Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-09-10
CHARLESTON'S CALAMITY
INSPECTION OF THE BUILDINGS
IN PROGRESS.

The City Appraisers Estimate of the
Aggregate LOss-Three More Shocks
Felt During the MOrning - Mayor
Courtenay Urges the People to Return
TO Their Houses.
CHARLESTON, S. c., Sept. 9.--The city
is oulet to-day, though the dream of abso-
lute immunity from danger was rudely
dispelled by a smart but innocuous shoes
Of earthquake between l and > O'Clock
This morning. Shelter has been pretty
we'll provided for all the homeless, but the
pxpected rains will cause much suffering.
Rations are being issued to all persons
who are recommended by any clergyman an
or anv reputable citizen known to the
Relief Committee. Charleston Will also
furnish rations in the same way to destl-
tute persons at SummerVille and Mount
Pleasant. There are rumors that the
country negroes will flock here In the
hope OF living in idleness. and that the
cotton fields and truck farms will be de-
serted. but this is not likely to last If 1t
begins, as great pains are taken to pre-
vent loafers from taking advantage OF the
distribution of food by the Relief Commit
tee.
WORK OF THE ENGINEERS.
The Board of Engineers are at work.
They find that the parapet of the western
portion Of the custom house 1s seriously
damaged, and its repair will involve con-
siderable expense, but the building Is
safe and has sustained no other injuries.
The post Office is seriously damaged,
and Mr.. Spier would advise an instant
bor H.
ing procurable. 1t will be propped up
temporarily and rendered safe.
The Old Club House on Meeting street
Is an entire wreck, and will be pulled
down.
They find the building off the Charleston
cotton factory but little damaged, and en-
tirely safe with the exception of the south
wall In the fourth story, which they ad-
wise should be drawn in with IRON rods.
The massive chimney, which is severely
cracked at point about two-thirds OF the
way up, the committee recommended
should be pulled down as far as the crack.
MGEE's ENCOURAGING WORDS.
Prof. McGee. of the United States Geo
logical Sur vey, in a letter published to-
day, says: 81 desire to reterate my firm
conviction tn at there is not the slightest
danger OF tidal wave, volcanic eruption
or other catastrophe disturbances. There
is every probability that slight shocks
ought to be regarded as favorable indica-
tiOns rather than otherwise, as they indi-
cate that the accommodating stresses to
which the earthquake is SO far que are
relieved from time to time"
The City Appraiser publishes the fol-
lowing estimate of damage by the earth
quake: The assessed value OF real estate
tor the year 1885 was $l6, 100. The
reassessment, completed Aug. 81, 1885, on
basis not exceeding 80 per cent. OF the
market value, was $20,000,000. This does
not include government, State, county,
city and other public property, nor
churches, schools and other charitable
property exempt from taxation, which
will amount to at least SC, 200, 900 more.
THE CYCLONES DEVASTATION.
A careful estimate of the damage done
by the cyclone of August, 1886, made
the amount about $l.500,000. OF this
about $l,OOO,O 600 had been expended during
the past year to replace damage by the
cyclone, in addition to which permits
have been issued from this Office since
I Aug. l, 1886, for new buildings and i'm
& provements, the actual cost of which Is
& reported at S4S6,975, which, from expert
ence, does not represent over three-tourths
OF the actual cost. The renum bering OF
Il the CITY, completed in December, 1885,
SHOWS the actual humber OF houses num-
hereu south of Sheppard street, which is
Ine northern boundary of the built up
portion of the city, to be 1888. Above
tnis there are about 1000 more houses,
generally small and OF wood, which,
curing the past two years, have been
quilt upon farm lands that have been d.
Hded into building lots aud sold. upon
which large portion of our colored pop
uIStlon nave located and built.
ALL NOT INCLUDED.
Shis statement as to the number OF
aouSes does not include any of the
Wharves or water front of the city where
ne offices and stOrehouses are mostly To-
.a'ed. have not been able in the short
ane given for securing tDis information
~stparate the number of private houses
non business places, but | think fair
ssIlmate is 1000 occupied as private
ald 1900 as business houses. l have
slled more than three-tourths of the
u'! IN the past three days, and from OBJ
~IFauOn regard that every house is more
less damaged. The brick houses are
samased to very serious extent, and
many VIII have 10 be pulled down, l
Ilnk the damage will exceed one-fourth
I. we assessed value, or in round num-
s oeIs SoOOO,O0O The estimate is based on
comparison with the damage caused by
Tue cyclone.
TEE MAYORS SECOND ADDRESS.
AN IIayor Courtenay to-day issued a Sec
sas Snu auuress to the people. in which he
t!s ne can testify to the large damage
srS uSuout the whole extent OF the city,
oi,, fu mat 1t scan be said Of the commu-
ros '3 SS whole that their moral courage
'srs gqual to their great disaster. He Of
,or,a,. vne ioll0W1ng advice for the best in
'ieSIs OF the people:
pec cdI 'ne end of sixty days we must surely ex-
Olu weather. and / am alarmed at the
frail AZ noes to follow the use OF tents and
when slIers IN our streets and public squares
larit, "us1 u1 lead surely To sickness and ca
Of sciee1,..Ne we nave 1t on the highest authority
lihood ,,S ahV experience that there Is no like
va iutther violent shocks.
~, plAL CESSATION ALMOST CERTAIN.
total VT Eradual decrease assures us of their
de- m - 'atl n, and now, my fellow citizens,
Bs PA -n...H II. my Imperative duty To ad vis~escape
ure M ~ as pos .lnle rom the SERIOUS eXpus-
onep or1nu under thin shelter and on the
Weatasou uuhu ab this season, when our rainy
Inc IN J[ Is usual. Nearly everv frame build.
Tor bab'tot., haa been declared at least safe
While occ,.9h' Chimncys may be rebuilt
have hoo pea. Many of the brick building
Fan be oraooIso pronounced safe in part and
he unlni,Ipled. return this day to occupy
III such ccaseeu part OF my brick house, and in
pOssbIe IIases 90 where return TO their homes is
earnestly invite return
W., HpING OUT OF TOWN.
ompienai i,,nhediai return is impossible I re-
Poe St,Ieau upOrarg refuge in the interior OF
afe dycliV', Elsewhere, or the hlringof some
he t0.ss,n IN the city, a number OF which
an VI tsem"an m"anNqPecupied. word to these who