nine years after the
removal by the use Of soft coal, which is now
virtually prohibited by the residence sur
roundings of the present works, and by dis
pensing with carriage, as the fuel could be de-
irered by boats on the spot. The addi-
tiona1 cost Of the large mains, and that
Of the other accessories included in the pro-
posed system, must look for compensation in
the saving from losses by fire. The furnish
ing Of water in itself is a profitable business,
since tue cost of fuel for pumping purposes
is only cent for every 1908 gallons, while
the metre rate charged is cent for every 100
gallons.
AIr. Jac1zson's pamphlet, as the work of 8
man who hos practically investigated the OBJ
ject Of which he writes, is worthy of attention
from the officials in charge of our Pub
lie Works and Fire Departments, and also
Of all who are interested in the safety of the
city. We do not see our way clear to the |
provision Of the gigantic Improvements
which he recommends, under the present
enormous rate of taxation aud the constitu-
tional prohibition of an increase III our debt
But we are confident that Mr.. Jackson is on
the right track. Whatever money is to be
expended in the future to provide against
the danger of fire. let it be in the way of pre-
vention. Let us have an extension and im-
provetnent of our water service before we Buy
any more water-e1hausting machinery. Let
us have standard supply and pressure as
soon as possible. Let us have ordinances
!: