Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1904-02-20
BALTIMORE PLANS
A MODERN CITY
No Building Permits to be Issued Until
Streets Are Realigned.
THE LOSS PLACED AT $S5,OOO,OOO

Baltimore, Nd, rep. 10 ha' H"
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 puohc
safety by leading citizens tnat no
building permits shall be issued untii
q plan of realigning certain thorough
fares whose crookedness and narrow
ness have long constituted blemish
as we'll as a serious embarrassment W
municipal growth.
There is a grim determination visl'
BILE on all sides that the public's COM
peusation for the fiery ordeal through
which 1t has passed shall be the rising
of a metropolis which shall be distin'
guished among American cities io'
both its material substance ana i's
architectural art. The mayor ana tne
committee of safety are resolved tha'
shells Of buildings shall not be run
up between freproof structures, as ID
the past, and thus serve as stanolne
invitation to the flames. On this poln'
the controlling forces here are appar
entity a unit, thus affording a guaran
tee that the future Baltimore is to DC
both modern and a model city.
A composite estimate OF the tota'
loss from the fire by IS expert repre-
sentatives of leading insurance com
NAMES outside Of Baltimore, places the
figures at sS5,OO0.OOo. Some OF them
think that the total loss will be re
duced to s70,O00,OOO, as much salvage
is being dug out of the ruins which
was thought to have been destroyed.
The loss to the insurance companies
IN estimated by the same experts al
rs per cent. Of the total loss.
The offer II New York insurance
company to lend 100000 In Balti
more for rebuilding purposes Is a striK.
ing Illustration Of the readiness OF
outside capital to invest in this city
This money Is offered at AZ per cent
free Of commission. Another insur
ance company has offered to lend the
city $500 900, available at once.
Very naturally, the urgent demands
for location by firms made homeless
hy the fire has created much activity
among real estate men. and there mas
been a disposition on the part OF some
owners to unduly advance prices. Sew
eral good property deals have been al
ready contaminated.
The task Of clearing the piles oil
brick. mortar and rubbish from the
streets In the fire scourged distric'
was pushed forward with marvellous
energy. Building Inspector Preston
with a vast multitude Of workmen
has been on the desolated streets all
day clearing away the debris, ano
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 UP
here also progressing rapidly, with
re wen nut ion of along the wharves on
,eau. Wet. 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 RACED to the ground.
The men tore down the immense col
umns of the Baltimore American Of
| fee and the massive iron girders OF
the Baltimore Sun building Engines
were kept constantly busy on the prin'
cipal streets in the burned district
pumping water out Of the cellars.
The United Railway also had large
number of men at work endeavoring
to 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
rving of the valuables from the Cont
mental Trust company's building
Ropes we're strung from the wagons
I'D to the various floors and then run
through the windows. and valuables
were then "trollied" 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 closelv on the sidewalks.