New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-11-21
THE LONDON FIRE.

" The most obvious lesson of the London fire
n the usefulness of broad streets and open
squares IN great city. The WORK when mas
been going on all over Europe for the substltu-
tion OF spacious avenues for the crooked, mar
row WAYS Of the Middle Ages, which has trans
formed some old cities almost beyond recogni-
ton. may have its evil side from the point OF
view Of sentiment and aesthetics. But 1t VIII
certainly commend itself to the fireman. The
quarter of London which was burned is mass
of blind alleys and narrow lanes in which
traffic at all times is difficult, and when fire
started IL was apparently impossible Tor en-
gnes and hose carts 10 make way rapidly
through the congestion Of carts and thread the
winding passages in time 10 do effective WORK
before the confagraton had reached dangerous
proportions. And when the hope of subdung
the flames was past and efforts were directed
to continuing them within narrow limits, the
ease with which the Are could leap from build
Ing 10 building across the narrow streets was
a second great obstacle to the fremen. 1t was
only when the fire had burned TO the neighbor-
hood of more open spaces that it was brought
under control
There Is probably much exaggeration about
the magnitude of the loss. II does not compare
with that of the great fires Of Boston and Chi
III i
10 be as great as that of the London fire Of
1857. The burned district is not one Of ware
houses of the highest grade, but was given up
to storage of the cheaper grade Of goods and
10 manufacturing. So extensive fire natural
ly created something Of scare about insur-
ance companies. without any real knowledge
ss to what they had suffered, but 1t is likely
that when losses are adjusted the companies
la sbuyyinV than
who were afraid of their shares apprehended.
The London disaster naturally suggests in
ouiry as TO the immunity Of New-York from a
similar visitation. In general European build
ings are more substantial than ours. The aver
age American warehouse would probably burn
up in less time if left 10 itself than Its English
mate But against that danger Is to be set our
methods of getting to fire quickly, which are SUI
perior to those of London and the greater street
space common here. The only parts of the city
comparable to old London are the narrow down
town streets There the fireproof structure Is
becoming common, and for the other buildings
regulations are enforced more strict in character
than in the city of London, where this fire was
which is not under the jurisdiction of the Lon
don County Council with its more advanced
ideas The fireproof structure would go down
before any general confagration. but it certain
IL Is safeguard against fires started within it.
SELF and Ia a barrier almost as good rs an open
space 10 the spread. Of flames. Every new
building in our crowded downtown region Is
an additional insurance to the city. Ii may e
down itself a victim to fire in some more com
bustible neighbor. but 1t makes the confinement
of fire to a narrow area easier. The danger OF
fire in great city Is ever menacing, but ex
perience shows that with improved building
methods and improved fire apparatus the chance
of the destruction Of whole city becomes more
and more remote. Such q disaster as came I,
London In the reign of Charles ii would hardl!
be possible to-day.