AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 17 



assert that there were no gutta percha pipes laid or used to light 

 the late Crystal Palace, in any part of the building. 



As to the means provided in case of fire ! Before the opening 

 of the fair, the chairman, as has been customary heretofore, (a 

 custom as old as the Institute,) sent a written request to the chief 

 engineer to designate six engines, four hook and ladder and six 

 hose carriages for exhibition, the use of which we could have at 

 hand in case of fire. The chief engineer, in accordance with the 

 request, designated four engines, four hose carriages, with two 

 hook and ladder trucks, which were distributed around the build- 

 ing. Sixteen hydrants, one under each flight of stairs, with two 

 lengths of hose, one hundred feet each, made fast to the hydrants. 

 Seven large steam pumps. These we did consider a sufficient 

 protection, and would have been had the fire been such from its 

 first inception as to have been within human control with the aid 

 of water. We have the assurances of old members of the fire 

 department, who were eye witnesses, that no human power could 

 have stayed the flames. 



The building, with its noble exhibition, has gone ; but we have 

 a more glorious building — a building whose great architect has 

 given to it a mind of illimitable capacity to improve, advance, 

 and encourage it onward, has ever been our aim. While republics 

 of old have looked to ease and luxury, as the perfection of the 

 social system, ours has looked upon activity and industry as duties 

 required of man by his nature. Ease and luxury as the positive 

 prohibition of that God who is ever working in his own great 

 palace — the advancement of the human family. 



We sincerely condole with the exhibitors, whose losses have 

 been severe. Those who, through our exhibition, hoped to secure 

 the reward for years of labor, and those kind feelings expressed 

 under circumstances of so much affliction, we appreciate, and 

 thank them for convincing us, as they do, that we have met with 

 but a short revulsion. And to the one hundred and fifty exhibi- 

 tors who desired us to continue the exhibition, wo say we re- 

 gretted the conclusion forced upon us that it was inexpedient for 

 us to do so, no less than they did. Our experience, endorsed by 

 the largest exhibiters, convinced us that no exhibitor could dupli- 

 cate an}^ large article in time for another, and as desired, imme- 

 diate exhibition. 



How much, indeed, are we fortified in this determination by the 

 unanimous voice of the exhibiters, when they declare " their 

 losses to be the result of years of labor and toih" 

 [Am. Inst.J 2 



