The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-02-12
BANKS RESUME
IN BAL LT|MORE
Checks Are Being Paid Upon
Presentation
ARE PREPARING TO REBUILD
Many Contracts Signed and Stricken
City VIII Be Made More
Modern Than
ARE PREPARING TO REBUILD

Baltimore, February 11--Today marked
the most cheerful advance Baltimore has
yet made In emerging from the dark
cloud cast upon it by the great conllagra-
tion of last Sunday and Monday.
An incident that inspired the whole
community with tremendous confidence.
was the resumption of business by the
banks. deposits being received and checks
honored In the usual way, 1t would be
difficult to estimate the volume of trans
actions in that respect. but according to
the leading bankers, It was gratifyingy
large, in view Of existing conditions.
.t'he knewfedge mat Relhmore's ter
minai facilities are intact, and that the
grain elevators were not involved in the
fiery tornado has also served to promote
popular conviction that the situation is
not so dark as 1t has heretofore appeared
Optimistic Feeling Prevails.
Indeed the optimistic feeling is mani
testify growing that the calamity though
narrowing in every detail will give the
city an opportunity TO readjust itself on
new and more modern plans, and that
new city of imposing grandeur Is to rise
from the ruins of the old.
The progress which has been made to-
day In the work of clearing the debris
from the streets in the burned district.
seems almost magical Baltimore street
which at sunrise was confused mass
Of rubbish, is practically clean and like
wise South street. one of the great bank
ing thoroughfares.
Hanover street. near where the fire
started. was made passable for wagons.
and Pratt street, long avenue of trade,
is clear of membranes all the way
through. No attempt was made to do
more than TO clear the streets from
curb to curb, the debris being piled up
on the sidewalks and back of the build
ing line Many dangerous walls which
overhang the streets were pulled down.
Safes and Vaults Opened.
All through the financial district, prep
arations are being made to open safes
and vaults. Those of the German bank
and German Fire Insurance company
were opened and the cash and books
taken out unnjured. The vault of the
Marine bank was opened this afternoon
and found intact. In no instance have
the contents of any vault been seriously
damaged.
The chamber of commerce has been ex-
ceedingy active today in sending broad
cast to every center Of trade in this
country and Europe the assurance that
Baltimore is even now in condition to
transact all shipping, grain and foreign
trade and that all other lines of busi-
ness will be restored to their normal
channels within the next two or three
months
IL.
merce announced that plans are nearly
completed for the rebuilding or their
$600,0 structure.
Contracts for Rebuilding.
Many merchants and manufacturers
whose places of business were swallowed
up in the conf1agration have signed con-
tracts for rebuilding.
The matters of accepting aid from 9th
er cities has not yet been finally decided
upon. according to Mayor McLane. The
fire did not reach the residential section
of the city. and there is no actual
destltutlon at this time.
The indications are that the citizens of
Baltimore will be fully able to take care
themselves. The mayor feels grateful for
the many proffers of and from the cities
of this and foreign lands
Among the messages ~ sympathy re-
celved today was communication from
u. Faieonio. the apostolic delegate at
Washington. containing the following
from the pope:
Pope Sends Message.
Rome. February 10 Ills ho:,uess de D.
Iy moved by the news CT the great call
amity which mas recently visited the
city of Baltimore. desires your exceiiency
to convey to the honorable mayor and
the people of Baltimore his sincere sym
pathy He prays that they can stand the
severe loss their city has suffered, and
that II will continue to progress,
CARDINAL MERRY DEL VAL
The leading savings banks in tho city
combined in public announcement that
none Of them have suffered any loss OF
securities by the fire, and that they are
in as good condition financially as ever.
and that they will be open for business
February 15.
GELDERS serves Breakfast, Dinner
and Sumner