St. Paul daily globe., 1894-02-26
FIRES THE FAIR.

Chicago and the country at large will
breathe more freely when the last of the
worlds fair buildings shall have bee n
destroyed. 1t would, perhaps, be best
if The city should undertake their de-
struction as speedily as possible. for
they have become: a perpetual menace
to surrounding property and to the lives
of the firemen.
On Saturday, for the sixth time since
the close Of the fair. a fire broke out in
one of the buildingS-the agricultural
and it was almost completely destroyed.
Fortunately there was no loss of life, as
on previous occasions, but the building,
which cost nearly million dollars, was
completely ruined. Many works of art
of great value which adorned the pulld
ing were destroyed, and for that reason
the loss cannot be estimated in dollars.
That the numerous fires in the fair
buildings are of incendiary origin does
not admit OF doubt. The impression
is given out by the fair directors and a
majority of the local papers that tramps
who infest the buildings are guilty of
the acts OF vandalism. This may be
correct, but there is room for suspicion
that other parties may be the real GRIM
inaIS. 1t is no secret that the fair di-
rectors are anxious to get rid of the
buildings by fair means Or foul. They
are under bonds to remove them from
Jackson park before the 1st day of July.
They have been unable to sell them, for
there is little of the material used in
their construction that could be utilized
III other structures. The cost of tear
ing them down would amount to hun
dreds OF thousands of dollars, and to
pay this there would be only thu
value of the old iron. A fire will de-
stroy a building more speedily and more
completely than thousand laborers
could do the work. and that which re-
manned would be as valuable as it was
before. A fire costs nothing, while the
laborers would have TO be paid. 1t is
hot unreasonable to suppose, therefore.
that the fair directors are glad when a
fire occurs, for it saves them consider
able outlay. Of course no one suspects
that they connive at the incendiarism.
They are honorable gentlemen, above
such suspicion. Nevertheless there is
nothing to hinder their rejoiciag when a
fire occurs, and every one knows they
rejoice heartily on such occasions,
though in secret.
But this plan of getting rid of the
buildings is open to serious objections.
1t costs the city considerable for the
service of the fire department., and it
res ults in the destruction of much ma
terial that would be useful TO the peo-
| pie in a variety ofwayS. . A far better
| plan would have been to issue permis-
sion to the public to carry away what
ever parts of the buildings they might
wish to possess. Relic hunters would
have carted off many fragments; those
in need of fuel would have carried
away everything that could burn: Junk
dealers would have gobbled all the
scrap iron, tin, glass and other portable
material. and all that would remain
would be the portion of real value to
tine exposition directors-the iron giId-
erS, beams and arches and these
would be in better form for removal
than they will be after fire has accom-
plished its full work.
1t will be miracle if a great calamity
| does not ensue from these oft-recurrng
fires. The fiIemen will be wise If they
keep out OF danger. Their lives are too
valuable to be haZarded in the attempt
| to save that which is of no apparent
value, and which the owners are ap-
parently SO anxious to get rid of. 1t is
to be hoped that the next fire at the fair
| grounds-it will not. probably, be long
delayed-wlll wipe the buildings COM
| pietely from existence. and that the
fremen will not interfere to prevent the
| destruction. By such an occurrence the
public will be relieved of perpetual
| nightmare, and the exposition directors
! will have their wishes gratified.