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v’session tool: steps to relieve the de- mand for accommodation. It was decided to suspend the operation of the building byâ€"law so far as neces- sary to permit of the erection of Stemporury oneâ€"story buildings on vacant land. under the direction of buy Architect McCallum, Commisâ€" sioner Fleming and Chief Thompson. These otficials have also been dele- The cityj’s future will be in no way imperilled by Tuesday's great fire. This is the opinion expressed by Mr. Byron. E. Walker, General Man- ager of the Canadian Bank of Com- merce. Mr. Walker is of opinion, however, that Toronto should pro- fit by the many tragic experiences of the past and the overwhelming na- ture of the present catastrophe to put her house in order. He recall- ed the great Globe, Osgoodby and Simpson fires, in which damages reâ€" sulted to t'hc amount of $2,178,000, and yet the City Council harl done nothing to secure an adequate wa- ter pressure. More stringent regu- lations in regard to the building of great establishments were absolutely necessary in a large commercial city like Toronto. and in his opinion an effort should be made to separate the manufacturing from the distri- buting houses. The insurance was carried mostly by British houses, but a great fire was none the less a dead loss. Although many great businesses had been destroyed. there was no doubt that the rebuilding of them was a matter of a very short time. CARNARVON A VICTIM. The Earl of Carnarvon, the owner of burned buildings at 46 and 48 Bay Street. occupied by Cockburn and Ben and 09. Morrice Sons C0,, and of the building leased by the Wyld, Darling Co, at the south-east corner' of Bay ‘and Wellington Streets, is the fifth bearer of the title, which was granted in 1793. He was born thirty- eight years ago. His Lordship figâ€" ures on the voters’ list of Toronto under the democratic appellation of "E. Carnarvon." and under this sob- riquet he has been frequently person~ ated at elections by pluggers, Whose general aflpearance and bearing were the reverse of aristocratic. km: of the vagaries of the fire was 10 (act that an old frame building on Lorne Street was left standing, al- though the supposedly fireâ€"proof struc- tures on either side of it were con- Lumed. {The firemen were greatly hampered ‘11 their fight against the devouring elemen'ts by the mass of overhead wires. The experiences thus gained should make the Council insist that Iall Wires should be placed underâ€" ground in the downâ€"town district. 'I‘hc The burned district presents a very desolate scene. Jagged walls With great gaping holes represents all that was left of magnificent warehouses and office buildings. It is perhaps idle to conjecture what might have happened had the brigade been unable to prevent the fire from spreading to the Customs' building and the premises of the Mim erva Company. It would have unâ€" doubtedly leaped across Yonge Street to the Board of Trade and adjoining buildings, and would have worked its way eastward and probably northâ€" ward into the retail sections. THE OLD IRON BLOCK on Front Street, just east of the Customs' house, proved to be the crux of the situation. This building Was occupied by McMahon and Broadâ€" lield, Battery and crockery dealers, and it Was at that point that the great and deciding battle was waged. From Wellington Street south and west, as far as the Queen's Hotel, an’d extending to the Esplanade, pracâ€" ticully everything had been consumed, and the devouring elements had spread east on Front Street to the Minerva building on the north, and the McMahonâ€"Broadlleld building on the south. It was a question if the flames could be held in check, and all the energies of the brigade were adâ€" dressed to saving the Customs house and the Minerva. building The fear was that with the high and erratic wind prevailing the fire might conâ€" tinue in its course eastward, and eat northward up Yonge Street into, the heart of the retail section. ' It is perhaps idle to conjecture“ It will be some days before a defiâ€" nite statement of the losses sustained in Toronto's devastating Conflagl‘a' tion can be ascertained. but 0. 60nâ€" servntive estimate places them at over $12,000,000, of. which $8,885,- 000 are (‘U\'(‘l‘(‘(l by insurance. In all 122 buildings were, destroyed, 222 firms affected, and about 10,000 peoâ€" ple thrown out of employment. Al- ready (1 number of firms have secured temporary oflices. So soon as the insurance claims can be adjusted or appraised, gangs of men will be en- gaged to clear away the debris. While many business men are stunned and bewildered by the catastrophe, the majority of them take n. hopeful View of the situation, and from what could be gathered, the district de-i stroyed will speedily be replaced by more pretentious structures. Loss (Iver $12,880,000 With $8,885,000 Covered by Insurance. FUTURE UNIMPERILLED BYâ€"LAW SUSPENDED 1‘51 of Control at a. special tire sure to flock sin-rounding plum Lain employment. It is feared among builders and ar- chitects that the supply of bricks ~1'or building will will be enormously inadequate to the demand for extenâ€" sive building operations. The de- mand for bricklayers, masons, build- ‘ers’ laborers, and carpenters will be enormous, and thouéands of was extinguished. Mr. Phillips stated that the loss to his firm would amount to $25,000 or $26,- 000. which was almost entirely covered by insurance. distributed in several companies. The top floor of the building was used as a, store- room. __._... yllu ‘burned buildings a block west. of the Phillips and Wrinch building, saw a. volume of flame shoot from the warehouse. A general alarm was rung in and all the reels in the city responded. As many men as could be spared were placed in positions to fight the new fire, and thus it was prevented from 'spl‘eadiniig: Afâ€" ter an hour's_s§renuous work the fire lThe glare on walls here and there from hidden flames, the low smould- ering fires in the debris, the murky, red smoke, and the unspeakable ruin recall nothing but the inferno. RATES ARE RAISED. At a specjal meeting of the Cana- dian Fire Underwriters’ Association, held on Thursday afternoon, it was decided to increase the rates in Toronto. The extra. rates call for an addition of $1 to the rate on all mercantile, schedule and other spee- :-n,, ,H “m. WW ially rated risks; an extra 50c to the rates on all risks except dwell- ings and their contents outside the above districts. An exception is made in favor of risks on residential 'stores outside the congested districts allowing a rebate of 25 cents on them when the. usual warranty is furnished. Sprinkle:- l‘isks and risks on fireâ€"proof buildings will be advanced half the above extras. When more than one company take the risk a reduction of 15 per cent. from the rate on the building aod 110 per cent. on the stocks may be ‘allowed on the 80 per cent. co-in- surance clause. The above rates mean an average I/ ANOTHER FIRE. /Damage estimated at about $35,- 000 was done by a, fire which broke out in the Phillips and Wrinch wareâ€" house, 8 Wellington Street west, at 10 minutes to 8 o’clock on Thursâ€" >jay evening. The firemen playing the streams on the ruins of the ,V._ m. ...y.u5\. advance of 75 per cent. on risks within the congested district, and of 40 per cent. on all risks outside the district, except, on dwellings and thgir contents. Desolate as the widespread ruin appears in daylight, at night it is gruesome and awful. A dull, fitful glare partially illuminates the shat- tered Walls and ragged spires and turrets that alone meet the eye. Every cellar is filled with smoulder- ing debris, over which the fires play. Much of the flame is burning gas, of which there is a strong odor every‘ \where, despite the efforts of the Gas bompany gangs to cut it off. As an illustration of how it collects, the writer was standing on Bay street about 0 o’clock, when sudden- ly a short distance away, there was a pufi of blue flame shooting up- ward. It was thought the pave- ment had been blown up, but on exâ€" amination it was found to have come through a grated manhole. A DESOLATE SCENE. I Standing at the corner of Front and Bay streets, one begins to realize the extent of the awful des- truction that has been wrought. On every hand are ruins almost as far as one can see. Within the whole burned area there is not a single Wall intact, and such as are stand- 1 g are mere crumbling ruins, likeâ€" 1 to fall at any time and a menace to all who approach. In one or hi0 instances the rebuilding may I) gin from the first story, but in the grbat majority of cases not one brick can be left upon another, and work must begin from the founda- tions. as bright and isound as the day be- fore the fire. . of the fire demon was the leaving unharmed the sign of McMahon, Broadfield &, Company, wholesale \crockery dealers, in the Phoenix block, Front street, adjoining the éustoms house. Only the front wall of the building stood, yet the sign which overhung the sidewalk looks houses now in ruins. Bricks are said to be very scarce, and lumber has increased 25 per cent. The re- sult of the change in the building situation brought about by the fire will probably be a raise in rents owing to the scarcity of houses. The fire's ravages will have the effect of stopping house-building this summer. All the available labor and material will be needed in the work of replacing the wholesale; houses now in ruins. Bricks are gated with authority to deal with firms who suffered by fire. and think proper accommodation can be pro- vided on the Exhibition grounds. RENTS LIKELY TO GO UP ARCITY OF BRICKS A CURIOUS TRICK :tuu uxuusunus of men flock to the city from places in order to ob- an average ks Toronto. April 26.â€"The run at th( City Cattle Market this mm'nin; St. Louis, ’April 26.â€"â€"Wheat closed ~â€"Cash, 95gc; May, 900; July, "82:50 Milwaukee, April 26.â€"‘Vlleatâ€"eNo. 1 Northern, 97c; No. 2 Northern. 93c; old July, 86 to 86§c bid. Rye â€"No. 1, 72c. Barleyâ€"Steady; No. 2, 63¢; sample, 38 to 60c. Oatsâ€" Standard, 43c. Cornâ€"No. 3, 47 to 480; July, 483: asked. Duluth, April 26â€"W’heat closedâ€" No. 1 hard, 9830.; No. 1 Northern, 89gc; No. 2 Northern, 87%c; May, 89gc; July, 901C; September, 8142c. Dressed hogs are unchanged with olTerings small. Car lots are quot- ed at $6.25 delivered here. Cured meats are in good demand at unâ€" changed prices. We quote :â€"Bacon, long clear, 8 to Sic per lb. in case lots. Mess pork, $17 to $17.50; do., short, cut. $18.50. -’ Smoked meatsâ€"Hams, light to medium, 12“; do., heavy, 12c; rolls, 100; shoulders, 91,-c; backs, 135C; breakfast bacon, 121} to 130. Lardâ€"The dcm priccs_ unchanged 'I‘lerccs, 7%c; tu compound, 7’,- to 1 Cheeseâ€"Market continues with prices steady. We ‘ Finest September's, 10;,c cheese, 104:. Butterâ€"The market is quiet, with prices as a, rule unchanged. We quote zâ€"Finest 1~lb rolls, 16 10 1650 choice large rolls, 15c; selected dairy tubs, 15 to 15gc; medium and low grades, 12:;L to 14c; creamcry prints, 20 to 220; solids, 18 to 196. Eggsâ€"Receipts are fair, and prices unchanged, with sales at 14c per dozen. choice large 1'( dairy tubs, 15 to low grades, 12:;L prints, 20 to 22c Poultryâ€"The market is steady. with limited ofi‘erings. Chickens, 11 to 13¢ per 1b” turkeys are quoted at 15 to 17¢ per 1b. for fresh killed. Potatoesâ€"The market is firmer, with offerings small. Choice cars are quoted at 900 per bag on track here, and inferior quality at 800 per bag. here Strawâ€"The market is dull, with prices unchanged at $5.50 on track here. Maple Syrupâ€"The market is quiet at $1 per Illlpel‘iul gallon. Hopsâ€"The market is unchanged at 26 to 32c, according to quality. Honeyâ€"The market. is quoted at 6 to To per lb. Combs quiet at $1.50 to $1.75. Hay~The market is quiet, with offerings moderate. Timothy is quoted at $9.50 to $10.50 a. ton Dried Applesâ€""he demand is limâ€" ited, and prices are steady at 3 to 3; per lb. Evapptatcd apples, 6 to 6:30 per 1b. Beansâ€"Trade is quiet, with prices steady. PI‘I'me beans are quoted at $1.50 to $1.60, and hand-picked at $165 to $1.70. Hopsâ€"The market is unchanged at Flourâ€"Ninety per cent. patents are unchanged. Buyers at $3.60 mid- dle freights in buyers’ sacks for ex- port. Straight rollers of special brands for domestic trade quoted at $4.30 to $4.50 in bbls. Manitoba. flour unchanged. No. 1 patents, $5.30; No. 2 patents, $5, and strong bakers’, $4.90, on track, Toronto. Millfecdâ€"Bran is steady at $17 to $17.50, and shorts at $18.50 here. At outside points bran is quoted at $16.50, and shorts at $17.50. Manâ€" itoba bran in sacks, $20, and shorts, $21 here. AppleSâ€"' ‘here is a quiet trade, with prices steady at $2 to $2.50 per bbl. for the best stock. Buckwheatâ€"The market is un- changed, with demand moderate; No. 2 quoted at, 50 to 510 middle Ryeâ€"The market is unchanged, with No. 2 quoted at 59 to 60¢ east and west. " freights Cornâ€"Tho market is quiet, with prices unchanged, No. 3 American yellow quoth at 540 on track, Toronto; No. 3 mixed at 52c. Can- adian corn is nominal at 38§c west for yellow, and 38c for mixed. '1‘0ronto, 'April 26.â€"â€"-Whentâ€"The market is quiet, for Ontario grades, with the demand limited. No. 2 white and red Winter are quoted at 92c low freights. Spring wheat is nominal at. 87c east, and goose at 81 to 82c east. Manitoba. wheat easy, with No. 1 Northern quoted at 98c Georgian Bay ports; No. 2 Northern at 94c, and No, 3 North- ern at 910. No. 1 hard is nominal at 99c. Grinding in transit, prices ‘nre 6c above those quoted. 1 Oatsâ€"The market is steady, with ssales of No. 2 white at, 31-;c east. No. 1 white quoted at 32c east. larleyâ€"The market is quiet, with the demand limited, No. 2 quoted at 4-3 to 44c middle Heights; No. 3 extra at 42 to 430, and No. 3 at 40 to 41c middle freights. Peasâ€"The market, is unchanged, with No. 2 quoted at 65 to 660 out- side, with choice milling lots at. 67 to 69c. UNITED STATES MARKETS Prices of Cattle, Grain, Cheese, and Other Dairy l’roduco at Home and Abroad. REPORTS FROM THE LEADING- TRADE CENTRES. THE WORLD’S MARKETS THE DA IRY MA RK'ETR COUNTRY PRODUCE IIOG PRODUCTS I'LE MA RKE'I‘S demand is fair with ,ged. We quote :â€" tubs. 8c; pails, Sic to 8:0. Continucs quiet We quote :â€" t, with quoted ; N0. 3 3 at 40 new consisted of 86 cars, of \l ever, 3]. “me from Chic-a seaboard. Arrivals tot, head of cattle, 168 sheep 1,935 hogs .and 182 calm- was good, and after some ,buyers and sellers got to pretty well everything W21 of. . Exporters, heavy ......$4.5' Bulls, export, heavy, cwt 3.5! do. light, i. 3.5‘ Feeders, 800 lbs. and up- wards 3 1 Short keep, 1,100 lbs. 4.( Stockers, 400 to 800 pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.51 do. 900 lbs 2.75 Butchers' cattle, choice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . , 4-.1 do medium . 3..-( do picked . 4.23 do bulls 2.75 do. rough ............. 3.01 Light stock bulls, cwt 2.2, Milch cows ....30.0l Hogs, best ...... 4.0 do light . . . . . . . . . Sheep, export, cwt Lambs ............... Bucks Culls, each ......... Sr “Quite a series 0 carried out on the 3 that the Jaltiancsc a in considerable force that they have one The following telegram from Vice- roy Alcxicl‘f has been received at St. I’oterslmrg by the Emperor:â€" “Quitc a series of reconnx. ssanccs carried out on the Ynlu have shown that the Jap'ancsc are concentrating in considerable force. It, is believed that they have one division to the Three islands, one above and two below Wiju, will facilitate an atâ€" tack as they oiler a. base for artillery to cover the crossing of the-Yalu. ‘ Advices from the Province of Hum- ‘gyung, in North-eastern (.‘orea. state that the country folk along the ne‘thern border of the province are selling cattle and supplies to the Russians. rJ'he Province of I'l’amg- yung is the former home of Yiyongik, a former Corean Minister of Finance, who, on amount of his pro-Russian sympathies was transported to Jupâ€" 2111 last February by the Japunese authorities. Several Corean olllcers suspected of being Russian spies lune been ar- rested. - Seoul also state that the Japanese lines now extend 30 miles along the Yalu River, reaching from Yongzunâ€" pho to 10 milosnbove Wiju. The Russians are strongest at Antung. Tiger Hill is, as it was in the Chino- Japanese war, the key to the situaâ€" tion. It is reported that the Japanese are landing troops and constructing buildings at ITung»Chuan, below Yongampho. Advices received at Seoul also state that the Japanese 'A despatch to the Londo‘n Stand- ard from Kieff says it is stated in military circles that 10,000 troops are in the hospitals in Manchuriu, chiefly typhoid patients. that they sailed from Japan of them weeks ago. They m in Comaâ€"or Tibetâ€"as far as here, in Paris or St. Pete) knows. i It is pointed out here that Togo's boisterous calls at Port. Arthur usu- ally are made about ten (lays apart. It has been eight days since Port Arthur was under the Japanese guns, and another bombardment is due. In spite of the rumors of activity near the mouth of the Yalu, Japan's plan of campaign is still as much of a secret as it was at the beginning of the war two months and a half ago. No one can yet say that the Japanese will or will not cross the Yalu at Wiju; that they will or will not attempt to land at Takushan, at Talienwan Buy, at Kin-Chan, at Yin- Kow or west of New-Chwang. No one knows Where Japan's arm- ies are concealed. Russian scouts believe there is one division at W'iju, but the hiding place of the other di- vision is a. mystery. It, is known that they sailed from Japan, some of them weeks ago. They may be It is also reported at St. Peters- burg that ViceAdmiml Togo's squadron has returned to Port Ar- thur. If this is correct it fore- shadows probably another bombard- mont. A despatch to the London Daily Mail from St. I‘etersburg says no ‘news has been received from the Yalu River. No credence is to be attached to the reports that there has been serious lighting there. The latest oflicial desputch definitely states that all is quiet there. This disposes of the' reports tele- graphed to St. I’etcrsburg and re- heated in London, declaring that 8. severe battle has been fought near the mouth of the Yalu River. and that. the Japanese army has suffered a serious check. One (lespatch from Port Arthur declared the Japanese were defeated with a loss of 7,000 men. 80 MILES ALONG THE YALU Expected Battle Has Not Been Fought. N0 SERIOUS SMALL ENGAGEMI Lambs per cwt HO SPI'l‘ALS FILLED or ‘ubeLâ€"as tar as anyone Paris or St. Petersburg, FIGHTING nf which, how- 3.00 4.00 up- 00 50 to $4.80 also I ullod 1,223 and lambs 5. Business holding on gcther and ,s disposed 65.0 4.00 CIO n9- 30 can stro: poss .Shc l MOUTH OF YALU BLOCKED. Numerous skirmishes in the vicinity 'of the Yalu Rivcr are reported. Ja- lpancse scouts crossed the river twelve imilos above. Wiju and reconnoitercd vthe Russian position. They sustainâ€" led no loss. The Japanese have 05- itablishcd posts on the small islands near Wiju. It is bclicvcd that they have succeeded in blocking the mouth [of the river. The Russians are ex- |tcnding their fortifications. They taiued the o to war, but ed, she will posal exccl‘ in Corca cannot 15: When all Will 0501‘ A despatch to the London 13x1 from Nagasaki, by way of Shang claims that an eminent Japa statesman confided to the col'resp cnt at ’l‘okio, on condition that identity should not be revealed, important statement. of which following is the gist:~â€" Japan does not intend to push war to the bitter end. She does wish to humble Russia, but she is solved to accomplish the remove the menace of Russia's power in Far East, and is confident. that can accomplish this. She will tending their forti are strongly rm'nfor on Tl‘igor Island, cm a. severe battle \\' Chino-Japanese War laid. It is believed that as launches were employed, they were. mining the entrance to the harbor in order to prevent the Japanese from forcing an entrance and attempting to de- stroy the, remaining ships. It is eviâ€" dent from the closing of the entrance, that Viceroy Alexiell‘ has no intention of letting his ships: go to sea again. even against an inferior force, thought this may not be the policyt of Viceâ€" Admix‘nl Ski'Y(li0iT, who will deter- mine on :1 plan of operations when The War Commission suppressed part of the Viceroy's despntch, which showed where the mines were being laid. It is believed that as launches were employed, they were mining the entrance to the harbor in order to prevent the Japanese from forcing lossnoss," said a mom] mimlty, “and prev seem to teach nothing The Russian Emperor has received the following tclvg'ram from Viceroy Alexioll, bearing Friday's date:â€"~ “I respectfully report. to your Ma- jesty that to-day during the placing of. mines by some steam launches Licut. Poll and 20 men were killed through a mine exploding prematurely under the stern of one of the launch- n CS. Viceroy Alcxiefi's announcement has added to the gloom which has pre- vailed since the disaster to the I’qtro- pavlovsk. CLAIM JAPS LOST WAR Coma. and are guid to be seventy miles from the Yalu. Gen. Kouropatkin telegraphed to the Czar on Friday that he liad de cided to take the oll‘ensive. consider‘ ing the force now at his disposal sub ficient‘ He says he will leave no- thing to chance. He therefore gave orders to advance a brigade of inâ€" fantr'y, supported by a strong force of Cossacks. Five thousand Cossacks are also advancing in North-eastern “A Russian detachment of two of< ficers and 32 men proceeded thither in three boats. The detachment was, however, discovered by the enemy and shots were exchanged, three of out riflemen being killed. Stuflâ€"Capt. Smeizin and 11 riflemen were severely‘ and Lieut. Puslikin and four men siightly wounded. The detachment returned to our bank oi the river un< der the cm'er of two of our guns." “Our scouts have killed two Jar panesc scouts, one of whom appeared to be an officer. “On our right flank our scouts exe- cuted daring reconnaissanccs, ex< tending over sex'or.al days, on the left bank of the Yulu, as the result a] which it has been ascertained that there are only a few troops south of the River PomaEua, but that the Japanese there are occupied in p're- paring boats. "Information has reached me that quantities of material, apparently parts of pontoon bridges, are being collected opposite the Island of Mn.- bikhic. ning to concentrate troops in Wiju, from which place they have moved the Corean population. 1di assumes comman We TWENTY RUSSIANS KILLED THE JAPANESE the water so imp >ssibly this .npl ish many 1m th paying the price of care- said a member of the Adâ€" “and previous disasters rms of peace rbjccts for M until this is not listen t 1nd an u n terms {us tivvly line. )x'cing their troops )posite \‘v'iju. whom was fought in the minent Japanese ) the Correspond- xxdition that his Idon l-lxpx'cs: of Shanghai PLAN below th that will ships SHIP oval of in the hut she ill de- )y I‘hcv oops HIE the not; :C‘ nt