The age-herald., 1900-09-15
Work of Relief is Being Vig-
 orOusIy Pushed
BEACH IS BEING CLEARED
Systematic Effort is Being Made to Re- store Order in Stricken City Reports from Other Points
 Are Disheartening.

Dallas, Tex. September 4.-The News staff correspondent, wiring from Houston, says:
 "I should say after Investigation that a conservative estimate of the loss of life in Galveston would be 6,5O0. The names of thousands of victims will never be known. They have simply passed out of existence like so many fiickering candles might be extinguished in the wind. As to the prop erty loss, 1t is hard to make an estimate. Colonel Lowe's estimate of s15,OOO,OOO to $20,000,00O is conservative"
 Galveston, Tex, September 14-General Mckibben is today engaged in an effort to learn the damage done to government property. The first real attempt to clear away the great mass of debris piled along the beach front for a distance of several miles was begun today. Advertisements were printed in the News which appeared this morning asking for hundreds of men and boys to do this work. A multitude re- sponded. They were formed into squads and promptly put to work with police and deputy sheriffs in charge It Is hoped that a vigorous prosecution of this work will lead to the early recovery of bodies still in the debris. That there are many of them, there Is no shadow of doubt. It is difficult indeed to imagine how half the people that did escape got free of this fear full fotsam and jetsam.
 An Associated Press representative tra- Versed the beach for some distance today, and the stench at different points was ab- solutely sickening. Everywhere little groups of men, women and children, some of them poorly provided with raiment, were digging in the ruins of their homes for what little household property they could save. In many cases those seeking their former residences were utterly unable to discern simple remnant of them, so hope less is the confusion of timbers and house. hold furniture.
 The exodus from the city was heavy to- day, and hundreds who were eager to go were unable to secure transportation. Along the bay front there were scores of families with dejected faces, pleading for permission to be taken from the stricken city. In spite of every effort to restore confidence, there is universal feeling of depression.
 Damage to Shipping Overestlmated
 Shipping men say today that the damage to the wharves Is by no means as serious as at first feared. The chief damage has been in the tearing open of sheds and the ripping of planking. The sheds, however, were of comparatively recent construction, and can be quickly replaced. The piling for a considerable distance along the bay front successfully withstood the pounding 1t got from the wind and waves, and business men find a measure of consolation in this What the grain loss is has not yet been computed. The elevators were consider ably damaged in having portions of their tops, sides, fronts and backs sealed away, and some grain has been damaged by wa- ter. It was said at elevator A that the ma chinery was unharmed, and that as soon as 1t is started and the grain turned the prospective loss will be decreased
 More hopeful reports were received to- day touching the water supply. c. H. Me- Masters, of the Chamber of Commerce. has charge of the water relief work. The company Is placing men all along the mains, plugging the broken places, thereby assisting the flow. It was serving some of its customers today and hope gradually to increase the service.
 The water continues to run by gravity pressure. The only difficulty the people are having is in carrying supplies to their homes or places of business. The ice sup ply continues bountiful, and at many cor ners lemonade is being served at cents TOT as many BldSSSS dS yOu Cttu oiiHh dI one time.
 Effective Measures Taken
 Effective measures were taken today to keep undesirable people off the island Sol- diers parolled the water front and chal- lenged all who could not show proper rea- son for their landing or who were unwilling to work for the privilege of coming into town.
 Assurances have been received by the railroads that they will do all in their pow CT to reopen communication, and their present plan seems to be to concentrate all forces on the work if the reconstruction of one bridge Crews are coming down the Santa Fe Railroad from Arkansas and St. Louis with full equipments to restore the line. Local representatives of the Southern Pacific have had advices from headquar- ters to proceed with repair work without delay.
 Photographic communication has been par tiAlly restored, the Western Union and Pos tai Telegraph Companies having reached the city with one wire. Large forces have been at work along the lines of both com panies, and connections with Galveston has been fraught with many difficulties.
 A larger number of business houses than yesterday are open and advertising their wares at no advance In the prices.
 Carts with disinnfectants are going through the streets. The gutters are being covered with lme Carpenters are having all the work they con do. The storm tore hum dreds of roofs and, and the people who are livng in topless houses are eager to ob- tain coverings so las to prevent the destruc- ton of what they have saved If rainstorm comes along. Thus far, however, the wealth. CT has been clear, and there are no im- mediate indications of downpour. The re- lief committees are steadily broadening the scope of their work. They have established bureaus for the issuance of orders and ra- tions in every ward, and there is multi