Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-02-11

was busily at work in the debris, piling
the bricks and broken timbers on the side
walks, where they were then loaded into
carts to be hauled away.
Besides this force several hundred rail-
road workmen, under the supervision or
contracting engineers of the Pennsylvania
and Baltimore and Ohio railroads, began
to take down the iron pillars and Orders
left standing around the ruins, which IN
their present position constitute an ele-
ment of danger.
Composite Estimate Of Loss, $685.
600, 900.
A composite estimate of the total loss
from the fire by twenty-five expert repre-
sentatives of leading insurance companies
outside of Baltimore places the figures at
$50, OOO,o00. Some OF them think that the
total loss will be reduced to s1O.o00,0 Co., as
much salvage is being dug out Of the ruins
which was thought to have been destroyed
The loss to the insurance companies Is
estimated by the same experts at 70 per
cent of the total loss.
The chamber of commerce today resumed
the usual calls for grain at the temporary
board room in the Masonic Temple.
Limit Erection of Overhead Wires.
The electrical commission today directed
TIE CITY eISiuccI u Piciiio.b tia~ ~
telegraph poles or the strnging of wires in
the burned district, with the exception OF
street lighting and trolley poles.
Assistant Treasurer Dryden, at the SUBJ
treasury, said the financial situation in Bal
timore is rapidly approaching normal All
banks are doing business today, receiving
deposits and cashing checks. The sub
treasury he said, stood ready to pay here
all deposits that are made at any other
subtreasury in the United States to the
credit of Baltimore bankers. For this pur-
pose large shipments of money have been
received here.
Streets Crowded With Idle Men.
The streets in the vicinity of the burned
district were crowded today with idle men.
So great did the crowd become around the
city hall that detachment Of the militia
men was summoned to clear the streets.
! Hundreds of men, mostly laborers have
come to this city in the hope of getting
! work in the fire district. All the saloons re-
main closed.
Brig. Gen. Riggs, In command of the
troops duty at the fire district, who has
been summoned to Annapolis to appear be-
fore the bar of the house of delegates and
explain why he refused to permit his troops
to recognize passes issued to members of
the legislature by Governor Warfeld, went
to the state capital today. Before he left
he said he would answer all questions put
to him at Annapolis
Gen. Riggs Explains Pass Order.
The order revoking all passes. including
these issued by the governor. the general
explained, was made after an inspection of
the burned district which showed that the
tottering walls were menace to life, and
also because of the fear that INSCRIPTIONS
persons might carry away valuables, or
even go far to break open safes.
The action, Gen. Riggs added. was de-
trff aj OF Of off ainlC
Tuesday at which Governor Warfield was
present, and it was approved by him. The
governor. the general said. stated at the
conference that he had issued passes to the
members of the legislature. and regretted
that he had done so. Gen. Riggs took with
him statements from the mayor and other
city officials, in which they give their views
of the situation, and approve the order re-
yoking passes.
Admission to the fire territory was COM
paratively easy today. This was due to the
greatly improved conditions within the
To Make Inspection.
Building Inspector Snowden Ashford and
Assistant Inspectors Sommerville. Lawson
and Conner went to Baltimore this morning
to inspect the ruins of the Baltimore con-
hagration. The District inspectors will be
accompanied on their tour of inspection of
the fire zone by Building Inspector Preston
of Baltimore.
lie purpose OF the Trip Is TO OBTAIN any
information available relative to fireproof
building construction and to obtain sugges-
tons for additional protective regulations
City Thoroughly Aroused
Thus the enormous task of bringing or
der out of chaos in this devastated city has
been formally inauguarated and it is not
TO be doubted that it will be resolutely exc
cuted- The whole city has been reused to
the necessity of pushing forward the re-
surrection of the burned district The mag
nitude OF this work may be realized when
III Is estimated that the mere cleaning away
OF the debris will cost about 81, 0OO. 900.
A number of individual merchants and
bankers announced today that they have
already made definite arrangements with
architects and builders for the erection of
new structures. Already fully a thousand
firms have found quarters in other parts
of the city, and others are still seeking
places where to put only desk. Desirable
locations are scarce, and buildings which
stood idle for years have been quickly
seized by burned-out concerns. In numerous
instances business houses outside the fire
area have given up portions of their build
lngs to other unfortunate firms.
Restoration of Confidence.
The opening yesterday of the board room
by the chamber of commerce and the re-
cept of quotations. the uninterrupted ship
ment of grain cargoes, the certainty of
state aid and the notification by some of
the large insurance companies of their
readiness to pay 80 per cent on losses, and
the action of the Legislature In asking for
federal troops, constitute a chain of Incl
dents which have contributed materially
to the restoration of public confidence and
cheerfulness.
Late yesterday afternoon Mayor McLane
reconsidered his previous determination to
announce that he would accept outside aid.
On this subject he said:
THE situation here does not now justify
such action. There is no restitution as yet.
L cannot tell what may follow. We have
a board of charities which looks after the
citY'S destitute This hoard iS in clnSa