危险在米ANUFACTURING ESTABLISHMENTS.

危险在米ANUFACTURING ESTABLISHMENTS.

Of all the dangerous things about a city none are more to be dreaded than the open wood spaces through which the refuse wood is sent from each story to the basement, to be consumed by the fire which is to furnish motive power for the manufactory. They are chimnies of wood with openings at each story. Then, when a fire catches at the bottom, it rushes up the narrow space, roaring like a chimney on fire, and in a moment or two, often before an alarm can be sounded, the great building is on fire in every story, and before a steamer can be got to work the fire has enveloped the building and become so intense that even the steamers can be of little other use than to confine the fire to the first building. It is to be hop> d ihat there are few of these dangerous places in any city, as so many great bu ldings have been destroyed by them, that it is found cheaper and safer to construct them of iron. The Mason and Hamlin reed organ factory, on Cambridge Street, was burned from varnish taking fire in the basement and running up the wooden chimney. If the fire had been kept in the basement by a sheet of iton, the first engine would have made short work of it; for want of that, it was in every story before it got to woik at it. The great pianoforte manufactory, which was burned on the ground on which now stands the St. James Hotel, was first found to be on fite in the third cr fourth story, having caught in the basement, and first seen up th.re, though it wa; at work in all the lower stoii-s. There is not the smallest chance to put out such a fire. It is a monstrous battle between the element of fire and the combustible matter of the building, while the firemen attempt to prevent the fire, bom destroying othtr buildings. In a gale of wind the firemen often have to fight almost like demons to prevent the destruction of whole districts. I have no doubt that quite often it has required the most heroic and dangerous efforts of the firemen to preserve a city from dreadful conflagraiions, when such great fire-traps have, in a few minutes, become monstrous fires. The most stringent laws should be enacted against all such traps made of wood, or even of iron, unless with doors which should shut off each room, and which should always be closed when not in use. I recollect a fire near the railroad bridge, on Tremor.t Street in such a building, which, when first seen, was so small as to hardly have any flame. No means of putting out the fire less than a steamer was thought of or was at hand, and that half a mile away. Ytt even when that arrived, it was for a few moments difficult to see any fire. This state of things, however, was of short duraiion. The fire was in the wooden “ fire-tlevator,” and in a few moments the whole building was a mass of flames, which threatened many others. By the noble exerti ms of the firemen, it was mainly confined 10 one great establishment, but the danger to a great portion of the city was imminent. There shou'd be stringent laws against all such places, which might, in a gale of wind, do immense damag:. But must we have laws for every thing? Yes; against everything which may endanger a city or town. We have laws against shooting robins and sparrows, or breaking off a shrub or flower in the Public Garden. This is right; but a thousand times more proper would be laws against every kind of carelss use or abuse of fire. Think of Chicago and Boston, and then say if this is not true.—Joseph Bird.

Of all the dangerous things about a city none are more to be dreaded than the open wood spaces through which the refuse wood is sent from each story to the basement, to be consumed by the fire which is to furnish motive power for the manufactory. They are chimnies of wood with openings at each story. Then, when a fire catches at the bottom, it rushes up the narrow space, roaring like a chimney on fire, and in a moment or two, often before an alarm can be sounded, the great building is on fire in every story, and before a steamer can be got to work the fire has enveloped the building and become so intense that even the steamers can be of little other use than to confine the fire to the first building. It is to be hop> d ihat there are few of these dangerous places in any city, as so many great bu ldings have been destroyed by them, that it is found cheaper and safer to construct them of iron. The Mason and Hamlin reed organ factory, on Cambridge Street, was burned from varnish taking fire in the basement and running up the wooden chimney. If the fire had been kept in the basement by a sheet of iton, the first engine would have made short work of it; for want of that, it was in every story before it got to woik at it. The great pianoforte manufactory, which was burned on the ground on which now stands the St. James Hotel, was first found to be on fite in the third cr fourth story, having caught in the basement, and first seen up th.re, though it wa; at work in all the lower stoii-s. There is not the smallest chance to put out such a fire. It is a monstrous battle between the element of fire and the combustible matter of the building, while the firemen attempt to prevent the fire, bom destroying othtr buildings. In a gale of wind the firemen often have to fight almost like demons to prevent the destruction of whole districts. I have no doubt that quite often it has required the most heroic and dangerous efforts of the firemen to preserve a city from dreadful conflagraiions, when such great fire-traps have, in a few minutes, become monstrous fires. The most stringent laws should be enacted against all such traps made of wood, or even of iron, unless with doors which should shut off each room, and which should always be closed when not in use. I recollect a fire near the railroad bridge, on Tremor.t Street in such a building, which, when first seen, was so small as to hardly have any flame. No means of putting out the fire less than a steamer was thought of or was at hand, and that half a mile away. Ytt even when that arrived, it was for a few moments difficult to see any fire. This state of things, however, was of short duraiion. The fire was in the wooden “ fire-tlevator,” and in a few moments the whole building was a mass of flames, which threatened many others. By the noble exerti ms of the firemen, it was mainly confined 10 one great establishment, but the danger to a great portion of the city was imminent. There shou'd be stringent laws against all such places, which might, in a gale of wind, do immense damag:. But must we have laws for every thing? Yes; against everything which may endanger a city or town. We have laws against shooting robins and sparrows, or breaking off a shrub or flower in the Public Garden. This is right; but a thousand times more proper would be laws against every kind of carelss use or abuse of fire. Think of Chicago and Boston, and then say if this is not true.—Joseph Bird.