Editorial Correspondence, Brooks insulator works, Tillotson office after Chicago Fire

Editorial Correspondence

Philadelphia and its Telegraphers. — Brooks and

the Paraffin Insulators. — Chicago and its Ordeal of

Fire. — The Conflagration and the

Telegraphs. — Bliss, Tillotson & Co.

Burned Out and Re-establish

Business. — Gray & Barton

and their Escape,

&c., &c.

CHICAGO, ILL., Oct. 12.

WE left New York on Tuesday morning last for a trip to the West, in doubt whether, upon reaching the Western Metropolis, we should be able to find anything more than the site where it formerly was. Happily the worst fears have not been realized; but it is bad enough as it is, and needs no sensational working up.

We arrived at Philadelphia in due time, and without accident, via the Camden and Amboy road. The day was very pleasant, and there being no undue amount of moisture in the atmosphere, it is presumed that even the execrable management of the telegraph on that road — probably about the worst upon any road in the country which is pretended to be run by telegraph — could not prevent the lines from being worked.

We had a brief but pleasant call at the Pacific and Atlantic, and Philadelphia, Reading and Pottsville office, No. 303 Chestnut street. Messrs. Rumsey and O. W. Stager manage the joint office of these two companies, and it seems to be doing an excellent business. The Franklin office looked lonesome and deserted, and appears to enjoy little patronage. We gazed upon the externally handsome Western Union building from the other side of way but did not visit it, as Superintendent Bates still manipulates this district, and his magnanimous exclusion of THE TELEGRAPHER from its sacred precincts might fairly be considered as applicable to its editor also. We believe the Philadelphia office is the only one where this absurd order has been given, and Bates enjoys the solitary honor (under his great chief, T. T. E.) of exhibiting his spite in this way. Long may he enjoy it.

We also paid a brief visit to the establishment of Messrs. Elverson & Davis, publishers of the popular weekly, Saturday Night. These gentlemen have achieved a great success in this enterprise, and have no desire to return to the telegraph business. Saturday Night was originated and has been built up by telegraphers. Here we also found our friends, Clarke and Gallup, who seem to find the newspaper business congenial, and have aided materially in the success of the enterprise. Eleven presses are kept constantly running night and day to supply the demand for the paper, and furnish supplements, etc.

We spent some time with Mr. David Brooks, and examined his insulator works very thoroughly, and were kindly initiated into the process of manufacturing the reliable Insulator which Mr. Brooks has so long studied and labored to bring to perfection. We were much pleased to learn that the merits of the Paraffin Insulator were being appreciated, and that, notwithstanding the works are being run to about their full capacity, the orders are considerably ahead of the supply. It is evident that at the present and increasing rate of demand Mr. Brooks will soon be obliged to enlarge his works and increase his force. The success of the Paraffin Insulator is an additional evidence, if one were needed, that a really superior article will make its way, and eventually be appreciated, notwithstanding the stupid or malicious opposition and detraction it may meet with. THE TELEGRAPHER from the first appreciated the merits and importance of the invention, and has adhered to it through all the detraction which has been cast upon it; and we are, therefore, fairly entitled to rejoice at this vindication of our judgment.

Our journey from Philadelphia to Chicago was unmarked by any incident worthy of note. The excellent telegraphic arrangements of the Pennsylvania and Pittsburg, Fort Wayne and Chicago roads, and the great care which is exercised in running trains, makes accidents of seldom occurrence upon them. But little was talked about by the passengers except the great fire, which has so exclusively engrossed the attention of the country during the last four days. On the train were several citizens of Chicago, impatient to reach this city, in order that they might learn the worst. Some of these were in doubt as to whether their homes and property had been destroyed, while others knew but too well that they were to meet ruin and devastation upon their arrival.

We reached Chicago this morning, and, as our route lay through a portion of the burnt district, we got our first view before reaching the depot of the Pittsburg and Port Wayne road, which had escaped destruction. We could see charred timbers, ruined walls, open spaces where the wooden buildings had been entirely destroyed, and large piles of coal yet burning fiercely, and I sending up huge volumes of smoke, which are literally clouds by day and pillars and sheets of flame by night. As we write we can see from the window of the room the sky illuminated as by a fierce and destructive conflagration, all of which proceeds from the masses of coal on fire, and which it has thus far been impossible to extinguish. These are now so isolated, however, that there is no danger of their causing further damage.

It is not our intention to write a detailed description of the fire, or consider generally its results. Before this communication can be published the details of this most disastrous conflagration will have become as familiar as household words throughout the whole country. As matter of more immediate interest to the readers of The TELEGRAPHER we have made use of the limited time at our disposal here to collate such facts in regard to the damage and loss inflieted [sic] inflicted upon the telegraph (which has been very severe) as could be obtained. We would briefly state, however, that fully one third of the city — including the entire business portion, in which were the Board of Trade, all the first class hotels, telegraph offices, post office, court house, banks, and all the newspaper offices - has been utterly destroyed and practically wiped out. The North Division of the city is entirely gone, with a small exception; the South has been largely burned over; the West escaped, owing to a change of wind at a critical moment.

We never before saw such a wreck and tangle of wires as is exhibited in the burnt district in the Southern Division. On the different poles were strung hundreds of wires, and these are mixed up in apparently inextricable confusion. The poles are, in some places, gone altogether, and in others, charred and half consumed by the flames, still partially support a tangled web of wires. As yet but little has been done towards removing these wires or taking down the remnants of the poles, the energies of the officers and employes of the several companies having been directed towards getting a sufficient number of wires in operation to meet the urgent demand fur telegraphic accommodation. As soon as this has been accomplished attention will be given to other matters of less pressing importance.

The main office of the Western Union Company — one of the handsomest and most complete in the world — has already been described in the columns of THE TELEGRAPHER. It was not until late on Sunday night that its destruction was considered probable. So rapid was the progress of the flames, however, that at about three o'clock on Sunday morning it had to be evacuated. The instruments, books and papers, were placed in the vault, and are believed to have escaped material injury. The splendid lines which, under the direction of General Stager and Dist. Supt. J. J. S. Wilson, had been constructed through the city, have been mostly destroyed. The Saturday night fire destroyed half a mile of the line through Canal street, which carried twenty-seven wires. The second and great fire destroyed the line in Lake, La Salle, Harrison streets, etc. — in all, some ten or twelve miles of line, probably the best constructed and handsomest in this country, if not in the world.

At 8 o'clock Monday morning a temporary office was opened at the Supply Department, corner of State and Sixteenth streets, where it has since remained. Gen. Stager has rented and is fitting up an office for present use on the corner of West Washington and Canal streets, which will be ready for occupation in a few days.

Notwithstanding the large number of telegraphers employed in this city, but few of them, comparatively, suffered much damage, personally, from the fire. We understand that provision will be made by the company for the relief of any parties in their employ here who may need assistance, in consequence of the loss sustained through the fire. Gen. Stager has furnished assistance so far to all who have made their necessities known, and no one need suffer who is not too proud to accept the assistance which is freely tendered, and which is no more than a just recognition by the company of faithful service rendered. Other liberal offers of assistance have been received from different quarters. The price of all kinds of provisions and supplies having been largely advanced, under instructions from Gen. Stager Sup't Clowry, of St. Louis, purchased and forwarded a car load of all kinds, which were furnished to the employes at cost.

The temporary office of the Western Union Company is constantly crowded with applicants for despatches, and with persons desiring to forward despatches to their friends. The business offered is very largely in excess of the capacity of the wires, but is worked off as rapidly as possible. This excessive rush of business will probably abate in a few days, and matters resume their usual order and regularity. Within a very short time it is expected that every wire will be restored and in serviceable condition.

The Pacific and Atlantic Telegraph Company's office was at 91 Clark street. The operators and clerks were obliged to abandon it about two o'clock Monday morning. So rapid was the progress of the fire that but little could be saved. A few relays and sounders, and the switch-board alone remain to do duty. The books were, however, saved by Mr. R. C. Minor, who was the last to leave the premises. The Superintendent, Mr. C. H. Haskins, at once went to work energetically, and on Wednesday morning had his wires again in operation east. A temporary office has been established at 354 Clark street, and a branch office at the temporary rooms of the Board of Trade, in South Canal street, near Madison. The lines of the P. and A. Company on La Salle and Van Buren streets, and Pacific avenue to Harrison streets, were entirely destroyed.

The office of the Atlantic and Pacific Company was on Washington street, next door to the Chamber of Commerce building. The building was blown up about two o'clock Monday morning, in the hope to stop the fire at that point and save the valuable buildings beyond it; but as it proved unavailing, nothing was saved from the office-not even the books. The lines of this company have also been entirely destroyed for about three miles. Offices have temporarily been established at 371 State street and at the Board of Trade rooms before mentioned. It has not yet been decided where the main office of this company shall be established until the burnt district is rebuilt. Mr. E. O. Wait, the District Superintendent, is looking after the interests of the company, and will make the best arrangements practicable.

The main office of the Great Western Telegraph Company was at 84 La Salle street, and was burned out, at about the same time as the others on Monday morning. But little was saved from this office. The books were all lost, and also some funds contained in monthly reports from the offices which had been sent in to the Superintendent, Mr. A. H. Bliss, and which, on account of his absence, had not been opened. About three miles of line of this company has been destroyed. Offices have been temporarily opened at No. 54 Madison street, No. 371 State street, and at the rooms of the Board of Trade. Mr. Bliss informs us that he has made arrangements to establish his main office on the order opposite to the Western Union, on West Washington street. He is working with his usual energy to get things into shape, and is enthusiastic in his faith in le Great Western Telegraph enterprise, which, under Us management, is prospering. Mr. A. H. Sibley, the book-keeper, is missing, and has not been seen or heard from since the fire. He was last seen at the Sherman House, and, it is feared, perished in that building, where several lives were lost. This is the only casualty, so far as is known, among telegraph employes during the ire-and it is possible Mr. Sibley may yet be found, although it is hardly considered probable.

The Fire Alarm Telegraph office, which was located in the Court House, of course shared the fate of that building. All the instruments and apparatus were destroyed-nothing having been saved. The lines through he burnt district were also destroyed with the other telegraph lines. Superintendent Chandler at once went to work energetically to restore the system. A temporary office has been fitted up on the corner of West Washington and Canal streets. Arrangements have been made, with such instruments and materials as were available, to reestablish the system until new apparatus can be obtained. The lines in the Western Division are already in working order, and the other lines will be very speedily reconstructed.

We have thus briefly sketched the operation of the fire upon the telegraphic interests, and the already too great length of this communication warns us to bring it to a close as speedily as practicable. Before doing so, however, we must allude to the loss which has been sustained by Bliss, Tillotson & Co. Their establishment at 147 South Water street was entirely destroyed, and but a small part of their large stock of telegraph instruments, materials and supplies, was saved. All their machinery for the manufacture and repair of telegraph instruments is, of course, lost. With the remnants of their stock they have already recommenced business on West Randolph street, between Morgan and Carpenter streets. They have also sent east for additional stock, and will soon be ready to fill all orders with their usual promptness. Much sympathy is felt for this firm in telegraphic circles. By energy, honest dealing, and reliability in their business, they had built up a large and constantly increasing trade. Their business during the last season had been much larger than ever before, and had taxed their resources considerably to satisfy their customers. In a single day a large part of the fruit of their industry and enterprise is swept away. Although they are not ruined, as so many have been by this calamity, they must suffer severely from it. We have no doubt but every assistance will be rendered them, and that they will soon find themselves again prosperous, and steadily and successfully repairing the damages which this calamity has inflicted upon them. Although temporarily cast down they are not destroyed, and the telegraphic interests of the West require that they shall again take a leading position in their line of business.

Messrs. Gray & Barton were more fortunate, the fire having been stopped before it reached their works, at 479 State street. They lost considerable work, which they had done in fitting up the Palmer House, Pacific and another hotel, which were destroyed. They are also somewhat inconvenienced, by the failure of the water supply, in running their engine, but this will be remedied in a few days. They are prepared to execute promptly all orders in their line. We congratulate them on their good fortune in escaping the fate which has overtaken so many others in this great city.

With one or two general observations we will close this, perhaps, already too lengthy communication. All the telegraph lines have just now more business pressing upon them than they have facilities for doing. This, however, will not be likely to continuo more than a week. After that it is reasonable to anticipate a rather dull telegraphic season, as far as this city is concerned. At, the best it will require some months to restore business to anything like its former vigor and amount. With the best intentions possible there are not, and cannot be the facilities for doing the large amount of business which was being transacted when this calamity fell upon the community. Again, as yet there are no signs of discouragement. Everybody we meet seems energetic and hopeful, and predicts a yet more brilliant future than the past for Chicago. They have unlimited faith in themselves and in their city, which no adversity seems able to diminish. The work of clearing away the debris and preparing for rebuilding is in progress, and it is confidently asserted that Chicago will astonish the world by the rapidity with which her damages are repaired and her waste places rebuilded. Such indomitable pluck and determination cannot but excite our admiration and enlist our sympathies for the people and the city where they are found.

In the morning we leave for the West, and if anything of interest is seen we will endeavor to make a note of it for the benefit of the readers of THE TELEGRAPHER.

A.