The Washington times., 1904-02-09

Is DEPRIVED
OF TRADE


BALTIMORE. Feb. s.-This city. for
the first time. seems partially to realize
the magnitude of it's fire.
The weather has taken upon itself
wintry chill. which will precipitate the
days of want and cold which are in
store for the thousands of workers de-
prived Of employment by the destruc-
tion Of the city's business district.
With the opportunity for cool consid-
GRAFTON offered by the third day since
the flames commenced to sweep a quar-
ter-rnile path a mile long through the
heart of her commercial system Baltf-
more's conservative citizens are con-
fronted with several salient features Of
the situation that strike them with
grave misgiving for the immediate fu-
ture of the Monumental City.
Her Trade Gone.
First. the city has suffered a loss vari-
ously estimated from sl50, ,00o. 600 70 twice
that stupeRdous sum. partially covered
py insurance. IL is true. but the avail
ability Of which will be hampered by the
olsspiriting drudgery ahead OF the in
surance adjusters and underwriters in
settling the thousands Of claims
Second, with this loss went the city's
potentiality as one of the commercial
centers Of the country, and today Bal
umore stands deprived of her trade with
the South and West. Her great whole
sale houses, warehouse and wharf dis
trlct have been ruined. notrdrrevocably.
but to such an extent that the fear
grips the heart 9f every Baltimore busi-
ness man that the city may be unable
to recover it for many years.
Thousands Are Idle.
Third, the mediate dangers are an
palling. Some fifty thousand peorle In
Guiding every class in a great CITY. from
high officials in financial institutions Ia
The humble packers and pOrters in the
small Jobbing houses. Iongshoreinen and
laoorers. shop girls, clothing factory
operatives, an army Of clerks, and all
those varied kinds Of wage earners
nholng employment in n cosmopolitan
business district, have for two days been
Idle Most Of these fifty thousand must
time
Suffering is bound to come. and onI,
generous aid will prevent dire destftu-
uon. The weather this morning is sharp
and chilly. A cold spell of two weeks.
duration would entail suffering in Its
direct form on large portion OF tie
families Of Baltimore. Food is scarce
Much OF the available supply was burn
ed with the fierce Onrush Of the flames
which swept away the commission dis
trict- In one OF the most prominent
hotels last night the food was exhaust
ed at o'clock
Decentralization Evident.
Specially expressed orders were do
hvered from Philadelphia for breakfast
today This typffies the Stuation a.
70 provisions. but in humber quarters.
the pinch IS more sharply felt Back
OF these causes for apprehension lies
the general decentralization. which at
fects every stratum of Baltimore.
The realization Of the magnitude and
completeness OF the stroke which fate
has dealt their city, affects banker and
worker alike. The recovery viii be p
herculean effort, not necessarily OF
money aud financial enterprise. but or
civic spirit and indomitable will by the
whole citizen body
SmOlderinR Ruins.
Smoldering ruins and stil-roaring fur
naces in the eastern portion OF the |
burned district cover the fire zone as |
marked this morning In Baltimore This |
smitten district is now described as
being bounded on the west by Liberty /
Street on the east by Jones Falls. and /
on the south by the Basin. Within |
this district were the big structures I'm /
Fayette. Gay, Lombard Charles. Bald
erson. Ellicott, Holnngsworth, and (
Cheapside Streets.
The region in the Point" formed by 1
the Basin and Jones Falls still marks /
the hottest fire. where among the lum- 1
Der yards. Warehouses and docks. Act
ing Chief Emerich expects the flames TO
rage unabated for several DAYS.
Lighted the City.
Last night this district acted as
great pyre, which lighted Up the other
wise darkened city with. a smoky. vap-
orous glare. The Baltimore iremen
were loud in their praise of the
eleven New York engines and crews
which. on the bridges across Jones