Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1878-04-20

ture; w. a. settle, 10. Nj. Young
and Conroy, all family groceries;
Office of Tobacco Leaf; NJ. Sullivan,
grocery; Charles Lehman, saloon;
Bucks barber shop, WELLS eonfee-
tionery, Estis' gun shop, w. E.
Hendricks, y. N. Neblett, grocers;
II. p. Burke, agr'l implements.
Franklin Bank; Bailey & Dabney,
family grocery; w. ]. McCormac,
photograph gallery; J. F. Warfeld,
drugs.
The more important records and
papers that were in the Court House
and Chancery office aresaved. Most
of the buildings were covered,
though inadequately with insusance.
The aggregate loss to our citizens
cannot yet be estimated but it
must be immense, not only from
the property consumed but through
the loss of business, since with
most of them it occures at a time of
year when a suspension carries with
it nearly the years operations.
Strong suspicious of incendiarism
are afioat, but the matter is under
investigation and we say nothing
more at present. as
Our neighbor of the Tobacco Leaf
saved their books and papers
and a small portion of their
material. Their loss is covered with
an insurance of So, 200 and tits hoped
they will soon be able to resume in
full. Their press work will be done
for the present in this. Office. We
tender them our warmest sympathy
and our aid in every way which
may be found practicable.
The senior editor of this paper had
his private apartments in the Alwell
block and was in momentary ex-
expectation of losing everything he
had, including his valuable library /;
but thirteen inch wall, withoutan
opening, saved him, and not only
him but the whole of the west side
of the business part of town. This
brings to us very serious question,
the fire proof walls of the Alwell
and Hilman blocks saved what is
left of the city. Some years ago we
repealed some excellent laws for
bidding frame buildings within GER
tain limits of the city. Had these
laws been in force and had all our
business houses been built with fire
proof walls, as they should be, not
one tenth of the calamity we are
suffering from would have fallen
upon us. The present is our OppOr-
tunity for making laws for the
future. Several squares have shortly
to be rebuilt, and, before operations
are commenced, we ought to re-
enact our safety building laws, so
as to render such another calamity
impossible.
Our Fire Engine broke down
at an early stage of the disaster and
Geographic dispatches were sent by
Mayor LigOn to Nashville So
Letting aid. The appeal was
nObly responded to, and by 3
A. NJ. splendid engine (the VIM.
Stockell, No. A., escorted by gal
liant and well trained company, ar
rived by train from that city. 1t
was too late to save the city, though
they did good service in arresting
further danger by playing upon the
burning embers. They have earned
the lasting gratitude of our people.
NOTES.
1t is thought that the number of
hogsheads of tobacco lost will reach
400.
Mr.. ID. n. Kennedy estimates the
total insurance loss at 5000, 900; the
total loss of property, insured and
uninsured, at about $350,0OO.
Kineannon, Wood & Co., lost very
heavily, but we learn they will re-
sumo as soon as they can procure a
suitable house.
Many thanks are due to the young
men of the city for the noble and
persistent efforts which they made
to save property. They did their
work well.
The Gracey Warehouse will atonce
proceed to erect a temporary frame
building for the reception of tobac-
co, to be replaced by substantial
brick at an early day.
DIR. McCauley, whose drug store
was the next building to suffer if
Alwell's block had taken fire, lost
nothing except one of his fine plate
glass windows, which was shattered
by the explosion of key of powder
next door.
The Franklin Bank saved every
thing except their Office fixtures.
They have arranged to continue
their business in Il house on the west
side of the public square, in the
neighborhood of the other banks.
Their business will not be inter-
rupted for more than day or two.
YooIornyIN Tho