"Public order will be preserved. The police and special police now being appointed will be responsible for the maintenance of the peace and-the protection of property.
"All officers and men of the Fire Department and Health Depart. ment 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 Congre gational Church, corner of West Washington and Ann Streets.
"All persons are warned against any act tending to endanger prop erty. 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 them selves to the community to protect them, and prepare the way for a restoration of public and private welfare.
"It is believed that the fire has spent its force, and all will soon be well.
On the following day the price of bread was fixed by ordinance at eight cents per loaf of twelve ounces, and at 'Report of the Chicago Relief and Aid Society, pp. 15, 16.
the same rate for all loaves of less or greater weight. A penalty of $10 was fixed for any attempt to sell bread within the limits of the city at any other rate, and it was announced that any hackman, expressman, drayman, or teamster charging more than the regular fare would have his license forfeited. Saloons were ordered to be closed every day for one week at 9 P.M. under a penalty of for feiture of license. Five hundred citizens for each of the police districts were sworn in as special policemen and the military were invested with full police power. A special relief committee was appointed on October 11, and it was directed that contributions of money should be deliv ered to the city treasurer, who would receipt and hold such contributions as a special relief fund. Railroad passes from the city were to be issued under direction of this committee.
Two days earlier, before the fire had yet been brought under control, the Lieutenant-General of the Army tele graphed to the Secretary of War that he had ordered rations from St. Louis, tents from Jeffersonville, and two
companies of infantry from Omaha to be sent to Chicago. To a later telegram from General Sheridan the Secretary of War replied on October 10 : — On October 11 the mayor, by official proclamation, intrusted the preservation of good order and peace to General Sheridan, and instructed the police to act in con junction with him, the intent being to preserve the peace of the city without interfering with the functions of the city government. On the same day the powers granted to the special police for a period of three days were revoked. On the following day, October 12, General Sheridan was able to report to the mayor that no case of disorder or outbreak had been reported, that no authenti cated report of any attempt at incendiarism had reached him, and five days later a similar official report was made, declaring that newspaper accounts of violence and disorder were without the slightest foundation. Military aid was discontinued and the Lieutenant-General, relieved of the special responsibility imposed upon him on October 23, and the various companies of infantry which had succes sively been brought to the city for special duty, were trans ferred to their respective stations on October 24, or less than two weeks after the fire occurred.
On October 10 the governor of Illinois convened the legislature in special session, declaring that the calamity that had overtaken Chicago, depriving many thousands of the residents of the city of their homes and rendering them destitute, destroying many millions of dollars in value of property, disturbing the business of the people, deranging the finances of the city, and interrupting the operation of the laws, constituted an extraordinary occa sion within the meaning of the constitution authorizing such action on the part of the governor. The legislature in this proclamation was asked : I. To appropriate such sum or sums of money, or adopt such other legislative measures as may be thought judi cious, necessary, or proper, for the relief of the people of the city of Chicago.