Shelter Housing and Fire Limits

Friday, November 10, 1871

The Relief and Aid Society’s Shelter Committee reports that it has received to date 6,259 applications for shelter houses and has approved the construction of 4,564 of them.  In order to guard against the spread of smallpox, it has administered 1,300 vaccinations to residents of the barracks.  The Board of Public Works’ review of fire damages indicates that over 121 miles of sidewalks were lost out of a pre-fire total of 680 miles, at a cost of $911,380.90.  The Common Council’s special committee on fire limits is hard at work on new regulations.  There are many calls to make the limits broad and stringent, but meanwhile people are erecting wooden structures in the burnt district.