The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1904-02-18
BALTIlIORE'S ENERGY
RecuperatiOn From Great Fire Must
bt Accounted Extraordinary.
MERCHANTS RESUME BUSINESS
Majority Of Them Exhibit Stocks In
Restricted ousrters-Crowd Of Sun
day Sight seers Not AS Large As

Majority OF mem ENnipt S'OSNe ~
Restricted Qusrters-Crowd Of Sun
day Sight seers Not AS Large As
Expected.
Baltimore. Md. Feb 15-Just one
week ago the great fire which de-
stroyed so blocks and 2500 houses in
the business center OF this city broke
out. and seven days thereafter it may
be truthfully said that the city has
shown recuperative power which
must be accounted extraordinary.
The energy exhibited by Mayor Nc
Lane and the whole city government
in bringing order out OF chaos, and
the spirit Of resolution shown by the
merchants whose stores ar now shape
less piles Of debris has justly excited
admiration on all sides. That the
business community is sternly bent
upon the rapid rebuilding OF the de-
vastated district has been made plain.
~ evident by the emergency commit
tee which the mayor has appointed as
an advisory board to himself. and
which. though without legal power,
will practically exercise potent juris
diction in regulating the height and
character Of buildings the opening oil
new streets, the creation OF small
parks on ground heretofore occupied
by houses. and in other matters relat'
ed to the building up OF thoroughly
modern city. This committee will also
decide on what streets rebuilding may
commence at once. so that improve.
ments may be put under way without
delay
Though only five week days have
elapsed since the fire was checked,
tine great majority Of merchants who
we're burned out have found locations
and have resumed business. Furni-
ture dealers. jewclirCa clothiers and
others have already received new
stocks and displayed them on shelves,
counters and in windows. and every
bank Is doing business. all in restrict
ed quarters. it IS true, but the current
of trade and financial transactions has
begun to flow on as before.
Baltimores greatest good fortune
was in the exemption Of its terminal
facilities from the destroying blast. a
circumstance which has enabled tho
chamber OF commerce TO notify tho
world that II is ready for business at
the old stand, and which furnishes the
guarantee that there will be no inter.
ruption to the vast exporting and im-
porting business and the great coast
line trade OF this seaport.
Several hundred people came here
Yesterday from Philadelphia. Wash
ingtOn and other nearby points to view
the ruins of the fire. though the crowd
of sightseers was not nearly so large
as was expected The prohibition
against excursion trains and the So
verify Of the weather apparently hal
the effect Of keeping away thousands
who were anxious to come AS It was,
very few Of the visitors who put In
an appearance were allowed within
the limits of the burned district, a
dynamiters were at work demolishing
standing walls that were regarded as
a menace TO life.
Many walls we're also pulled down
with ropes and pulleys operated by
gangs Of men. and the fire area was
strictly one Of danger during the entire
day.
The policing OF the district was
performed almost entirely by state in
fantry and cavalry. the militiamen be.
ing in evidence all along and within
the lines. Only limited number OF
newspaper men and officials having
necessary business there were allowed
to pass the Gordon Of bayonets, and
even these we're kept at safe dis
lance from the dynamiters. All the
men employed worked under severe
conditions. as a biting north wind
blew. and cold, damp snow fell at In
teryals. In spite Of unfavorable con
ditions, however good progress was
made in the cleaning mp Of the thor.
oughfares and in removing dangerous
distinctions.