Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1874-07-15

the fire driving the men from their posi-
tons.
Much hose was destroyed by the fire,
A strong patrol of police are protect
ing the property in the vicinity of the
fire, knocking thieves right and left.
REVIEW OF TIE RUINS.
CHICAGO, July l5.-0ur citizens, on
reviewing the situation this morning,
congratulated themselves that they have
escaped the destruction of the most i'm
pertant business portion again, which at
one time appeared imminent. This
time the fire originated in the low frame
building used for storing rags, and adj
joined an oil factory that stood between
Fourth and Clark streets, on Taylor
street. The great fire of 1871 originated
in stable. In both cases the fire com
menced in the center of neighborhood
occupied by wooden buildings. There
was stiff southwest breeze, which was so
strong that by the time the flames had
consumed the small dwellings, stables,
carpenter shops and buildings filled
with oil, paper and rags, had reached
State street, where there were substan-
tisl business houses. They were like
the heat of furnace, and all consuming
in their power. Thus the conditions for
great confagration were not wanting.
Fortunately, after burning up nearly
twenty blocks and destroying the First
Baptist Church and two other church
buildings, the postpfice, Michigan
Avenue and St. James Hotels, the Inter
Oceanic and other elegant blocks erected
after the fire of 1871, and number of
fine residences, the flames were stayed
right at the very doors of the heaviest
business blocks and three or foHr of the
best hotels.
The Tribune says editorially: " Every
cool-headed observer of the fire must
have felt that we have paid light
penalty for allowing our magnificent
business center to be surrounded with
wooden rookeries. We have come off
cheap. The great gilded martyr around
which the faggots have been SO profusely
piled has not yet been burned to death.
Perhaps this small calamity will show
us how to save it; perhaps not. There
are now some sixty acres of burned ter
ritory between the faggots and the victim.
This gap may be the means of saving
what is left. If so, let US thank God.
The predestined fate of every wooden
building in large city is to be burned
some time. We have now offered up
about sixty acres of our combustible as a
sacrifice to the genius of free institutions
meaning thereby the freedom OF
every man to keep Undertook and an
oil factory where it suits him best.
Would that we could say this is the last
of such mad folly. 1t is not. Chicago
still has thousands upon thousands of
wooden shanties to feed future fires, and
20 down they will, all in good time.
The Times and Inter-Ocean also
speak in strong terms of the folly of al
lowing wooden buildings within the city
limits.
The following are the exact limits of
the fire, as examined this morning: The
fire burned small portion of Clark
street, where it originated; thence it took
Third and Fourth avenues, between Peck
court and Twelfth streets, and burned
them as far as Harrison street. State
street was burned from Harmore court
to Van Buren,; Wabash avenue from No
ASP. near the corner of Peck court, to
267, near the corner Of Van Buren,
Michigan avenue has burned from Har-
rison street to Van Buren,, short dis
lance. The business buildings burnt out
on the east side OF State street number
SO, on the west side SO; on the east side
of Wabash avenue 26, on the west side
"a; on Michigan avenue II; on the east
side Of Clark street, IA; north side Van
Buren, street 5, south side 6; north side
Polk street 8, south side A. north side
Harrison street IL, south side ID; south
side Twelfth street 10 and north side %.
The most prominent among the bust
ness losers are: St. James Hotel; VIM.
BodemanD, druggist Remington Empire
Sewing Machine Company; E. Reming-
ton & Sons, guns and pistols manufac-
tory; P. L. Smith & Co.. carriage manu-
facturers; Rupsmussen Bros, boots and
shoes; C. C. Charles, lamps and rehec-
tors; II. stade, carriages; A. W. Wheeler,
hardware; G. NJ. Cheney, sale stables;
Prussing Vinegar Works; Schwarer q
Huber, stoves, etc; B. E. Givandan 4
Trested; P. NJ. Plat, clothing; ?. ID.
Mayer, L. C. Chase & Co saddlers and
harness; A. Schreferstein & Bro, furni-
ture manufacturers; NJ. W. & F. Lester,
furnace, ranges, ETC.; Frost d Co.,
wholas.le liuuors; j. ID. Mclean, stovesi