, 1874-08-02
CCRRESPONDErCE,

REMOVING WOODEN BrrLp1SGs.
.,a> E1,tor Of The Chicago Tribune:
Ga. noiced in your issno Of july so that
Il. ,7oposei amendment to the fre-ordnance in
~-..,1 to the removal Of wooden buildings,
:. e1pected to be brought up before the
c,ncril Monday night. This, il passed
IN he vorse than fire to great many honest
~ .,1hsrd-working persons Of Chicago. Perhaps
-. fr,mers Of the proposed ordinance referred
...,a not aware how many have invested their
.n;n cottage or house where they can feel that
-. /, hooe OF their own, though standing on
rr..r,6 held far beyond their reach, hoping
s sna d.7 to purchase little 'di:t T" in the out
.,;ts at our great city On which to move their
"de,r" home.
", unfortunately those fond hopes are
.t,nt to ba blasted. Our "City Fathers
.,r.ra anxious to do something either good or
~ ,.e about to dishearten every ous from t1y-
-. IN get home without he may fortunately
~ ~. teeo born rich, or have an opportunity to
ddak from The public fountain f11 to get the where
sIb., 10 purchase Thousands have their
sa-fs upon leased ground, where they are
.h;ged to remain until their lease shall expire,
sh;eh NAV be longer or shorter timu and are
r1.,Ia 10 move their buildings until such time
k5,a cone.
xar what WISH TO point ouL ID LntE COMMUNE
..t;on il the folly OF such an ordinance; the in
;.st;ca that 1t would do to many Of our citizens.
~ The direct harm that would result. It would
- erpat folly to make law TINT would benefit
~ ona and iniu1e many. There iG not one man
~ tbou>.rd who sould buy a building that tie
Nv nrohbited from being moved of from his
Ind and It is therefore al open bid for lnceu-
d;.rihm, and many would aval4 themselves OF the
ooIrrneaus Of saving, perhaps, what might be
tba result OF q llfe's toll. viz: few dollars Of
ar,r,n7o, Il Is folly to keep building in tho
r,ntral paYt Of the city when the owner only
,sks 70 be allowed to move it away 1t the first
opportunity:
p,i,e man or woman Of all that honesty aud
t11sslty has earned for them LII years. OF Toll
mi honest labor.
1;i1 not rather better that We should encour-
.ee the removal Of all the wooden buildings We
"a according to the old ordinance. requiring
their removal from the centre out? l think so:
snd eventually, thousands OF buildings con-
styuc:ed Of wood now On leased ground would
take Horace Grealcy's advice. and "go west"
In ordinance prohibiting this will defeat the
bezt interests of the city, By surreuderipg into
the hands Of the mercenary land owners the
hard earned homes Of the poor dad, there to
remain perhars, contrary to the wish OF the
lessee, until time, fire, wind. or water shall de-
etruy it,
Unless some provisions are made for buildings
On leased ground at the time the lease shall ex-
pi-e, many OF Us will be bound by shacales that
mav yell make. Us eroan. That which seems to
ne to be this best plan to adopt is to pass an
ordinance somewhat as proposed, with the pro-
VISION tbat these owning buildings should have
tie privilege Of moving them at tho expiration
d their lease. provided thev move from the
cen:re ont, according to the present ordinance
s2ah seems 70 me that those desiring to build
substantial buildings, according to our city
ordnance, should have the same privilege. and
tben property worthy Of improvement would not
1f1as!1 idle until its more temporary buildings.
Rs'o 'estrored hv the elements. G. F. N.
{fc1c4Go Aug. ], 1874.