, 1879-01-05

FAULTY construction OF the building, the ele-
Vator shaft carrying the flames almost in q
moment from the basement to the dome
partly by the immense quantity of wood in
the building; partly by the inha1nmable
mansard, which was for beyond the reach Of
the steamers; and partly by the intense
cold. which had its effect, though an almost
imperceptib1e one, upon the movements of
the hremen. It is impossible for men, even
those as well trained and so energetic as the
members Of the Chicago Fire Department, to
do the full and absolute measure of their work
when the thermometer is below zero, when
they are handling hose through which pours
a food of water which is almost at the freez-
ing point, and when the ground on which
they stand is covered with ice-co1d water to
the depth Of nearly foot. It is doubtful
whether others could have done as we'll as
they did, could have shown the endurance,
the promptness, and the earnestness which
they, under the orders Of Marshal Benner,
displayed yesterday afternooa.
AS will beseen further along in the report,
arrangements had been made for securing
headquarters for the Post-Ofico and the
Alton Railroad, and similar arrangements
will speedily be made for the army head
quarters The beneficial effect of the fire
will probably be to expedite Congress 70 in
duce it to grant so 1arge an appropriation
that the Government Building, now nearing
completion, may be fitted up for occupancy
by the Post Office Department, at least by
1ofa 1o
that this will be done. For eight
years now, the third largest Post Office
IN the country has been living in hired build
ings and has thrice been burned out. It
will never do to expose the valuable property
Of the Government to another such hazard. -
never do to put the citizens Of this great
city to renewal Of the Inconvenience they
have suffered. Congress reassembles this
week, and the first thing that the Chicago
congressman should do is to cal1 up the Ap-
preparation bill, which covers the Govern
ment Building, and see that it is pushed |
through.
It is difficult at this moment to estimate |
the exact loss, because it cannot be told
until to-day how much tho outer walls have !
been injured and precisely how far the in !
terror Of the building has been destroyed.
The original cost Of the building was $780,
600, loaned to Honore by the Connecticut !
Mutual, about $15o 900 more which he sue
cecded in raising from various quarters, !
or consisting in land which he
traded to the contractors, and $4,000 |
in the renovation by the Connecti- /
cut Mutual after it came into its hands. I;
There was also, probably, $50, 1000 worth Of
in the old building. So far as can
be ascertained, however, the damage by the |
present fire is limited to the upper floors,
and it seems as if $4,000 at tie outside |
ought to make good the loss. This, how
ever, is conjectural estimate, subject to a
closer inspection today: There is good in
surance to the extent of 100000. Tho
losses of the occupants-the Post Office De-:
partment, the Chicago 6 Alton Railroad,
Army: Headquarters, law firms, etc--win, !
not exceed S45, 600, and thismay be reduced
in case the valuable law libraries come out in
anything like decent condition. -.
The account Of the fire, as furnished by
the reporters Of The TRIBUNE, who were
Early upon the spot, is given below. /