The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-02-11
ORDER COrlES
OUT OF CHAOS
Baltimore Business Men Meet.
Great Emergency With
Great Energy.
ASK . For FEDERAL E: Z TROOPS.
Merchants Meet and Devise
Means to Keep Trade From
Going to Other Cities.
(By Associated Press,)

s.
II BALTIMORE. Feb. 10.-The situation
ir stricken Baltimore began to visibly
clear to-day after a conference at the
Beltidere Hotel between Mayor McLane,
a special Joint committee OF the Legisia-
ture and formidable delegation Of rep-
resenta tive business men.
This conference was arranged with a
view OF meeting in a practical way the
awful exigency which this community
now faces. At this meeting. besides tha
Mayor, there were present Influential
members OF the State law making body,
the Board OF Public Works q dozen
bank presidents, former Governor Smith,
United States scnator-elect Rayners and
several Of the leading citizens.
The supreme question to be decided
was that OF calling upon the national
government for soldiers to take the
places OF the two State militia regiments
now doing police duty in the burned dis
.trict. The Constitution Of Maryland re-
tquires that no such request can be made
of the President except by authority OF
the State Legislature. The legislative
committee was present to hear the views
OF the Mayor and officers of the city
on that point.
Need United States Troops.
brief discussion showed the belief
OF those present. that this is not time
for sentiment as to the ability of the
State to take care OF itself, and that
tho United States soldiers were needed
and needed at once On this score Il was
shown that tho militiamen were already
much exhausted by their long continued
sentry duty, and that they should be re-
i.evcd In order that they might return to
their several vocations, and that the
militia on active duty. is costing the
State $4,000 4 day.
Mayor McLane was practicular'y In
sistent that to efficiently guard the hun
dreds OF millions OF treasure thut lie
buried beneath the smouldering ruins
called for the strong arm OF the Federal
soldiers. The announcement OF the leg
isative committee thattit would recon-
mend at once the Immediate passage Of
the necessary resolution was received
with pleasure by the officers and busi-
ness men present, and now that the Leg
5isilture has formally acted there is
every assurance that a national Gordon
around the devastated region will In
sp.rc feeling of hopeful confidence In
= the future.
f Mayor McLane's announcement that he
will appoint an emergency committee OF
citizons to act as IN advisory board OF
municipal officials Is great step for
ward In the way Of putting the situation
upon a practical busness-like shape.
Work to Hold Trade.
There Is no doubt that within the past
twcnty-four hours the business men OF
Baltimore have been aroused In an en-
traordinnry degree to the Importance OF
doing everything possible to keep their
trade advantages from. slipping away.
Merchants and bankers have been con.
ferring to-day on this subject, and the
prevailing conviction Is that 1t will re-
quiro the utmost vigilance to prevent the
detection of a considerable volume oi
commerce to Philadelphia and New York
1t Is believed here that The situation MAY
be saved II the debris can be cleared
away and temporary buildings erected
within four months. That large per,
centage OF the spring trade will be lost
Il is Inevitable, but there is a set resoltl-
tion among wholesale merchants that tho
percentage shall he as small as possible
Confidence and Cheerfulness.
The opening to-day OF the board room
by the Chamber Of Commerce and receipt
OF the quotations, the uninterrupted ship.
ments of grain cargoes, the certainty OF
State aid and the notification by some oi
the large insurance companies Of thcil
readiness to pay fifty per cont on losses
and the action OF the Legislature IN ask
ing for Federal troops, constitute chain
of Incidents which haYe contributed mu,
6terially to the restoration Of public con-
t'fIdence and cheerfulncss.
III Financial institutions nre to-day busily
engaged In carting their securities and
funds to temporary Offices outside the
confines of the burned district. BY
O'Clock express wagons 9nd other avail
able conyeyances were backed up tc
banks and trust company buildings
preparatory to removing al books
papers, funds, etc,
Tho vault OF the First National BanA
was opened to-day. and it was fopnc
that all OF the securities and moneys
/C,o,tip,,ad r,, nd Pa .i.hi