The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1904-02-19
BALTIMORE'S BIG FIRE
Monumental City Recovering From Eli
fects Of Conflagration.
TOTAL LOSS PUT AT sIzs,oea, 600.
Confidence and Hope Has Been Restored to
Ugh Degree BY the knowledge That All
the Cash and Securities in the Vaults of
The Destroyed Financial institutions Are
Safe and Sound.

Baltimore, Md. (Speciar. Baltimore
has experienced one of tue greatest cal
antilles that ever befell Il city in this
country. Hundreds of its handsomest
buildings are in ruins, its business sec
tion almost totally destroyed and thous-
ands of people are thrown ont of employ
ment.
The fire started on Sunday morning at
1870 a. m, and ragged with unceasing-
vigor until Tuesday morning, when the
city fire department aided by deIach-
ments from New York. Philadelphia
Washington. Wilmington and other
cities, succeeded in getting it under con-
troll.
PERIL POINT SAFELY PASSED.
The City banks are now open and
are paying out money Business houses
are receiving orders and are confident of
filling them Streets in the ruined ter
ritory are being cleared by thousands of
workmen and altogether great steps
have been taken toward recovery from
the effects of the confiagaration.
Confidence and hope has been restored
to high degree by the knowledge that
all the cash and securities in the vaults
of the destroyed financial Institutions
are safe and sound and can he put to use
Immediately.
Federal troops have replaced the State
militia and guard the wealth which is
being taken from former repositories
into temporary quarters where affairs
are now being conducted.
Excitement and worry have given
away to zeal and enthusiasm for the
work Of making new Baltimore,
SOME INSURANCE PAID
The insurance companies are also CO.
operating with the bank people in their
effoits TO relieve the financial situation
The largest companies and some q the
smaller ones too, have decided to in
mcdiatly pay 80 per cent. Of the Amount
of the claim presented to them where
the loss was total, or nearly SO, leaving
the remainder to be paid after the ;issur
ancc has been finally adjusted. This will
enable many business men TO resume
business at temporary quarters who
have not the means to start to go ahead
with their arrangements. A few small
claims have been paid BY some com
panies.
There was an enthusiastic meeting al
citizeus. too. for the purpose Of coDsid-
ering the general situation E. Clay
Timanus. president of City Council was
chairman. The sense of the meeting
was this--and this practically tells The
prevailing spirit of the people and
winds up the story of the day" Instead
of despairing, we'll hustle. Instead OF
giving up our business even in this time
of stress. well reach out for more. Well
stick by one another, and show tbs
world what Baltimore men are made Of y
$50, 623, 600 IN THE VAULTS.
4 fairly accurate estimate Of the vast
wealth buried in the vaults of the wreck
ed banks and trust companies may be
had from the following compilation of
figures taken from the last report Of the
United States Comptroller of the Cur
rcncy: United States bonds, 81, 57o Goo,
other securities, S31 G53 600 total, $50,
623. 900.
All of this great amount is safe There
is supposed to he even more securities in
the district than those named. As II is
the currency kept there must be added
to these figures.
Purs loss At S12j, 900 geo
One of the expert insurance adjusters
here says:
The aggregate of loss mentined by
each company has undoubtedly been I'M
am convinced that the
total actual loss will be 1926. coo, 900, of