The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1904-02-13
! s. TROOPS ASKED FOR
To Guard Millions of Treasure in
Baltimore Fire Ruins.
THE BUSINESS MEN AROUSED
Will Make Strenuous Efforts TO Pre-
vent Trade Advantage From Slip

Will Make Strenuous Efforts TO Pre-
vent Trade Advantage From Slip
ping Away
Baltimore, Nd. Feb. 1.-THE situa-
ton in stricken Baltimore became
yisibly clear after conference at the
Belvidere hotel between Mayor Ne
Lane. a special Joint committee OF the
legislature and formidable delegation
OF representative business men.
This conference was arranged with a
view OF meeting In practical way the
awful eXigency which this community
now faces. The supreme question 10
be decided was that of calling upon the
national government for soldiers to
take the places Of the state militia
regiments now doing police duty In the
burned district The constitution oil
MARYLAND requires that no such request
can be made Of the president except by
authority of the state legislature The
legislative committee was present 10
hear the views Of the mayor and OIL
GERS Of the city on that point.
A brief discussion showed the belief
of those present that this is not time
for sentiment as TO the ability OF the
state To take care of itself, and that the
United States soldiers were needed ana
needed al once. On this score. it was
shown that the militiamen were al
ready much exhausted by their long
continued sentry duty. that they should
be relieved in order that they might re-
turn TO their several yocations, and
that the militia on active duty is cost
ing the state $4,000 a day.
Mayor McLane was particularly In
slstent that 10 efficiently guard the
hundreds of millions OF treasure th0t
lie buried beneath tho smouldering
ruins called for the strong arm of the
federal soldiers The announcement oil
the Legislative committee that 1t wouii
recommend az once the immediate pas
sage OF the necessary resolution was
received with pleasure By the officers
and business men present. and now
that the legislature has formally acted
there is every assurance that a national
Gordon around the devastated region
will inspire a feeling of hopeful conf
dence IN the future
There is no doubt that within tho
past q hours the business men of Bal
timore have been aroused In an extra
ordinary degree 10 the importance a.
doing everything possible 10 keep thcir
trade advantages from slipping away
Merchants and bankers have been con-
ferrlng on this subject. and the pr.-
valllng conviction Is that 1t will TO-
quire the utmost vigilance 20 prevent
the detection OF a considerable v0..
ume II commerce 10 Philadelphia qnt
New York. II IS believed here that 'he
situation may be- saved II the debris
can be cleared away and temporary
buildings erected within four months.
That a large percentage of the spring
trade will be lost is inevitable. b {
there Is "A resolution among wholesa
merchants that The percentage shall 70
as small as possible
There is no doubt that Baltimore hrs
taken fresh courage On all the stree
AUDITING upon the desolated districts
signs nave appeared on windows aEA
over doorways announcing the tcr.-
porary resumption OF business in the
various lines. The best citizens have
taken hold OF the herculean task Of
resurrection with will that betokers
complete success The peryading SEN
timent was we'll portrayed by Governor
Warfed. who said Baltimore win
rise gloriously from her ashes"
All day long there was a large crowd
Of persons around the headquarters Of
Brigadier General Riggs clamorins lor
passes admitting them inside the fire
lines. Positive orders were given. how.
ever. not to issue permits to 90 thrOugn
the lines to any one except the presi-
dents or other responsible officials OF
banks and trust companies
After the banking institutions have
been looked after in the matter ~
passes the wholesale people and other
business men will be taken care OF.
A number of large vaults and safes
were opened. and in each of them the
contents were found to be in good con-
dition. Four hundred thousand dollars
I'm coin and legal tender notes was
taken from the wants Of the Third |
National Bank and sent TO the vaults
of a bank outside the fire district \
heavy guard ol soldiers accompanied |
the money.
kilograms letters and resolutions Of |
fering aid or sympathy are still being |
received at the mayors office Among |
them was cablegram from Liverpool |
that at a representative |
meeting OF the tradesmen of that city |
a resolution was unanimously passed |
rendering the sympathy OF that city to
the citizens OF Baltimore. A letter
from the local German consul was also
received. in which he stated that he
had been directed by Baron Won Rhein-
baben. imperial secretary of state Of
Germany, to extend the sympathy of