Note 135 — Chapter VI · Catastrophe and Social Legislation

This is not to be considered as without exception in catastrophies. A special Citizens' Committee led the operations at the Paterson fire and flood, but at the Chicago fire the City government took immediate and responsible action. This was also the case at Baltimore when the Mayor was the “key to the situation.” It should however be added that both at Halifax and Dartmouth the chairmen of the Citizens' Committees were ex-mayors.