Untitled Document

First official proclamation from the mayor addressing the fire on October 9, 1871, 3 P.M.

WHEREAS, In the Providence of God, to whose will we humbly submit, a terrible calamity has befallen our city, which demands of us our best efforts for the preservation of order and relief of suffering, be it known that the faith and credit of the City of Chicago is hereby pledged for the necessary expenses for the relief of the suffering.

Public order will be preserved. The police and special police now being appointed will be responsible for the maintenance of the peace and protection of property.
All officers and men of the Fire Department and Health Department will act as special policemen without further notice.
The Mayor and Comptroller will give vouchers for all supplies furnished by the different relief committees.
The headquarters of the City Government will be at the Congregational Church, corner of West Washington and Ann Streets.
All persons are warned against any act tending to endanger property. Persons caught in any depredation will be immediately arrested.
With the help of God, order and peace and private property will be preserved.
The City Government and the committee of citizens pledge themselves to the community to protect them, and prepare the way for a restoration of public and private welfare.
It is believed the fire has spent its force, and all will soon be well.

R.B. MASON, Mayor
GEO. TAYLOR, Comptroller
CHAS. C.P. HOLDEN, President Common Council.
T.B. BROWN, President Board of Police

1. All citizens are requested to exercise great caution in the use of fire in their dwellings, and not to use kerosene lights at present, as the city will be without a full supply of water for probably two or three days.

2. The following bridges are passable, to wit: All bridges (except Van Buren and Adams streets) from Lake Street south, and all bridges over the North Branch of the Chicago River.

3. All good citizens who are willing to serve are requested to report at the corner of Ann and Washington streets, to be sworn in as special policemen.

Citizens are requested to organize a police for each block in the city, and to send reports of such organization to the police headquarters, corner of Union and West Madison streets.

All persons needing food will be relieved by applying at the following places:--

At the corner of Ann and Washington; Illinois Central Railroad Round-house.

M.S.R.R. -- Twenty-second Street Station.
C.B. & Q.R.R. -- Canal Street Depot.
St. L. & A.R.R. -- Near Sixteenth Street.
C. & N.W.R.R. -- Corner of Kinzie and Canal streets.

All the public school-houses, and at nearly all the churches.

4. Citizens are requested to avoid passing through the burnt districts until the dangerous walls left standing can be leveled.

5. All saloons are ordered to be closed at 9 P.M. every day for one week, under a penalty of forfeiture of license.

6. The Common Council have this day by ordinance fixed the price of bread at eight (8) cents per loaf of twelve ounces, and at the same rate for loaves of a less or greater weight, and affixed a penalty of ten dollars for selling, or attempting to sell, bread at a greater rate within the next ten days.

7. Any hackman, expressman, drayman, or teamster charging more than the regular fare, will have his license revoked.

All citizens are requested to aid in preserving the peace, good order, and good name of our city.

R.B. MASON, Mayor

COMMITTEE No. 1. On receiving, storing and sorting supplies, and dealing out upon requisitions from other Committees. Murry Nelson, Chairman, aided by Gen. Hardee.
No. 2. Committee on Shelter, to provide tents and barracks. T.M. Avery, Chairman.
No. 3. Committee on Employment, to provide labor for able-bodied applicants. Chairman, N.K. Fairbank.
No. 4. Committee on Transportation, to provide passes for persons, and freight accommodations for supplies. Chairman, Chas. G. Hammond.
No. 5. Committee on Reception and Correspondence, to receive visitors and answer all dispatches and letters. Chairman, Wirt Dexter.
No. 6. Committee on Distribution of Food, Clothing, and Fuel. O. C. Gibbs, Superintendent of Relief and Aid Society, Chairman.
No. 7. Committee on Sick, Sanitary and Hospital Measures. Dr. H. A. Johnson, Chairman.
No. 8. Executive Committee, consisting of R.B. Mason, the Mayor, and the City Comptroller, the President and Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Chicago Relief and Aid Society, together with the chairman of each of the foregoing committees, shall constitute an Auditing Committee, and have control of all contributions. No bills to be paid unless upon checks or drafts signed by the President or Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Relief and Aid Society, countersigned by R. B. Mason, Mayor.

"The chairman of each committee will fill up from citizens who shall tender their services, his own committee, making it as large as the magnitude of the work may require, and be responsible for its doings."

"We recommend the formation of local societies by citizens, and request them through their officers to communicate with the chairmen of the foregoing committees on all matters falling under the respective work of said committees."

"The work of distribution as now proceeding will go until our committees are supplied with force to relieve the present workers; but we request all persons engaged in the work to stop hasty distributions, and give applications as much examination as possible, to the end that we may not waste the generous aid pouring in, as the work of relief is not for a week, or a month, but for the whole of the coming winter, and to a great extent for even a longer period."

"The business offices of all the committees except the Executive Committee and Committees of Reception Correspondence and Transportation, will be at 409 West Washington street, just west of Elizabeth. No relief will be administered at these offices, they being solely for the transaction of Committee business."

"The office of the Executive Committee and Committee on Reception and Correspondence, and the general business of the Committee on Transportation will be at Standard Hall, corner Thirteenth Street and Michigan Avenue. Home contributions of money will be receipted for at Standard Hall."

HENRY W. KING, President.
WIRT DEXTER, Chairman Executive Committee Chicago Relief and Aid Society