ing the active season of the year form a large element in the interest of the Art Institute calendar. This sketch can merely indicate the value and variety of the collections that are treasured in the Art Institute, and does but suggest the privileges which are there offered for the public to enjoy if it will. There are now in 1911, fifty public exhibition galleries, of which twenty-seven are skylighted, and plans are being made to extend the building to the eastward by bridging the Illinois Central railroad tracks with skylighted galleries and building new museum halls upon the land reclaimed from the lake. Work has been begun on the building of the great central staircase, which will add immensely to the dignity and beauty of the main rotunda. This staircase will for the immediate future be surmounted by a plain, lofty skylighted roof, which will later be replaced by a dome, and the whole finished with impressive architectural work. The school of instructors in art practice has from the beginning been a vital part of the institution. In the rear of the main building are low, skylighted studios, and the list of departments includes those of paintings, sculpture, decorative designing, normal instruction and architecture. In addition to this, the students have the full use of galleries, library and lectures. The school had a total enrollment in 1909-1910 of about 2,500 students; it is self-supporting, with an annual income and expense of about $65,000. Advanced branches are taught, and artists and teachers from abroad give occasional instruction. Honors are awarded in the academic department, and diplomas are given in the departments of decorative designing, normal instruction and architecture. NOTEWORTHY BEQUESTS One noteworthy bequest made to the Art Institute was that of Maria Sheldon Scammon for an annual series of lectures to be given by persons of authority on the history, theory and practice of the graphic and plastic arts, the primary purpose of these lectures being for the benefit of students. Through a bequest made by Benjamin F. Ferguson, who died in 1905, a sum of money was left in trust, a large part of the income from which is to be paid annually or oftener "to the Art Institute of Chicago, to be known as the B. F. Ferguson Fund, and entirely and exclusively expended by it under the direction of its Board of Trustees in the erection and maintenance of enduring statuary and monuments, in the whole or in part of stone, granite or bronze, in the parks, along the boulevards or in other public places, within the city of Chicago, Illinois, commemorating worthy men or women of America or important events of American history. The plans or designs for such statuary or monuments and the location of the same shall be determined by the Board of Trustees of such Institute." The bequest has begun to yield interest for this purpose at the rate of about $25,000 a year and a contract was made with Mr. Lorado Taft of Chicago for the erection of a bronze monument in the form of a fountain after his design called "The Fountain of the Great Lakes." With an annual income of such magnitude, and the standard of taste which its wise expenditure will cultivate, the prospect of the future possibilities in art for Chicago is almost beyond conception. CHAPTER XXXV FIRE DEPARTMENT AND FIRE LOSSES FIRST FIRE ORDINANCES EARLY ORGANIZATION-FIRE OF 1839-EARLY FIRE CHIEFS-FORMATION OF ENGINE COMPANIES FIRE OF 1857-FIRE DEPARTMENT CRITICISED GREATER EFFICIENCY DEMANDED-END OF VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT-COMPANIES DISBANDED-PAID FIRE DEPARTMENT ORGANIZED IN 1858U. P. HARRIS' LONG SERVICE-CONDITION OF DEPARTMENT IN 1871-DEPARTMENT'S SERVICES IN THE GREAT FIRE-DESTRUCTION OF APPARATUS-WATER WORKS DESTROYED FIRE LOSSES AND ADJUSTMENTS-R. S. CRITCHELL'S NARRATIVE-INSURANCE BUSINESS AFTER THE FIRE-INCIDENTS OF ADJUSTMENTS-FAILURES AMONG COMPANIES-SURVIVAL OF THE STAUNCH COMPANIES GREAT PROS INSURANCE THE BURNED DISTRICT-FIRE OF PERITY OF THE SURVIVORS BOUNDARIES OF BOARD OF UNDER WRITERS FIRE INSURANCE IN THE SIXTIES DONALDSON AND GRIMWOOD'S FATAL BALLOON ASCENSION-FINDING OF GRIMWOOD'S BODY. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT OF CHICAGO WE ARE indebted for many of the facts here given to the "History of the Chicago Fire Department," prepared by James S. McQuade, and published in 1908 by the Firemen's Benevolent Association. With its excellent topical arrangement and complete index to its contents the book calls for special commendation and the gratitude of those who are seeking for information and facts concerning this interesting subject. It will be remembered that Chicago was incorporated as a town (not a city) on August 12, 1833. Most of the people lived on the south side of South Water street at that time, the north side of the street being entirely free from buildings. The first fire ordinance was passed in November, 1833. It prohibited "the passing of any stove pipe through the roof, partition or side of any building, unless guarded by tin or iron six inches from the wood." The town was divided into four wards in September, 1834, and a warden was appointed for each. Soon afterward another ordinance was passed, making the warden of the district in which a fire should occur the chief for the time being, the other wardens to serve as his assistants. Each warden had power to summon bystanders or citizens to aid in putting out a fire. In November, 1835, every owner or occupant of a store or dwelling was directed by ordinance "to have one good painted leathern fire bucket, with the initials of the owner's name painted thereon" for each fire place or stove in the 268 building, and hung in a conspicuous place. Whenever a fire occurred in the town the owner of a fire bucket must go promptly to the scene of the fire with his bucket. A "Fire Guards Bucket Company" was formed soon after, which appears to have been the first fire company enrolled in the history of Chicago. In December of the same year the "Pioneer Hook and Ladder Company" and "Engine Company Number 1" were formed, a fire engine was ordered to be purchased, at a cost of $894, and an engine-house built on the Public Square at a cost of $220. Hiram Hugunin, president of the Board of Trustees, was chosen chief engineer of the fire department. He resigned soon afterwards, and George W. Snow was appointed in his place. Early in 1837 Snow was succeeded by John M. Turner as chief engineer. The list of the names of the members of the Pioneer Hook and Ladder Company are given in Andreas' "History of Chicago," and in the list are found many names well known in our early history. In addition to the name of the chief engineer above mentioned, there were the following: J. K. Botsford, S. B. Cobb, S. F. Spaulding, John L. Wilson, J. Meeker, W. H. Taylor, W. Osborne, E. C. Brockett, Joseph L. Hanson, Grant Goodrich, Charles Adams, Charles Cleaver, P. F. W. Peck, James A. Smith, J. McCord, S. J. Sherwood, Isaac Cook, and Tuthill King. Late in the year 1837, another fire company, the "Tradesmen's," the name of which was afterwards changed to "Metamora, Engine Company Number 2," was formed. It was in this year that Chicago was incorporated as a city, the date being March 4, 1837. Alexander Loyd was the fourth chief, serving from 1838 to 1839. The fifth chief was Alvin Calhoun, who served from 1839 to 1840. THE FIRST FIRE OF IMPORTANCE The first fire of any great importance in Chicago broke out on Lake street, near Dearborn street, on October 27, 1839. This fire destroyed eighteen buildings, among them the Tremont House, which had been built some years before, and was then situated on the northwest corner of Lake and Dearborn streets, diagonally opposite its later location. In passing we may mention that the Tremont House was rebuilt and opened in 1840, on the southeast corner of the same streets where it was again destroyed by fire on July 21, 1849. It was rebuilt and opened the next year, and it thus remained until the Great Fire of 1871, when it was destroyed for the third time, in that conflagration. Luther Nichols acted as chief from 1840 to 1841. In September, 1841, the "Chicago Bag and Fire Company," often called the "Forty Thieves," was formed. Alson S. Sherman, the sixth in the line of fire chiefs, became head of the department and served from 1841 to 1844. On September 7, 1841, "Bucket Company Number 1," also known as "Neptune," was organized. It was provided with one hundred and sixty buckets and a hose cart. as "Engine Company Number 3," known as "Osceola," and afterwards. "Niagara," was organized in November, 1844, popularly known as the "Kid Glove Company," because its members were residents of the North Side, then the high class residence district of the young city. "Neptune," above referred to as "Bucket Company Number 1," was reorganized in November, 1846, as "Red Jacket Engine Company Number 4." OTHER CHANGES IN THE DEPARTMENT In 1844, Stephen F. Gale succeeded A. S. Sherman, who in that year was elected mayor of Chicago. Gale served until 1847, and during his term the "Philadelphia, Hose Company Number 1" was formed (in 1845), the "Excelsior, Engine Company Number 5" in 1846, and the "Rough and Ready Bucket Company Number 1" in 1847. Gale was succeeded by Charles E. Peck, who was chief for the next two years, during whose term "Hope Hose Company Number 2" was formed (in 1848), and "Protector Engine Company Number 6," in 1849. From 1849 to 1850, Ashley Gilbert was chief, when he was succeeded by Cyrus P. Bradley, who served until 1851. In 1850, "Lawrence Engine Company Number 7," afterwards changed to the "Eagle," was organized, and in 1851, a third hose company, called the "Lone Star," the name of which afterwards was changed to the "Illinois," was also formed. In the same year the "Phoenix Engine Company Number 8," afterwards changed to "Cataract," was organized, composed principally of sailors. It seems that very few of the companies which adopted names, as it was the fashion to do, remained satisfied with the one chosen, and changed them at a later time. Like most of those already mentioned, we find that in 1854, the "New England Engine Company Number 9" was organized, the name of which was afterwards changed to the "America." In 1852, U. P. Harris became chief, and continued in that office for two years, succeeded in 1854 by J. M.'Donnelly, who served one year. Silas McBride became chief in 1855, and so continued until 1858. Early in the latter year Denis J. Swenie was elected chief, the last one in the series of fire chiefs under the old system. In January, 1855, "Washington Engine Company, Number 10" was formed. The fire alarm was sounded on the bell of the First Baptist church, then situated at the southwest corner of Washington and Clark streets. This church was taken down and removed before the Great Fire to the West Side, and was rebuilt just as it was before on the southwest corner of West Monroe and Morgan streets, where it stands today. In February, 1855, a large bell was hung in the tower of the new courthouse, which from that time performed the service of sounding alarms of fire. The name of Neptune came to life again in the formation of "Neptune Engine Company, Number 11," formed in 1856. In the same year "Wide Awake Engine Company, Number 12," and "Torrent Engine Company Number 13," were formed. In 1857 the "Red Rover Engine Company, Number 14" was also formed. Three more hose companies and a hook and ladder company were added to the fire fighting strength of the department. This covers the period of development of the fire department while it continued under the volunteer system. THE FIRE OF OCTOBER, 1857 A disastrous fire occurred on October 19, 1857, which was the most serious conflagration the city had yet to contend with. It broke out in a large brick store at numbers 109 and 111 South Water Street, and spread rapidly in every direction. In a short time some of the finest and most costly business structures in the city were in flames. A few days before the fire took place there had been a County Fair held in Chicago, and several of the engine companies had engaged in a contest of skill and endurance, with the result that two of the engines were seriously damaged, and others burst their hose, so that the fire apparatus was in a crippled condition. Before the flames were subdued property to the amount of nearly half a million dollars had been destroyed and twenty-three lives were lost. The greatest loss of life occurred when a force of merchants and firemen were engaged in saving the goods on the ground floor of a large building. "The excessive use of free whiskey during fires in the early days," says McQuade, in his History of the Fire Department, "was, doubtless, partly responsible for the many disorganized and futile attempts made during the course of this fire to save valuable goods." The fire demonstrated to the business men of Chicago, which then had a population of ninety-three thousand, that the fire department as then organized was wholly unequal to the task of coping with a widespread conflagration. The engine houses had become the resort of idlers, too lazy to work at regular employments, but who were always ready to run with the engine. These men could not be relied upon for serious work, and were no doubt largely responsible for the loss of many valuable articles which took place while fires were in progress. Business men and insurance companies united in the formation of the "Citizens' Fire Brigade." This brigade was to have been organized on the model of a military company, with officers and firemen, the latter to be invested with police powers. The organization was, however, a short lived one, as it met with the opposition of the older members of the department. It was not until after the great fire of July, 1874, that the Fire Department was at length efficiently organized on the same plan substantially as the one which had thus failed. END OF THE VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT But the Volunteer Fire Department was approaching the termination of its existence, soon to be succeeded by the much more efficient service of men regularly paid for their work, and at the same time excluding from the ranks of the firemen that worthless class who had always considered themselves privileged to assist at fires, and who by their thievery and drunkenness had brought the fire service into disrepute. The change came with the regular employment of the steam fire engine in place of the former hand engines. In the year 1855, a steam fire engine had been purchased by the City of Chicago, but in a test it failed to throw a stream as far upward as one of the old style machines, and this, aided by the strong opposition of the volunteer firemen, induced the authorities to sell it. However, when John Wentworth became mayor of the city, he favored a steam engine, and one was bought, which out of compliment to him was called the "Long John." The test of this engine was successful in every way, but the members of the volunteer department were violently opposed to the machine, as they saw in it the end of their system. Feeling ran so high that it was feared there would be a riot when the machine appeared. McQuade, in his history, says that "a number of the malcontent companies, headed by a band, marched through the principal streets and into the courthouse square. An outbreak was prevented only by the prompt action of the mayor, who ordered an extra force of |