Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1904-02-10
THE BALTIMORE FIRE.

II II lD.OhL
Now that the great fire that devastated
the very heart of the city of Baltimore
has burned itself out those in authority
are endeavoring, in calm way, to take
hold of the situation and inaugurate steps
calculated to bring prompt and effective
relief ofe existing conditions, to revive trade
and raise up new and greater Baltimore
from the ruins of the old All this can
not be done in day, but the plans are
already outlined, and the effort to reduce
the chaos and confusion to order and
system has begun. In their laudable
undertaking the people of Baltimore
have the best wishes of the whole world
The destruction is estimated by the I'M
derwriters at from $50, 900, 900 to $780,
600, 900. A cursory outlook over the
situation indicates that the prospect is
not so black as it seemed at first. From
the general daze and horror of the calam.
ity is coming a reaction; the fear that to
the havoc of the fire would be added APP
palling suffering seems not to be well
founded on fact, and it is probable that
little suffering will be endured which
can be spared.
Governor War6eld, Mayor McLane,
Col. George NJ. Upshur, president OF the
Board of Police Commissioners, and
Brig. Gen. Lawrason Riggs held con-
ference yesterday morning in the rooms
of the Board of Police Commissioners, in
the Courthouse, and it was decided prac-
tically to place the entire fre-swept area
under martial law. 1t was agreed by
all present that the police could better
be utilized in protecting the resident sec
ton of the city from the swarm of crooks
known 20 be in Baltimore than in polio
ing the ruins, that duty being placed
entirely upon the militia. Gen. Riggs
of the State militia was put in charge
and announced that no courtesies in the
way of passes of admission to the fire
area would be extended to the press.
This action doubled the already diff
cult work of the newspaper men who
have been trying to furnish the public
with the details of the calamity.
Secretary Taft has ordered the with
drawal of all the United States Troops
ordered to Baltimore from New York
and elsewhere, as the Mayor notified the
Maryland Senator'S that the Maryland
National Guard and the police of Balti-
more city were able to protect all pro-
perry and maintain all order. Secretary
Taft sent an order to the commanding
officer at Fort McHenry, Major Craw-
ford, to send to Baltimore as many of the
soldiers at Fort McHenry as are neces-
sary to guard the Subtreasury, Custom
house and other government buildings.
No appropriation will be made by Con-
gress for the relief of Baltimore, unless
there is an urgent appeal from the Of
ficials and people OF the city through their
in the House and Senate,
backed by a showing of great emer-
gency requiring immediate federal as
sistance.
The fact that there are practically no
destitute poor" and no suffering from
anime as the result of the disaster, led
Mayor McLane to make the statement
afternoon that for the present
1t least Baltimore, with the aid of the
State, can take care of herself and need
all for no outside assistance from either
he national government or other States.
Il do not mean," said the mayor, "that
We are too proud to ask for help, and if
We find that we need it shall not hesi-
ate three minutes about availing our
elves of the many generous and hearty
'fers Of assistance both financial and
otherwise that have poured in upon US
rom all over the country. These offers