New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-10-19
THE MICHIGAN FIRE.
EXTENT OF THE CALAMITY.

The Loss ESTIMATED N FlGUEEs-NoBLE ENER-
Tons FOR THE RELIEF OF sCFFERERs-FUR-
Their AID GREATLY NEEDED.
pHog ~ OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT P THE IRihONE
Pour Hrgox. Mrh. Oct. 1I.-Much disapDoint-
ment ~ tet IN this vicinity at the comparatively
small results winch have followed the appeal Tor
the relief ga the sufferers in the burned district near
here Few persons have any adsluate idea OF me
extent of the disaster. Tho burned dssIict exeu'is
into the counties of Huron, Sanilac. MHnislee'
Ottawa and Alcgan 1t Is rntlHated that about
1 200 square miles were burned over. careful
canvas, by the relief commit tees shows that LIZ
dwellings ~ school houses, churches 1870 stores,
~ hotels ~ grist and saw mills and 20 docks were
bnrncd The los Is estimated ut 92,3l6,il3, Win
an insurance OF $G2s G32. leaving dead loss OK
~ .7227sl.
4 ride over the burned dIstrc shows that the fire
in most instances did IT'S work so eiefually as TO
leave nothing but the bare ground. Where were
ayurishng taruis nothing remains but blaekened
waste Houses barns. orchards fences ami even The
| r,cl.,rcd forest nave been swept away. No one
VINO ba, not witnessed the scene can form any ad-
uuatc irg at the utter destruction when mas httn
rau.,l nv this ire The wci!-tO-tlO those WHO con
silrred themselves independent OF any possible
calamity, are in most instances as BABY on n IN
new .comcrs who hal nothing hut log cabins auu
snail clearing, Both are on the same lever now
Ina the great malUrit. OF cases the owners al lafis
T,d mo- insurance uu their property Ia Tins respect
nr owners of village properly. mills etc. nave
decided advantage. BHt TIE one tact remains mat
There 1, great aud pressing necl LOT heP loF the
inhabitants Of THIS hrr-swrpt region.
I'm most of thi, region the forest WIS composed oi
pine and underbrnsil TIE natter hl'it esiV''iS ~
line ,wumpy parts over ths Phe region tue names
,i.cl ,ljn the utmost fury. iiundieds ot thou-
sands of acres have been swept almost rs lean az
tbouph Il forest had never grown There IN the
outrr edye. where "A hardwood growth pIedoini-
mated the destruction oi standing timber was not
qulte 80 comp lete But The niense heat M sh"he
a.. llsp ira a
wilderness Not a green tree, bnsh or Zeal Is To
be fOnnd anywhere. nj.
the sufferers. A. the extent o the calamity
- a. .crrtaInrl and the need for Immediate action
be,nu,e apuatent committees were formed ana tue
work of collecting money, PROVISIONS. 'I"lhlhg ana
aoi ,yLcat was brguu and prosecuted with yIgUr.
Port Huron, the nearest iarg- town 10 the burned
Ji. rict did noble work M supplying plOflsiOils ana
cotbug TO the destitute before response cuulu nc
receiver from more distant parts ol the ota'e
Other places did we'll. Romeo, thrlVlng village III
Oakland County, forty miles distant; mas sent
900 in cash besides provisions ana cloihlhB
T.cn tcwu,hp has It's committee among the
Ilrmers ana the latter have Contributed seed
wheat oats and corn according To their means ana
,urlnalon The wheat crop was much below lhe
average and corn IN many sections was mn aIh'S6
total faure because of the unprecedented dF0uth
vhrh preceded and WAS the cause 81 Che cpni!aBia-
INN NeyeItheles the farmers have responded
nobly To the calls made on lhein. Inc cities ahu
Villages haze all done well, ana The sum lolai oI
the contributions OF tie ctHens OF Michigan loiAs
no mean Sutr.
Nevertheless. the MAGNITUDE of the disaster is so
great aud 80 much ~ required % give the lnlab-
Innts OF the burned district start which VIII
abie them 10 become once moro oeil-suppOItng
flat Michigan appeals to the people of other States
In Ueip her IN Tins hour OF distress. NewIUrk CITY
has done grandiy rs size always does when "A call
for cnurity Tor II worthy object ~ made. Boston
and Philadelphia have also done well. but the total
omonut thus lar raised small when the extent
of tue distress To be aIievIated Is considered, that
those who are witnesses of what ls inpera lively
required beg a continuance of the good work.
There Is much dspp Oiutment felt at the want OF
tion shown by Chicago CINCINNATI ANA ST. Louis. IL
is deemed all the moro strange because Michigan was
one OF the foremost states IN supplying the wants
oi Chicago on tie Occas on OF the great lire of
ISL A gIeat deal oil her trade IL wltE Northern
Michigan, intending portion OF the burned GIs-
trlct and sci -uteIest alone should apparently
prompt the city winch prIdes Itself beng the
commercial metropolis OF the West To give IN pro-
potion It's means and demonstrate that 1t is not
uisery IA It's haste 10 become rich.
There was danger tUr time thai the committee
originally raised AT Port Huron intending Mayor
Carleton, [ DIted states Senator COhger and other
wril-knOwn and respected citizens aud the con-
mIttse appointed lOr tie en- State by Go ernur
jerome, would clash. The result would unquestiJn-
ably have been very unfortunate. fuls diiiiCuity
has now removed. The committees
working harnpnlOusly, aud tho pubic 40 large may
rest assured That Them donations VIII be we'll ap-
utiel-