, 1874-07-21

PROTECT TEE BUSINESS SECTION.
TO the Editor qf 3'he Chicago 7ri1ntat:
SIN; If "in the multitude Of counBolote
there is wisdou," Chicago haa no scason to COM
plain, aud Hnould be able to decide, wisely and
igall, what measures uro necessary and best
adaptel to secure the city, and especially tho
business aection, from widespread and doatruo-
tive tlres in tho future.
Whilo the wholesale destruction by lre Of tho
chcap wooden buildings forming the 1omea Ut
tho nrgest portion OF the population Of the city
would he o great calamity, it Ia bY no mehns tho
greatest calamity that could befall Chicago, 90
those houses could be rebuilt without materially
struot,on Of tie business section Of tho city by
fire. would bo a much greater ca1amsty, and Que
Which would be frAught with tho most terrible
consequences to all c1assos OF the community.
The objective point then H. o. shoNia %. tue
business section of tic CITY. Let this DO sur
rounded by certain reasonably extensive fire.
limits, extending north and south from Madison
Bt1eet, mud west from Clark street, inside OF
which mono but substantial brick, stone, OF IRON
buildings uhall bo erected, and from st,icll all
wooden and other dangerous bliialags ahnll be
removed in q certain specified tins. stgeets a0o
feet wido should form tho boundary line Ut such
iirc-imits and should DO opencd up M soon as
practicable, particularly south aud vest Of the
rebuilt aud buHincsa section. Tao complete
faolation Of tho brick section OF the CITY from
tho wooden HectionB In tho manner described,
geoIu6 tn mo tho only practical method when
promises to DO reasonably effective. This. with
tho reorganization and increase Of tho Firo Do
partmcnt and al enlarged water supply, would
put tho business section OF tho city iu a good
state Of defense ftom flre fron Without and In
crease the means OF BuccosstulIy resisting it in
tho wooden districts.
The extension Of the fre-liHiss to the llmfts
OF tho city seenH to NC who'll; nncallcd foT, aud
would bo productive Of no good roBu!tH. Bcsides,
there are so1ne fatal objections to this PROPOSE
ton. In tho first place. such M ordinance will
neither secure the city againHt tho rayages OF
fire. in the futurc, nor prevent their occurrence
LII the next place. such au ordinance will provo
iniuriouH to tue industrious working claaaca who
form 60 .arge pa,t OF our population, aud who
aro 10 vitality necessary to tho growth aud lnos-
pority Of the city. Furthermore, ns whole soc-
lions OF tho city nre built almost ontlscjy Of
wood, and Will. probably, largely ren'ain 10, it
aeous worse than folly to expect by prohibiting
! tho erection Of any .note wooleu Buildings, that
tl,sa will work, either rapidly or gtaauauy, the
extinction OF those nov exiatlnE. os that trick
houses will take tho paoo Of the wooden ones.
! Therefore, tho erection Ut wooleu buildings in
| remote sections Of the city. wheta this cass OF
buildings prevails, will not mako srch tocalIten
| any mora DANGEROUS tlan they arc bud will bo,
| aud should not bo prohibited. II. howover, III
tho boat ct tho present excited state Of tho pub
| Ic mind, such an ordinance is passod, 1t vii!
aurely bo repealed or remntu wholly imperative.
ALuINr allTcHELL.
CHICAGO, July 20. 1874.