Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1886-06-03
THE FIRE LIMITS.

10 NE ctIt6r Of the -1irrdhdrm Gd-cHP:
Your editorial in last Fridays issue with refer
cncc to the continued application for and the
granting of permission to erect wooden buildings
within the fire limits, gives me long.dcsircd OPP
portunity to express my opinion in the matter
and to give some historical points connected with
the subject, not only for the information of tho
City Council, but also for those of our citizens
who havo not reflected as to the giving of their
consent to parties who seem to have no considcra-
ton for their own and for others safety for the
erection of wooden buildings.
The writer was threo years before the war 4
member of the City Council. For somo time pre-.
vious tho frequent destruction of wooden build
ings By fire caused great deal Of alarm and anx
icty. The attention of the authorities was d.
rected to tho subject, and the writer was ono of
tho projectors of the present ordinance and offer
ed il in the Council and it was passed almost
unanimously by both boards; and it was express
" understood that it its provisions were not to
be violated under any circumstances whatever,
and they wcro not until the close of the war,
when permission was granted to erect massive
wooden structure on the Sarcpa Hall lot for the
atrical purposes and for stores. In January 1866,
ono night while furious northwest gallo was
blowing, the building was destroyed by fire, which
threatened tho destruction of the southern section
of the city, put the writer, from exposure in en-
deavoring to save his property, upon sick bed,
and caused tho death of Miss Shirley, of Royal
street, from fright. 1t will also be remembered
tho great alarm caused by the destruction Of the
largo wooden addition made to the Marshall
House by fire occurring some years latcr.
Now tho question before us is this: At what
point can this discrimination cease? Can the City
Council grant with any face to one, what they
may rcfuse to another under similar circum-
stances? A case in point: Mr. H., of Prince street,
applies for permission to set aside tho law, grant
ed; Mr. S., his ncighbor, applies at once for the
same privilege Can the City Council do other
wise than grant like infraction of the ordinance.
And remember that this piling up Of wood is
right in the heart of the city. If this thing is to
go on indefinitely best cXpungc tho law from the
code.
But, it may be said, we have the best Fire De-
partment on the planet and an abundance of
water. Just so. think if VIC stop to reflect that
these engines are very often out Of repair, some
times drought occurs, the time will come.
aud it may be in the near future, when the mass
of wooden buildings in the Bird ward during one Of
our northwest gales may take FL at midnight and
then 1t is more than likely, and the owners and
occupieIs of the best property in that vicinity
will rather seek to extend the fire limits, than to
curtail them.
And there is the insurance question involved in
the matter Is it to be expected thai We who pay
insurance shall be made to pay higher premium
rates because the City Council sees fit to permit
the law to go in this way, by default: The thing
will surely come. Our protection for many years
that we have had from heavy rates arose from
the fact that no moro wooden buildings should or
could be erected OBSERVER