Chicago, Aug 21st 1865

To the Mayor and Aldermen of the City of Chicago in Common Council Assembled,

The undersigned respectfully represent unto your honorable body, that the documents and records of the City of Chicago are in a shamefully unsafe condition. A fire accidentally or purposely kindled in his office would destroy the municipal records and create a vacuum which could not be filled. The municipal history of Chicago contained in twelve large volumes, is kept in a dry wooden closet, which a match could ignite and which, if left undisturbed for a quarter of an hour, would be consumed with all its precious contents. The official bonds of city of of city officers, amounting in the aggregate to over a million dollars, are kept in a paper box. There are 1400 Saloon Bonds, 700 day Bonds, 700 Express bonds, 400 Double Team Bonds, 300 peddler Bonds, and 300 Hack and Runner Bonds equally well secured. All the Assessment Rolls for the improvement of streets and Alleys, Returns of Elections, ordinances, and the thousand and one accumulations of this office are all at the mercy of fire, and of the evil disposed. Chicago has become a vast city. What was well enough and safe enough for a city of two thousand inhabitants will not do for a city of two hundred thousand. What is needed is a vault, fire proof, and capacious enough for the wants of this office for a decade. If this be impracticable, a large and suitable safe should be at once secured, in which could be placed the records and some of the more valuable papers. A Business man who should conduct the affairs of his counting room, in this regard, as loosely as does the City of Chicago, would assuredly meet with some great commercial disaster, and by his conduct would justify the withdrawal of public Sympathy. “I respectfully ask that this communication be by your honorable body referred to some appropriate Committee with such instructions as you in your wisdom shall think proper to give.”

Respectfully submitted
A.H. Bodman
City Clerk