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Show oo WOODEN BUILDINGS IN CHICAGO. The cost of wooden buildings erected erect-ed in this city In 1909 was $13,500,000. and of those erected In Philadelphia S3S.000. This holps to exnlaln why there are more fires in Chicago than In the Quaker Qlty. There Is more wooden constructton here than there because a considerable consider-able part of tho territory' of Chicago whose acreage oiceeds by a third that of Philadelphia Is outside the fire limits There are extensive areas in Lake View, in Hyde Park, and Lake, and In the western part of the- city, , where the frame houses can be built. One excuse has been that It would not be fair to the owners of lots out on the prairio, particularly where there were no sewers, to mako them use brick or concrete That X13.500 000 investment In wooden wood-en buildings ehowB how the cltv Is oo-Ing oo-Ing surrounded by tinder boxes Tho first cost is leBs than that of moro substantial structures, but they aro dearer In the end. The argument that tho man of small means flhould be nl-lowed nl-lowed to put in on his little lot the cheapest kind cf house he can should be disregnrde-l for his sake.- Thero should he constant extensions of the fire limits. Wherever thero are sewers and basements can be built no wooden construction should be allowed. The ordinances should provide that it should ceaso peremptorily peremp-torily as soon as sewers shall have boen built In territory where It wns previously permitted. The huddles of old framo buildings within the present fire limits are a menace to more substantial structures near thorn. Present dangers aro serious seri-ous enough There will be preator danger In the future If the policy of allowing the outskirts of the city to become a lumbor pile shall be. persisted persist-ed In. Chicago Tribune. . oo |