Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-02-13
Rumor About B. and O. De-
MED in Baltimore.
OFFICIAL AUTHORITY
ONE FIRE INSURANCE COMPANY
HAS SUSPENDED.
The Work of Clearing Away the Debris
Being Pushed Rapidly-Streets
May Be Widened.
ispatch to The Evening Star.


BALTIMORE. Md. February 13.-"There
is absolutely not the slightest foundation
for the many rumors that the general offices
of the Baltimore and Ohio railroad, now
located here, will be transferred to Pitts
burg or to any other place." said M. A. F.
Kuhn, chief clerk to Third Vice President
G. l.. Potter this morning. TT is absurd
to think of 1t. The charter given by the
state of Maryland to the Baltimore and
Ohio expressly requires that the general
offices of the road shall be located In this
city. The road thought at one time of
moving few of the general offices to Pitts
burg, but the idea had to be abandoned.
according to the terms OF the charter.
This is borne out by the fact that all Of
fees that the company has rented outside
of Camden station have been leased for
two years. ---r-
Clearing the Streets.
A portion of the burned district. which
since Sunday had been an impossible area,
strewn with bricks. tangled wires and
twisted iron Orders. was opened for traffic
today. '''
The work accomplished by laborers in
clearing away the debris is regarded by
the building inspectors department as re-
markable If these efforts are continued,
they will put the entire area north OF Pratt
street wharf in condition to begin building
operations in any part within six weeks or
two months
The first financial disaster due to the con-
lagration came late yesterday afternoon,
when the Peabody Fire Insurance Company
closed its doors. Griffith Fellemeye", sec
rotary of the company. stated that the con-
Germs liabilities due to the fire, are far in
excess of its assets.
Il will not reCede.' he said, from the
position l took last Monday morning that
.t-ah fH, i.
My estimate is that the insurance amounts
10 about SS5, 900. 600 or S95. 100000 and the
property owners and business men will be
sorced to stand the difference. The net loss
will be over $50. 100000"
Chairman Turner Reticent
When Paul Turner, chairman of the gen.
eral loss committee of the underwriters,
was asked by The Star correspondent for
an expression of opinion as to the condition
of the local fire Insurance companies. he
stated that 1t would be unwise as well as
impolitic for any insurance man to attempt
make a statement as to their condition.
Even II 1 knew" he said, 81 should not de-
Tulge it; but do not know, nor do l think
any one else does of their actual condition.
We all, however. hope for the best"
Mayor McLane this morning received the
following letter from the justices of the
supreme bench of Baltimore:
We have observed in the daily papers
the announcement that the restoration of
the buildings on the west side of ST. Paul
street opposite the courthouse, is soon to
he begun upon substantially the lines eX-
listing prior to the fire.
This statement impels us to call your
attention to the situation existing there
end to most urgently recommend to you
that before the rehabilitation of any of the
buildings there shall be commenced, proyi-
sion shall be made for the widening of St
Paul street opposite the west front of the
courthouse Such a step We feel to be of
the utmost Importance. both for the gen.
eral improvement of the city and the proper
future protection Of the courthouse. It needs
but to be said that If this is ever to be done
now Is the time"
MT. Bonaparte a Heavy Loser.
Charles J. Bonaparte the eminent law
yer. was one of the heavy losers by the
fire. Mr.. Bonaparte. however. believes that
"a greater and better Baltimore Is in
this morning that a splendid opportunity
Isl now presented for inaugurating public
improvements within the destroyed terri
tory. Modern buildings. wider streets, I'M
derground wires and other Improvements.
he believes, will convert that part of the
city into an almost ideal commercial CEN
ter In discussing the subject he said:
II lost eight buildings in the fire. They
were old ones and all win be replaced by
modern structures. and / suppose other
property owners will do the same Regard
ing the widening of streets there is much
difference of opinion among business men,
All. of course. agree that the widening of
any street is a good thing, but the question
is can the city afford to condemn so much
land The whole subject, in my opinion, is
one that the municipal authorities should
e1truSt to commission of experts for de-
termination.
st. Paul Should Be Widened.
Il will say. however. that there is one
street. which under all circumstances
should be widened and that is st. Paul
street from Lexington to Fayette streets.
The protection of the court house demands
It. No man can dispute that. The widen
In g OF Baltimore. Light and Pratt streets is.
o. course. desirable. but that comes under
the head of general public improvements,
which should be entrusted to commits
sion
Some fear has been entertained that the
work of rebuilding the burned section will
b3 seriously retarded by labor strikes.
which. builders assert are sure to follow
the inauguration of work. The matter had
been so freely discussed that labor leaders
here have taken cognizance of it. AS re-
suit the bricklayerS and maSonS' unions
held a special meeting last evening and
adopted resolution to the effect that as a
great calamity had overtaken the city CT
Baltimore. the Bricklayers and Masons
Union of Baltimore insist that the regular
scale OF wages, adopted January, 1904, be
adhered to.
Good Thing for Bricklayers
This will be a good thing for all brick
layers and masons in Baltimore" said
President J. w. Ringrose of the union to
The Star correspondent today. There will
be many men needed, and we can furnish
600 If necessary. We state in our resolu-
ton that the scale of wages must be ad-
hered to. by which is ieant that the men
must adhere to the scale only when 1t
comes to a question of how low the wages
are to be IL higher wages than the scale
are offered, why. of course. the men are q t
liberty TO avail themselves of the increase"
fire freak was discovered yesterday
while the workmen were engaged in clear
Ing St. Paul street opposite the courthouse.
A small wooden structure, ne-story high
and used as u cigar store, came out of the
sea of flames unchanged 1t stands be-
tween the Herald and Law buildings both
OF which were completely Quilted. In this
little structure not even a pane of glass
was broken. while around II was heaped
bricks and debris 10 the height of ten feet
Though not more than four by twelve feet.
the structure yields rental of So per
month.
Washington Relic Saved.
Maj. w. III. II. Raleigh, manager of the
Mar. f..y. to- Ipxot