The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1873-08-22
RELIEF FOR SUFFERERS.


We hear considerable about disburs-
ing committees, but do not hear OF any
body being benefited by them to any
great extent. The excessive "modesty"
of our city dignitaries, which causes
causes them to "blush" at the idea that
any man or woman who may have lost
their buildings in which their business
was carried on, and without which they
are at the mercy Of landlord sharks ana
real estate sharpers, may receive such
substantial aid from abroad as shall
enable them TO rebuild and go on with
out the canker-worm Of usury forever
gnawing at their financial vitals-thls
very excessive and ill-timed modesty Is
seriously erippling our city interests.
The fact is, other cities, which Portland
has helped in like disasters, are ready
and willing to help her in return. We
call upon the Mayor in the name OF the
people to rise above the idea of 'loans"
for this purpose, whereby the already
plethoric banks may increase their per-
centage of business at the expense of
the toil-laden and fire-stricken masses.
Chicago's bank organ did not "blush"
when the wealth of many cities, whose
terrible trouble has not yet come (al-
though it may at any moment), was
poured unsparingly into the devastated
city to rebuild it. These calamities
should be accepted as the common
heritage of the people, that the great
law Of reciprocity may have room TO ex-
pand and grow in the self-corroded heart
of humanity. Then let San Francisco
and New Orleans, and Philadelphia and
New York and Boston help. Let Chi
cago spare of her fast increasing abund-
ance and let st. Louis contribute her
share. Let the people be put in a way
to help themselves and not be bound to
repay with usury the relief received TO
recover the means of livelihood or
competence, lost in disastrous fire.
1t is very well for National banks and
National bank organs to "blush" at
these things, but it's quite another
matter when subsistence for the people
who have lost their all is wrung from
them anew In the form of interest. We
have been pleased with the spirit of
humanity manifested by our own citi-
zens as well as those from a distance.
Some of the donations are very large
and the donors of both large and small
sums are highly appreciated for their
well-timed liberality. But few pota-
toes and little flour, few tools and a
months free rent, will not rebuild our
city, and this, beyond the first pressing
demands of hunger, is what the people
need. If capital is loaned TO us to re-
build, the men disbursing it will make a
handsome profit. None except men
owning the lots can afford to borrow
money to rebuild, and they will, OF
course, demand rental for their build
ings which will take all the profits of an
ordinary business, and drive many citi-
zens away from Portland. Let money
for building purposes be giUeH by any
city that wants to aid us, not to owners
of the soil, but to those who are willing
to lease the ground for a term OF
ten, twenty, thirty or fifty years.
Let the conditions upon which such
persons receive the donations be that
the main buildings are for their own
use, and the offices, suites or lodging
rooms, etc, which they shall build in
connection, are to be rented at rates
that will merely pay the lease value ol
the ground they stand upon and a small
profit to the person who attends TO the
business. Then our city will arise from
her ashes under the dawn of new pros
perity. Rents in other places than the
burnt district will fall in proportion ia
the dullness of the times, and Others
besides bankers and real estate holders
can have roofs to cover them that will
not be eaten into continually by the
canker-worm of interest.