Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-03-01
ACTIVITY QUICKENED
STREET WORK TO BEGIN AT BAL
TIMoRE IN TEN DAYS.
Prices in Building Material Likely to
Be Raised-Property in Burned
District Advanced.
Special Dii patch to The Evening Star.

Special Di patch to The Evening Star
BALTIMORE, March /. - splendid
spirit of enterprise and energy has been
enkindled among business men who suf-
fered loss in the fire by the final action
taken by Mayor McLane regarding inn
provements and In rushing an enabling
act to Annapolis for passage.
Mayor McLane and City Solicitor Bruce,
who have been the moving spirits in affairs
since the emergency committee submitted
its reports week ago, are of the opinion
that the work of improvements will be
begun within ten days.
Admitting all reasonable delays" said
City Solicitor Bruce to The Star CORE
spondent this morning. 1.-THE improvements
ought to be surveyed within ten days and
building operations all over the burned
district commenced.
THE burnt district commission will be
named by the mayor promptly, and it
Its report will go before the board of
estimates, and as every member has
agreed to the plans there will be no delay
with that body.
city council. where final action will be
taken when the plan of improvements will
be passed in the form of an ordinance"
Brick Prices to Advance.
A new phase to the situation developed to-
day. when member of prominent brick
manufacturing firm stated to The Star cor
respondent that prices would advance 10 per
cent when building operations were begun.
The brick men are not taking advantage
OF this opportunity to squeeze the mer-
chants he said, in explanation. 1.-The adj
vance will amount to about 20 cents per
thousand, and will be caused by the team
sters and men who do the hauling for US
They will raise prices because they know
they can make more money hauling debris
from the ruins. In other words, they can
haul two loads of debris in the same period
OF time required to load, haul and unload
bricks"
Inquiry among lumber dealers elected the
information that the price of lumber would
also advance. The out-of-town Dealers"
said a prominent dealer today, ARE going
to take advantage of the situation, 1 fear
They know that lumber must be had at any
price, and this is a golden opportunity for
them.
Not the Local Dealers.
The local dealers have desire to raise
prices. On the contrary, would like to
sell at reduced figures to aid in the rebuild
ing of the city, but when the price to us is
advanced there is no alternative left
The value of real estate in the burned
area is also advancing. Charles Morton, a
well-known agent, In discussing the situa-
ton today, said: There is an unpre-
cedented demand for lots for warehouses
and consequently prices have advanced
II land owners are to have the taxable
value of their holdings Increased why should
they not advance the leasehold prices? A
reasonable increase is fair. have now on
my books about thirty applicants for
ground on which to erect warehouses; and
they expect to pay an increased price, but
1 know that they will not submit to any
extortion"
John c. Carlin, another dealer. said
Property in the burned district is now
one-third more valuable than before the
fire The improvements to be made to-
gether with the demand justify it. There
is no doubt that there will be a great adj
vance in prices"
Property Values Trebled in Prices.
I. Edward Gressler said: Many owners
are taking advantage OF the situation.
have clients who are asking three times as
much for their property in the burned area
as they did before the fire when it was i'm
p1 owed. Extortionate rates Will retard the
advancement Of the city and drive outside
capital. which is very much needed, away.
Ii this policy is pursued many vacant lots
will be found in the center of the city even
two years hence"
Assistant State Labor Statistician Schon-
farber has large force of clerks at work
In an endeavOr to ascertain just how many
merchants will resume business and the
number that will be forced to the wall as
the result of fire losses.
The post office authorities have been re-
quested to furnish list of those to whom
mail had been delivered and also where
their mail is now being sent. By this |
means it is hoped to get into communion
ton with the merchants and ascertain |
from them definite plans
Many Will Not Resume Business.
Il have no doubt" said Mr.. Schonfarber, |
that a great number will not be able to |
resume business. Either the fire ruined |
them or they cannot afford to pay the ex-
cessive rents charged in the new business |
localities.
'If these small merchants cannot resume !
they Will be forced into the ranks of I'M |
skilled laborers. and this will augment the |
already large army of clerks and statesmen |
now unable to secure employment. The |
elimination of these small merchants will |
prove serious blow to the general pros |
perity OF the city"