The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1904-02-18
BALTIMORE RALLIES
Desolated City Puts Up a Bold Fight
For Rebuilding
FIRMS GETTING READY TO REOPEN
The Property Loss Hardly As Great
AS at First Estimated - Outside
Assistance Appreciated Aut In No
Case Asked For and Not Needed.

An incident that inspired the whole
community with tremendous confidence
was the resumption Of business by the
banks. deposits being received and
checks honored in the usual way. 1t
would be difficult to estimate the vol
ume Of transactions in this respect.
but according to the leading bankers it
was gratifyingly large in view OF ex-
listing conditions.
The knowledge that Baltimore's ter
minal facilities are intact and that the
grain elevators were not involved in
the fiery tornadoS also served to pro-
mote a popular conviction that the
situation is not so dark as it has here
tofore appeared. Indeed the optimistic
feeling is manifestly growing that the
calamity. though narrowing in every
detail, will give the city An opportunity
to re-adjust itself on new and more
modern plans and that a new city of
imposing grandeur is to rise from the
ruins of the Old
The progress which has been made
in the work Of clearing the debris from
the streets in the burned district seems
almost magical. Baltimore street, which
al sunrise was confused mass OF rub
bish, Is practically clean. and likewise
South street, one OF the great banking
thoroughfare. Hanover street, near
where the fire started, was made passa-
ble for wagons. and Pratt street, a long
avenue Of trade, is clear of encum-
brances all the way through. The city
engineers department, the building in
spector and the street cleaning depart
ment, all worked in conjunction. No
attempt was made to do more than to
clear the streets from curb to curb. the
debris being piled high on the side
walks and back of the building line.
Many dangerous walls which over
hang the streets were pulled down. The
most ambitious attempts at razing
walls were on Liberty and Lombard
streets. At each OF these places there
are hosting engines with wire cables,
which are fastened to section Of the
topping walls and then wound upon
on the spools. The Hurst building in
which the first started was pulled
down. All through the financial district
preparations are being made to open
safes and vaults. Those of'the German
Bank and the German Fire Insurance
Company were opened and the cash
and books taken out uninjured. The
vault of the Marine Bank was opened
and found intact. In no instance have
the contents of any vault been seri-
ously damaged.
The chamber Of commerce has been
exceedingly active in sending broad
cast to every center Of trade in this
country and Europe the assurance that
Baltimore Is even now in condition to
transact all shipping, grain and foreign
trade, and that ali other lines Of bust
ness will be restored to their normal
channels within the next two or three
months The officials of the chamber OF
commerce announced that plans are
already nearly completed for the re-
building of their 100000 structure.
Many merchants and manufacturers
whose places of business were swal-
lowed up in the confagration have
signed contracts for rebuilding and
there are on all sides the greatest
signs of activity in this respect. All
are simply waiting for the city to clear
the streets Of debris and give permis.
sion to the owners of the ground to
take possession. The matter Of accept
ing aid from other cities, has not yet
been finally decided upon, according to
Mayor McLane The fire did not reach
the residential section Of the city and
there is no actual destitution at this
time. The indications are that the eit-
zens of Baltimore will be fully able to
take care of all cases Of want that
might present themselves. The mayor
feels grateful for the many proffers OF
aid from the citizens of this country
and from foreign lands.
TIE following was received from the
Pope:
His Holiness. deeply moved by the
news OF the great calamity which has
recently visited the city of Baltimore,
desires your eXcellency to convey to
the honorable mayor and the people
of Baltimore his sincere sympathy. He
prays that they can stand the severe
loss their city has suffered and that
it will continue to progress. (Signed.)
Cardinal MERRY DEL VAL.
The leading savings banks in the
city combined in public announce
ment last week that none OF them have
suffered any loss OF securities by the
fire. and that they are in as good con-
dition financially as ever and that they
will be open for business February
18th.
A composite estimate Of the total loss
from the fire by 25 expert representa-
tiyes OF leading insurance companies
outside Baltimore places the figures at
sS5, 900 COO. Some Of them think that
the total loss will be reduced to SIo'-
COO 600, as much salvage is being dug
out of the ruins which was thought to
have been destroyed. The loss to the
insurance companies is estimated by
tho oorre eynerts at Is per cent. o. the