Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1904-02-11
The Situation i'm Baltimore

ton, all tending to the end of r greater,
more beautiful and more progressive city
than ever. TIE splendid courage OF the
citizens of Baltimore is coming more and
more prominently TO the fore hour by
hour, and the press and peoples OF the
whole world are paying tribute to TINS
characteristic of the Monumental City.
In the face of calamity, all of Balti.
more's financial institutions resumed
business Yesterday. Several millions OF
gold, silver and paper money was taken
from the vaults buried in the fire ruins,
and, under military guard, carried to
temporary quarters or deposited in the
vaults of other institutions.
Federal troops will be sent there today
by request of the Legislature, acting in
the interest of business men, who urged
stronger guard for the ruins in which
lie untold millions.
Since the fire notorious crooks from
other cities have drifted to Baltimore,
and it is not presumed that they are there
from any motives of curiosity. Then,
too, the present temporary "banks" are
rather lacking in those substantial quail
ties for which their predecessors were re-
markable, aud they are without vaults.
1t is purposed to place strong armed
men on patrol in and around the build
ings. The federal troops will in a
measure relieve the State militia who
have been on guard for some days.
Plans for upbuilding of the the
"Greater Baltimore were definitely laid
in a conference between Mayor Robert
NJ. McLane and prominent citizens yes
terday.
Work of clearing away the thousands
of tons of brick, stone and mortar that
fill the streets in the 14O acres laid waste
has been begun.
To carry out this civic spirit meeting
was held yesterday. and steps will at
once be taken to organize special body
that will announce to the world, and
then proceed to furnish proof thereof,
that Baltimore is fully able to cope with
the calamity that has befallen it in the
matter of its physical reconstruction, and
is ready TO move forward in an undaunted
and undismayed manner to rehabilitate
the city and to carry it to greater ends
i'm the future than it has ever attained in
the past
There has been no false pride in all
of this planning for the future, but it is
merely the determination to accomplish
all that is possible, and not to depend
entirely upon outside aid that is animat-
ing the people of Baltimore. 1t is real
lied that there are thousands of men out
of positions, that many other thousands
are dependent upon them, and, through
the fact that it will in many cases be
weeks. perhaps months, before anything
like a majority of them will be working
again at their old vacations, that there
must necessarily be much suffering,
which will increase day by day until such
time when the business places are again
running.
Every effort is being and will be made
to prevent a financial crisis in the
city.
Insurance Commissioner Wilkinson
said yesterday that the assets of the in
surance companies affected by the fire
amount to about $4,000, 900, and he
expressed the opinion that the losses
would aggregate about $65, 900, 900. The
insurance men continue to express their
confidence that the policies will be paid
in full.
Cablegrams, kilograms and letters of
sympathy continue to pour into the
City Hall from all parts of the world.
A number of contributions were re-
ceived yesterday for the aid of those who
may have been made destitute by the fire.
Indignant over the action of Brigadier
General Riggs, of the Maryland National
Guard, and the State militiamen in re-
fusing them entrance within the sur
rounding fire district of Baltimore, even
though they held passes signed by
Governor Warfeld, the members of the
House of Delegates adopted resolution
severely censuring General Riggs for his
action and summoning him to appear
before the House today and explain his
position.
A bill was passed by both branches
of the Maryland Legislature yesterday
authorizing the Mayor of Baltimore to
borrow 81, 1000, 900 to relieve the dis
tressed condition of Baltimore resulting
from the fire.
A joint resolution was passed request
ing the President to instruct the Secre-
tary of War to send federal troops to
Baltimore.
Baltimore, Feb. 1.-THE gigantic
task of rehabilitating the greater Balti-
more" is on in earnest. Five thousand
men are at work today clearing the streets
of debris. Two thousand began work
yesterday. By midnight it is expected
that 10, 900 men will be at work. Only
clerks, porters, laborers, employees of the
suspended car companies and drivers for
the mercantile houses that have gone
down in ruins, are being given employ
ment. The gangs of men at work in
the different parts of the fire zone pre-
sent an odd scene. The brawny porters |
with the uniforms Of their respective |
firms, working side by side by the white
face clerks, while others are mere boys.
Baltimore and Pratt streets and Marsh
Market space have been cleaned. Spurs
Of the Pennsylvania and Baltimore and
Ohio Railroads are being run up these
streets as fast as they are cleared and fiat
,ars are being loaded with the twisted
ron girders and other debris. The two
abroad companies have two hundred