The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1904-02-18
Baltimore.

BaltlmOres calamity, by Wnlcn the
business vitalS Of great city were de-
stroyed in few hours, was one of those
demonstrations that the world occa-
sionally has Of mans impotency and
pFOperty's instability.
Protection from fire has been one Of
the studies of organized society since
cites were founded, and the modern
municipality spends more money in any
direction than in the perfecting and
maintenance Of its fire department.
And yet in fighting such q conAagration
as that at Baltimore the most efficient
fire department is as pOwerless as so
many children with squirt-guns.
What happened at Chicago in 1871
and at Baltimore last week is possible
In any city at any time. The solicit
ously guarded, carefully accumulated
property Of centuries vanishes in puff
Of smoke. The millions that were con-
sumed at Baltimore we're completely
destroyed, and the world is so much
poorer today than 1t was on the morn
ing Of the z. For Baltimore alone does
not suffer this loss. 1t falls upon the
whole country, in greater or less de-
gree.
But the chief burden, the immediate
suffering, the direct paralysis of busi-
ness, the deprivation Of employment
are, of course, Baltimore's, and this
splendid city has in her misfortune the
sympathy of all the land. If the need
should develop that this sympathy be
extended in practical form, we are sure
Kentucky stands ready to do her part
In loss OF property the disaster ranks
high among all that have occurred on
this continent, or any where else in re-
cent times. Though the estimates Of
property losses, hastily made, must
necessarily be subject to revision,
there is no room for doubling their
magnitude.
AS the losses were increased largely
by the burning of great business hous-
es and their contents, they may be pre-.
sumed to fall largely upon people able
to bear them, at least without being re-
duced to absolute want. But this view
is rather superficial. We must remem-
ber the number of small properties in
volved as we'll as the large ones, and
the thousands of all classes, including
the poorest, who must be thrown out o.
employment for some time to come
The disaster is one of national conse
quence, and should appeal to the whole
country for prompt measures for sup
plying the needed relief.
As the heavy losses were in business
districts where insurance is the rule
and the want of it the exception, the
insurance companies will necessarily
be hard hit. In a day an amount O
property was destroyed greater thar
the average fire loss for an entire yea
in the whole Of the United States. W.
do not have to wait for detailed reports
of the insurance to be sure that such I
loss will make O formidable showins
for the companies that will be affected
by it. If the risks have been assumed
with discretion the losses will not b,
ruinous to any strong company, bu
they are likely to make an ugly fgur'
on the wrong side Of many balanc
sheets.
The immediate duty, however, is t
ascertain the extent Of the need produc
ed by this mammoth disaster, and t
provide for adequate relief to those il
distress. 1t is not to be doubted tina
the country will, as in similar case
heretofore, make prompt and emphat
10 response to any appeal that ma
come. In cases of this sort he give
twice who gives speedily. Courier
Journal.