Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-03-05
COMPLAIN OF METHODS
ovERcAUTIoUsNEss IS COSTING
BALTIMORE THOUSANDS.
Criticism Declared Ridiculous by City
Engineer-Ofhcials Working Day
and Night-Coal Famine.

Special DIspatch to The Evening Star.
: BALTIMORE, Md, March 5.-Among the
leading merchants of the city there is heard
much criticism over what is termed the
''dilatery methods of the city officials in
getting under way with the work of clear
ing up the debris and inaugurating i'm
provements
In discussing the subject President E.
Stanley Gary of the Merchants and Manu-
facturers' Association said to The Star
correspondent today: "Overcautiousness is
costing the business men of Baltimore
thousands of dollars each day. There is no
reason why the burnt district commission
should not be appointed at once: All plans
are ready to put into execution as soon as
the commission is named, and the commits
sion should have been Se.ected weeks ago.
II am sure that every business man who
suffered loss in the fire knows what he
wants to do in the way of rebuilding, ana
q few feet of ground is not going to make
much difference in the plans of most firms.
All these smen want is that a survey be
made, SO they can go ahead with the work.
II fear that this unnecessary delay will
result in dlscouraging many, and they will
begin to lose interest in rebuilding and re-
establishing themselves in business.
Criticism Ridiculous.
When City Engineer Fendall was in
formed of the general complaint about de-
lay he said: "All this criticism is ridicu-
lous. The expenditure of s6,OO0,OO0 is a mat
ter that requires elaboration. 1 know what
it is to spend 100000, as l have expended
that sum many times while I was with the
Baltimore and Ohio railroad, and no rail-
road ever spent that sum without long con-
SideratOn.
I'VE all know how important the wharves
are, and what a great advantage it would
be to the city to own them, but what We
don't know is how we going to pay for
them? The mayor don't want to bankrupt
the city, and when. there is that possibility
staring you in the face it is a serious mat
ter, and one that requires careful thought
and cautious action.
why, Mayor McLane is working like a
slave all day, and then going home and
working there with other officials until or
= CLOCK In the morning. He is jeopardiz-
ing his health in the effort to solve the
problem now confronting us, and then these
people, who do not know the situation at
all, criticiSe him.
IT has taken the citizens of Baltimore
just nifty years to reach a decision in re-
gard TO placing sewerage system and now
they cry out when three weeks are spent in
a far more serious problem. We could not
rush things.
Rights That Must Be Respected.
THE Constitution of the United States
gives property owners certain rights that
must be respected, and We must observe
the law. 1 would like some OF these critics
to explain in detail just how the work can
be more expeditiously put into effect"
When The Star correspondent called
Mayor McLane's attention to certain publi-
cations that he was opposed to improve
ments on broad plane he said: II am
heartily in favor of the whole plan of i'm
provements recommended by the emer-
gency committee.
Il want to see the street plan and the
dock plan put into effect, and 1 have no
desire to tie up the work by insisting on de-
tails, but 1 shall vigorously oppose any
plan that has for its object the curtailmeIlt
of improvements. I would rather have no
improvements than have the plan carried
out on a small SCALE"
General Manager House of the United
Railways stated today to The Star corre-
spondent that about 800 motormen and
conductors were out OF employment.
is all the fault of the city officials in not
allowing us to run cars through the burn
ed district" he said. I'VE now have the
motive power and are ready to furnish
transportation facilities Just now we are
operating just a. trifle over half the system
of the United Railways, and we are giving
the men with families dependent upon
them the preference in the matter of work
Let Down the Bars.
eff the city officials would let down the
bars and permit a general resumption of
service on our lines the public could be &C
commodated, and in addition our 300 men
would be put back to work, which would
greatly relieve the distress existing in the
city, Ia.
A soft coal famine now threatens the city,
and would be serious setback to the check
it has already sustained by the fire. Within
the past two days bituminous coal has ad-
yanced 25 to 90 cents per ton. J. M Coulter,
sales agent of the Piedmont Mining Com
pany. said: I'VE cannot fill one-third OF the
orders received, because we cannot get cars
to bring coal to the city.
TRAFFIC on all the roads from the coal
fields is heavily congested. What makes the
situation more serious is the fear that a
strike will be declared.
las a result every user of soft coal is
placing large orders to have good supply
in stock before the men go out There is
no relief in sight, as the railroads confess
their inability TO furnish cars IN suiilcieht
number
ADMIRAL RIXEY'S MISSION.