The Savannah morning news., 1904-02-13
WILL STRAIGHTEN
CROOKED STREETS
IN REBUILDING BALTIMORE.
m THIS THE MAYOR AND COMMIT
TEE DECIDE.

Until a Plan of Realigning Ger
tain ThOrOughfares Has Been
Adopted-COnAdence i'm the BUSH
ness situation Is Rapidly Being
RestOred-Heavy Guards Maintain
ed About Recovered Treasure.
baltimore, Feb. 12.-That Baltimore
is to rise from its ashes more sub
etantial, more modern and far more
symmetrical, needs no further proof
than was made manifest to-day by
.enewed expressions on the part of
Nfavor McLane and the Committee of
public Safety that no building permits
.ouId be issued until a plan of re-
augning certain thoroughfares, whose
crookedness and narrowness have long
constituted blemish, as well as a Sc
lions embarrassment to municipal
growth. has been adopted. The May
ar and the Committee of Safety are
resolved that shells of buildings shall
not be run between fireproof struc-
lures. as in the past and thus serve
as standing invitation to the flames.
The business situation appeared
brighter to-day than at any time since
the great catastrophe. The regular
transaction. of business in the Cham
Der of Commerce, including displays of
Southern grain, hay and mill feed and
the three usual calls and the posting
Of oat-of-town markets, together with
the receipt of grain by elevators, and
the payment of all cheeks by banks
were events that established conf
dence throughout the business COM
munitY.
Secretary Shaw's splendid response to
the call for currency has excited the
admiration of all financiers here. BY
his prompt action all obstacles were
swept away, and Assistant Treasurer
DRYDEN in Baltimore is able to furnish
any amount of money in any denoml-
nation desired. One bank has had
100000 transferred by wire from New
York and large sums have been Sc
cured by several other banks, includ-
ing savings institutions. Secretary
Shaws arrangements to transfer money
by telegraph to Baltimore from all cit
les having sub-treasuries, will prob
ably be made a permanent thing. If
it is, Baltimore will secure an advant-
age that it has long sought.
The decision of the Baltimore clear
ing house to resume exchanges be-
tween clearing house banks, will re-
move much inconvenience, now handl-
Gaping business houses. This will be
done OH Monday, and will restore an
important function of the banking bus
mess.
A conference will be held tomorrow
between the governing committee of
the Stock Exchange and the Executive
Committee of the clearing house. The
purpose of the conference is to ar
range for the resumption of relations
between brokers, and banks 49,,
Insurance Companies Offer Loans.
The offer of New York insurance
company to lend $4,000, 900 in Baltimore
for rebuilding purposes is a striking
illustration of the readiness of outside
capital to invest in this city. This
money is offered at Az per cent, free
of commission. Another insurance
company has offered to lend the city
100000, available at once.
The task of clearing the piles of
brick mortar and rubbish from the
streets in the fire-scourged district was
pushed forward to-day with marvel
Gus energy. Building Inspector Pres
ton, with a vast multitude of work.
men, has been on the desolated streets
all day, clearing away the debris, and
great progress has been made.
g BdlLlmOre street mas already Deen
cleared from Liberty street to Jones
Falls. The debris. is being thrown on
the side and the entire middle of the
street is clear. A large number of
men are now working on German,
South and Lombard streets, and along
the water front, and the cleaning up
here is also progressing rapidly, with
the exception of along the wharves on
Pratt street. Here the men are great
ly hampered by having no place to
throw the debris except into the basin.
Guarding the Treasure.
The work of emptying the safe de-
post vaults in the ruined buildings
has progressed rapidly. This is being
done with extraordinary precautions.
An escort of cavalry accompanies the
wagons in which the treasures are
hauled. Sharpshooters in plain clothes
ride in the wagons and detectives fol-
low closely on the sidewalks.
Clerks of the bank owning the valu
ables are also on the wagons, and have
their hands constantly on revolvers.
Along the route chosen the police are
also on the alert, and it is impossible
to get within ten feet of these vehicles
The money and securities in these
vaults are being carried to the vaults
of banks and companies that escaped
the fire.
All the local courts resumed bust
ness to-day. Jury trials will be re-
sumed, and the grand jury will re-
assemble on Monday next.
Thus the current of events begins to