The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1904-02-18
WILL BIZ A MODEL CITY
Baltimore to Issue No Building Per
mits Until Streets Are Realigned.
OUTSIDE CAPITAL OFFERED

Work Of Clearing the Streets Being
Pushed With Big Force Of Wen
Soldiers Guard Treasure Remove
From Vaults.
Baltimore. Md. Feb. l3.-That Bat
tImore is to rise from its ashes more
substantial. more modern and TAR more
symmetrical. needs no further PROOF
than was made manifest By renewed
expressions on the part of Mayor Nc
Lane and the committee OF public
safety by leading citizens that no
building permits shall be issued until
a plan Of realigning certain thorough
fares whose crookedness and narrow
ness have long constiu1hd a blemish
as well as a serious embarrassment 10
municipal growth
There is a grim determination Yisl-
Bile on all sides that the public's com
pensatlon for the fiery ordeal through
which il has passed shall be the rising
of a metropolis which shall be dlstin-
gulshed among American cities Tor
both its material substance and IFS
architectural art. The mayor and the
committee of safety are resolved that
shells of buildings shall not be run
I'D between hreproof structures, as in
the past. and thus serve as a standing
invitation to the flames. On this point
the controlling forces here are appar-
emily a unit. thus afording a guaran'
tee that the future Baltimore is to be
both modern and model city.
The offer OF a New York insurance
company to lend s2OOO,o00 in Bal'i-
more for rebuilding purposes IS a strik-
ing Illustration Of the readiness or
outside capital TO invest in this city.
This money is offered at AZ per cent
free OF commission Another insur-
ance company has offered 10 lend the
city 100000 available at once.
Very naturally. the urgent demands
for location by firms made homeless
by the fire has created much activity
among real estate men. and there has
been a disposition on the part OF some
owners to unduly advance prices. Sew
eral good property deals have been al
ready consummated.
The task Of clearing the piles OF
brick. mortar and rubbish from the
streets in the fire scourged district
was pushed forward with marvellous
energy. Building Inspector Preston
with vast multitude qf workmen
has been on the desOlated streets all
day clearing away the debris and
great progress has been made.
Baltimore street has already been
cleared from Liberty street to Jones
Falls. The debris Is being thrown on
the sides. and the entire middle OF the
street Is clear A large number Of the
men are now working on German,
South and Lombard streets and along
the water front. and the clearing mp
here IS also progressing rapidly, with
the exception Of along the wharyes on
Pratt street. Here the men are great
" hampered By having no place TO
throw the debris except into the basin.
Quite a large number OF walls which
the Inspector thought dangerous were
demolished. and this work will con.
tinue until all are raZed TO the ground.
The men tore down the immense col
umns of the Baltimore American Of
fee and the massive iron Orders OF
the Baltimore Sun building. Engines
we're kept constantly busy on the prin-
cipal streets in the burned district
humping water out of the cellars.
The United Railway also had large
number of men at work endeayoring
10 straighten out the trolley wires.
This company is also assisting to re-
move money and securities from the
different trust companies vaults.
Three OF their wagons were busy car
rying of the valuables from the Cont
mental Trust companys building.
Ropes were strung from the wagons
up to the various floors and then run
through the windows, and valuables
were then "trollled" down in sacks.
The work OF emptying the safe de-
post vaults in the ruined buildings
has progressed rapidly. This is being
done with extraordinary precautions.
An escort of cavalry accompanies the
wagons in which the treasures are
hauled. Sharpshooters in plain clothes
ride on the wagons, and detectives
follow closely on the sidewalks
All the local courts have resumed
business. jury trials will be resumed
and the grand jury will reassemble
on Monday next. Thus the current
OF events begins to run smoothing
again in the stricken city