The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-03-13
HELP REBUILD CITY
There is No Need for Checks for Suf-
ferers. The Best Way to Help Bal
timore is to Send Business to Those
Who are Rebuilding.
BY w. H. BAGLEY.

Baltimore. Md, March 12s-Baltimores
great conflagration destroyed the very
heart of the business centre; it did not
destroy the energy and business capacity
of the great wholesale concerns which
have for years enjoyed the trade and
confidence of the South, and no better
evidence of the truth of this is the pres
ence here today, and every day 1or sew
eral weeks past, of buyers from almost
every town and hamlet in North Caro-
lima and other Southern States. Every
big concern has been located and with
full new stock since a few DAYS after
the great fire, and as the railroads arc
showing especial attention to this point
shipping has been uninterrupted and there
are today, by actual count, more car
loads of merchandise being shipped from
Baltimore to the South than at the same
time in any year for more than six years.
To appreciate the greatness OF the fires
destruction one must visit Baltimore,
walk through the ruins, look at it from
a distance to get the full scope OF the
disaster and then must close the eyes ana
attempt to recall the old time thrift which
filed those same streets, the sky-scraper
homes of thrift and enterprise. No one
can fully appreciate the extent OF the de-
struction and the work that IS necessary
to rehabilitate Baltimore
Where in days gone by-and few days
ago at that-thousands of men and wo-
men hustled through busy corridors of
handsome Office buildings, representatives
cf almost every commercial concern in
the South visited friends in the great
Wholesale estabishmel :, hundreds oi
thousands of Southern checks passed
uaily through banking institutions in this /
immediate section, today there is but
flattened area with thousand lahorers
gathering the debris into wagons ard |
dump carts for removal. Business Is go
ing ON as usual, but in other quarters. /
Actual work of rehabilitation has begun {
in some sections but on several streets
no work will be done for several weeks
until the plans are completed. for the
greater New Baltimore.
Business men are not waiting for this |
achievement. They have not lost day. |
Some banks were destroyed on Sunday |
lv Monday, enormous stocks of dry goods |
and notions went up in flames Sunday and
Monday and another week found the
great establishments ready for the emer-
gency and doing their customary husi
ness. A North Carolinian led the pace
for all wholesale concerns in getting back
into business. Mr.. c. G.. Joyner, form
erly of Greenville. of the firm of Joyner,
q ~ ont Monday
the 7th and was equipped for business on
the 10th. Many take their hats of to
Mr.. Joyner for his great achievement.
Now he is shipping thousands of hats to
his. trade throughout the country. There
were many others who pushed hard for
first place and all were ready for husi-
ness within a week.
John WILDER jenkins, of the Sun, on,
of the true6t Tar Heels alive. is writing
much of interest on the progress OF this
people He understands the situation and
what he says interests all.
During the past few days have talked |
with many buyers from various points in
the South. They are a unit in belief tnai |
the Baltimore market Is as ready today |
as at any time 20 take care of South
ern trade. 1t is generally conceded that |
in many respects Baltimore wholesalers,
who were burned out offer better in
ducements now than any others seeKIn=
Tho trade of the South. It is fact tnau
they have not yard or nound OF old /
stock and as there is n difference in /
freight rates In their favor, they should |
he able to send their fresh stock rapily /
into the Southern markets.
The spirit manifested by the majority /
of concerns which escaped from the fire |
is w,.rthy of the greatest praise. TO-DAY
ono finds at some points competitors 10
ing business in the same building. There /
arc numerous instances where concerns
have given up commodious and convent
on. ouartcrs in favor of establishments
suffering from the fire and requiring i'm
mediate quarters in which to continue I
I,,,..;nocs This is the case Wit. the
Daniel Miller Company, who are now To-
csted in one Of the most convenient and |
.onmodious buildings in Baltimore, which |
,,,,e formerly the home of the National
Enamel and Stamping Company, succesa-
ar. % Matthia, Ingram & Co. The latter
concern has moved into another building
which serves their purpose just as vel.
and has enabled the Daniel Miller Com