Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1876-12-16
AN Epidemic OF 3 s

Fires, like steamboat accidents, explo'
sions, burglaries, railroad disasters and
many other things, seem to sweep over
the country at times like an epidemic.
There may be, aud doubtless are, general
causes for these condolences in the con-
dition o fthe elements, as heat, cold, dry
ness, rain, wind, humidity OF the air,
etc. We leave scientists to discuss and
explain these while We utilize the pres
emit occasion to make q practical sugges-
ton or two. Yesterdays LEDGEs con-
tanned accounts of no less than three
disastrous fires in the South-one at
Little Rock, involving a loss OF about
$3.50 900; one at Bolivar in this State,
loss S2OO,0 600; and two in South
Carolina. In each case it was sup
posed to be the work of an incend;ary'
We hope otherwise, for if the public had
reason to suspect that there IVES any
concert Of action in the dreadful work 1t
would create a painful state Of anxiety.
1t is more likely thst the extreme dry
ness of the weather for some time past
rendered such accidents almost unavoid-
able. There has been no rain here, ex-
cent one light shower, for about a month.
Nearly all the time a dry, parching wind
has prevailed. Very few o! our citizens
remember to have ever seen a long spell
of dry weather at this time Of the year.
The private c%isterns have all gone dry or
are very low. The city is % dry as tinder
and in csse of a FIRE some windy night
in a closely-5uilt ncighborhood it would
burn like shavings. Memphis has been
very fortunate. We have a highly eff.
Gent 6re department, and have had no
great ires in mspy years; in fact, never
had any general, sweeping fires, destroy
ing whole squares At a time, as In SC
many other cities. Thig is owing, in a
great degree, to the discipline and organ.
ization OF the FIRE department. Yet there
is one serious defect in the system which
a strong public sentiment should remedy
aud that is the wsut Of a FIRE alarm. The
city is spread over q large area OF terri
tory on both sides Of Bayou Gayoso
The cngine-heuses are located with {
view to the protection Of the business
portion Of the city, not far from NAH
street. Tie suburbs bavs but little pro
lection. In case Of q FIRE in daytime il
Chelsea, Scotland, Southeast Memphis OIL
Fort Pickering the alarm could not b.
conveyed to the nearest eugine-hous'
before the ordinary frame house voulC
be enveloped ia the flames. The eau
ton and ~preeautiOn Of owners aud ten
ants Of property has much to do Will
sverting 6res, but the corporation cen
not presune too much on individual r.
sight and vigilance. The importalc o
q 6.e alarm canaOt be oyerastimsici A
Ere 10 one night might destroy FLY or
hundred times the cost Of such an apps
ratns. But s. We have it cot. and fire.
are liable at any moment, the peopl'
should exercise unusual caution. To-
frs ct Little Rock should b. a warning
The heart Of the business portion Of thI
city vas burned out, and the wind dyinI
out was all that saved the city. In cas-
of a Ere when every roof and wall is dr.
as a box Of matches, we cannot e~slculst
that the wind would fall for WI specia
benefit. The extreme compatibility {
houses should pat the people on the
guard. A defective iue, q amolierin
spark in an ash.box, or the slightsI
carelessness might destroy q who
n~aiqhhnrhood in nm hour