Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-03-08
ALL RECORDS BROKEN
MAYOR SAYS THIS
WEEK WILL SEE PROGRESS.
Commission to Be Named When Bill
is Passed-Financial Status-Plea
for Enlarged Fire Facilities.

Special Dispatch to The Evening Star.
BALTIMORE, March s.-Mayor McLane
is sanguine that all records for rapid ex-
ecutive, legislative and councilmanic action
will be broken this week in the transac
ton of business relative to opening up the
entire burned area to those who intend re-
building.
81 will be ready to send the names of the
gentlemen who will constitute the burnt
district commission soon the bill is
passed by the legislature said the mayor
to The Star correspondent today. THE
council will be in session during the entire
week, so that there may be no delay.
do not think that it will take more than a
few hours time to settle upon the plans,
and then the work of rebuilding can be be-
gun
The same view of the situation is taken
by City Engineer Fendall. THE whole
matter should not occupy more than six
hours from the time the bill is passed by
the legislature until the district is ready for
the building contractors. We are now
waiting on the legislature"
The condition of trade is reported as eX
cellent by the houses that suffered loss in
the fire, and the only handicap that now
confronts the merchants is the inability of
the railroads and storage houses to handle
incoming and outgoing consignments with
the facility which the occasion demands.
Our trade has proved loyal to u.s. said
Willard F. Burgess of the John E. Hurst
Company, land the orders received thus
far have surpassed expectations. L am
sure that great boom is in sight for Bal
timore. and within two years the local
wholesale dry goods market will be
stronger than ever before.
Financial Showing.
The splendid financial condition is set
forth in a statement compiled by John NJ.
Nelson of the firm of Hambleton & Co..
bankers. The total assessed valuation, ac-
cording to Mr.. Nelson, is $491, 921, 1913, and
the net debt s12301. 519.47
The amount of debt permissible under the
savings bank law per cent of assessed
yaluation-would be $34 434 1926. There
fore 1t will be seen that Baltimore, under
existing conditions could issue $21 $685. 900
more stock and still be within the per
cent limit.
The statement continues: Baltimore is
in very healthy financial condition, which
Is particularly gratifying now that the city
is called upon to expend large amounts be-
cause of the destruction of a greater por-
ton of the business and financial section
by fire.
THE city has on deposit with the banks
and trust companies A,.U0,tO0 in cash,
which after receiving legislative authority
TO use the same, this money standing to the
credit of the sinking fund, can be with
drawn as required and the proceeds of the
proposed s6.O00.00O loan will be available
amer the same small nave Deen passed upon
by a vote of the people,
For Enlarged Fire Department.
There is great popular demand for an
enlargement of the fire department Secre-
tary Wilkinson of the board of fire COM
missioners said to The Star correspondent
today: THE greatest need of the city to-
day is large fire department. The facil-
tiles at hand are totally inadequate for the
of ha CITY nv
ton. which is not SO large as Baltimore has
| twice the number of engines and hose reels
| as Baltimore
All this talk about our engines not being
| large enough is mere twaddle. Our steam
| erS are as large as those in use in New
York Philadelphia. Washington and other
! large cities. What we need is more en-
| gines and more firemen.
! THE fire department Is the most impor-
| tant branch of the municipal government,
| and should by all means be increased to
| All extent that will meet the requirements
| that may arise. We do not know just when
| another such conflagration may visit u.s.
| and we should always be prepared for the
| worst
| In discussing this subject President Mar
| tin Meyerdick of the German-American
| Fire Insurance Company said: 1.-The citys
| fire fighting equipment is wholly made
| quate. and no time should be lost in aug
| menting it.
Then, too, the installation of independ-
| ent fire mains and a pumping station in
| the business district would go far toward
| insuring protection against fire. All money
spent judiciously for fire extinguishing IA
| cilties is good investment for any city