Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-02-11
BAL LT|MORE GETS BUSY
Money is Pouring in for BuSi-
ness Resumption.
GEN. RIGGS EXPLAINS
PLANS FOR REBUILDING ALONG
MODERN LINES.
Composite Estimate of Loss Placed at
$S5, 600, ,00O-No Troops Sent
to the City Yet.
GEN. RIGGS EXPLAINS
Special Dispatch to The Evening Star


and in few years the burned district
will again be a scene of great activity.
For the past three days the population
has been dazed by the appalling catastrophe
The people could not come TO a realiza-
ton that the handspring of the city's COM
mercial and financial world had been de-
stroyed.
Now, however, the realization has come
and with it determination to restore
the city's eminence as a commercial and
financial center. Already a number of
leading merchants and manufacturers have
commissioned architects to draw up plans
for structures. In some instances
contracts have already been signed with
builders.
Thousands for Clearing Work.
The work of. clearing away the debris
will be proceeded with as rapidly pos
sible. Arrangements are now being made
by the building inspectors Office to put
thousands of men to work in the burned
district. The Baltimore and Ohio, North
ern Central and Philadelphia, Baltimore
and Washington railroads are now engaged
in laying temporary tracks running into
the district for the purpose of running
gondolas on which will be loaded the great
mass of wreckage. This debris will be
carried to points yet to be designated and
there unloaded.
1t is the intention of the city officials to
clear up first that portion of the city
bounded by Baltimore street on the north,
Pratt on the south, Holiday on the east
and Liberty on the west, an area OF about
300 acres. Within this section were To-
Gated the principal wholesale houses ana
factories, and they will be given the first
opportunity to rebuild, in order that the
wheels of progress may be set in motion
again at the earliest opportunity.
Wholesale Traders Busy.
Many of the larger wholesale houses,
which have an enormous southern trade.
have already secured offices and are In
position to supply their customers just as
expeditiously as if the fire had never oc-
Cured.
1t was stated by prominent wholesaler
today that the larger firms are in condition
to meet all orders at once, and while the
goods cannot be supplied here they Will Do
rushed through with the greatest facility.
Another encouraging element lies in the
fact that the underwriters have given as
surance that all the losses will be paid IN
full. There had been considerable trepida-
ton on this point and when that assurance
came it had much to do with restoring a
feeling of confidence.
Then, too, the wealthy men of the city
show disposition to give literally for re-
lief work and a large sum is now at the
mayors disposal. The financial situation,
too. is Frightening, and confidence IN that
direction is being restored.
Mr. John Ramsay, president of the
National Mechanics Bank, and one of the
foremost financiers of the city, said TO The
Star correspondent today:
Money Pouring Into City.
"An abundance of money is pouring into
the city to meet all current needs. Busi-
ness men and the community in general
should at once d:spel all anxiety. Tempo
rary offices are being opened by all the
banks whose homes were wrecked, and In
a few days business, so far as the banks
are concerned, will go as before. Until
the vaults in the different banks can be
opened money is being obtained from out
of-town sources.
why the City Bank of New York, has
offered to supply every bank here all the
money it may need. My bank received
81, COO, 600 yesterday from New York, and IL
will all be paid out from our temporary
quarters. Other banks are doing the same
thing.
Il know there is considerable anxiety
among business men the question Of
getting money, but there is no occasion
for this lack of confidence. AS an in
stance / might cite the Philadelphia,
Baltimore and Washington railroad.
Their representative came to me Tues
day and asked: Where are we going TO
get money for our pay day Wednesday?
Right here at our temporary office I
replied.
Suspension Order Causes Uneasiness.
Il suppose this feeling of anxiety orig
mated from the governors ten-day legal
holiday proclamat ti0n. That action was
taken only to cover the legal phases of
financial transactions that might have
to be delayed until the banks could get
into working shape in temporary quar-
ters.
No. there need be no fear of a hnaa-
cial stringency. Millions are coming into
the city. The fire insurance companies
will expedite payments to enable mer-
chants to resume rapidly. Then, too. mil
lions of dollars of out-of-town capital
will be attracted by the opportunity OF
erecting new structures. offices, build
ings warehouses and manufacturing
plants to replace the destroyed ones.
'"The fire was a great disaster, but
believe 1t will effect great awakening
of enterprise here / am not one or
those who take a mournful view of the
situation. There is going TO pc dig
BOOM
In rebuilding the burned district there
will be an opportunity for the city to
put into execution plans for beautifying
that section. The old ramshackle build
ings will be replaced with modern struo-
lures, and thus a Baltimore will rise
from the ashes. Do / think all the de-
stroyed area will be quickly rebuilt?
Certainly; sites there are too valuable
to remain long unoccupied."
Fire Will Prove Blessing.
The views expressed herein by Mr..
Ramsay reflect those of other prominent
bankers and business men. and, indeed,
there are those who now regard the con-
1agration as blessing in disguise. They
argue that Baltimore had fallen into
rut, and that just such q catastrophe