, 1874-07-19
The FIRE.
Grand Mass-Meeting at Me-
Cormick's Hall Yes
+. terday Evening.
The Leading Citizens Of
Chicago Turn Out
in a Body.
They Adopt a Resolution Ravoring
tile Pulling Down Of Tile.
gally.Erected Wood
en Buildings.
They Want the Fire Limits
Extended---The Council
to Be Waited
Upon.
Speeches by 11essrs. Coolbaugh,
Bross, Hesing, Hayes, and
Others.
Meeting Of the Special Committee Of
the Council.
They viii Report in Favor Of Extending
the fire-Limits.
Trial of Isaacson, the Alleged
Incendiary.
Relief and Aid---The Work Of Rebuild
ing.
Meeting Of the Special Committee Of
the Council.
They viii Report in Favor Of Extending
the fire-Limits.
Trin1 of Isaacson, the Alleged
Incendiary.
Relief and Aid---Tho Work Of Rebuild
ing.


The unpleasant experience Of the recent con-
hagration haa alarmed our citizens to an unusual
degree, which iB, Of itself, healthy aign OF the
times. because alnrm generally precedes reforma-
ton. Minor considerations we're fast gaining
the ascendency in the councils OF Chicago. un-
till the partial disaster OF Tuesday night came
with awful suddenness upon the community.
After such = risk as was then run, 1t would be
worse than madnees to allow the city to remain
longer menaced By = condition Of things that
might cali for the withdrawal of three-fourths
Of the enterprise from our midst and the invest
ment OF capital in some place less likely to serve
a. bonfire at the pleasure Of wind and
flames.
The alarm has spread to all cl1-ses Of tho
community, and there appears to be an earnest
desire on the part Of almost every citizen to
avert, or, at least, to lessen, further dangar.
While our southern and western sections pre-
sent, fer the most part, congregation OF fire
material unsurpassed in all the world, no one
can expect that people who have stake in the
prosperity Of Chicago can feel secure. The very
men who OVID wooden ehautlcs, and whose homes
arp threatened By the new spirit OF reform, feel
that tue city authorities and the citizens in gen.
eral are justified in adopting measures that will
restore confidence to our capitalists and busi-
ness-1nen. The public voice is, undoubtedly,
unanimously raised against tho further tolera-
ton Of wooden shantics in the heart Of our busi-
ness section and the demolition Of the fre-trnp
block which extends ali around tho square op-
posito to that on which the present City-Hal
stands is foregone conclusion. This will carly
With it the razing OF eTery other structure
within the burnt district" Of 1871 that might
serve again to imperil that portion OF the city.
There are less than fifty wooden houses
within the city limits OF st. Louis and the
proportion OF frame houses in Cincin-
natl, Louisville, and other large places
il very small when compared With
ourB. Chicago, with the exception
Of some Of the frst-class residence thorough
fares and the rebuilt district, is city Of wood,
existing mora by good fortune than by any posi-
tive security which she possesses against disas-
ter This feeling, working in the minds OF our
citizens, led to the call for tho great mass~meet-
ing at McCormick's Hall last evening, and that
feeling, it is to be sincerely hoped, will not flag
or fail until Chicago is placed on basis Of &C.
curity unsurpassed by any other city in the
United States.
The unpleasant fact may as well be honestly
looked in the face now as at any other time that
this city, as at present constituted, in an archi
tectu1Al sense, does not present confident
front to tho world. It feels gingerbread and
pasteboArd like. It feels that its foundations
arc sapped, and that it is surrounded by an
enemy that may at any moment break loose, and
give it's faireat portions to the torch In Tact,
Chicago, menaced as she is. conscious OF d dis
eased condition, cannot uphold her dignity. To-
day she wears the robes OF Queen-to-morrow
sho Btteth at the worlds gates, covered with tho
! rags Of baggar and the ashes OF scourged
+Hros, hora nun rF1fo m fa-
lossness in negectlng to project herself while yet
she could.
It is by no means cheerful task to a11ude to
matters that suggest mendicancy. When last
Chicago was forced to accept the aims OF the
world, 9he felt no blush Of Shame, because her
calamity wss without precedent, and her loss had
never been e1celled. Besides she had not then
the terrible experience which has since been
hers; but how will any citizen Of Chicago feel If
again, through lack OF good government and
sound prevention, the Int is to be handed around
for u among the Christian and the heather Of
every land beneath the sun? Yet such is the
abyss upon the brink OF which we retire to sleep
each night. and it is to place guard upon that
gulf that the meeting Of interested citizens was
| convened in McCormick's Hall last night.
At THE HALL
Owing no doubt to the very warm atmosphere,
! and to the natural disinclinadon Of most people
tbree hours Of midsummer night, the citizens
we're not very quick at gathering in MoCormlck's
Hall Inst evening. The street and sidswalks in
front Of the building contained interested groups
busily engaged in discussing the objects OF the
convention. and patiently awaiting tho arrival
Of the speakers who promised to enlghtea
the public on the very best mode OF
saving the city from utter annihilat1on
1t about o'clock appearances began to be
mnch better, and the lower hall was pretty fair
ly garrsoned. Among
THE PROMINENT PERSONS
| nresent were observed L. c. Hesfng, 8. Hays,
franklin Macveagh, Gen J. D. Webster, @ Co!'
lanes II, Bowen, John C. Hainea, e1-Ald. GIL,
Ald. Cleveland, L. D. TttswoEth, Charles Ram
dolph, Henry Pilgrim. George H. kimbark,
Hammond, John C. Ri:hbeEE, AID. Pickering: Red
+ Rayner: B. J. Smith, I. J. Lewis, Frank Ag-
new. i. 4. BIaclaH. AID. Coey: AID. Campbell,
Simeon ". King, Harvey Y. Tho,npson. Col