The Saint Paul globe., 1904-02-15
BALTIMORE ALREADY
RISING FROM ASHES
Merchants Resume Business
In New Places While Work.
men Remove Ruins.

BALTIMORE. Md. Feb. 14.-Just
one week ago today the great fire
which destroyed eighty blocks and
$500 houses in the business center of
this city broke out, and seven days
thereafter it may be truthfully said
that the city has shown a recuperative
power which must be accounted extra
ordinary.
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 mer-
chants whose stores are now shapeless
piles of debris has justly excited ad-
miration on all sides.
That the business community is
sternly bent upon the rapid rebuilding
of the devastated district has been
made plainly manifest by the emergen-
cy committee which the mayor has ap-
pointed as an advisory board to him.
self and which, though without legal
power, will practically exercise a po-
tent jurisdiction in regulating the
height and character Of buildings, the
opening of new streets, the creation
of small parks on ground heretofore
occupied by houses, and in other matters
related to the building up of thor
ough modern city. This committee will
also decide on what streets rebuilding
may begin at once so that improve
ments may be put under way without
delay.
Though only five days have elapsed
since the fire was checked the great
majority of merchants who were
burned out have found locations and
resumed business. Furniture dealers,
jewelers., clothiers and others have al
ready received new stocks and dis
played them on shelves, counters and
In windows and every bank Is doing
business, although in restricted quar-
ters it is true, but the current Of trade
and financial transactions has begun to
flow on as before.
Ready for Business.
Baltimores greatest good fortune
was in the exemption of it's terminal
facilities from the destroying blast, a
circumstance which has enabled the
chamber of commerce to notify the
world that it is ready for business at
the old stand and which furnishes the
guarantee that there would be no in
terruption to the vast exporting and
importing business and the great coast
line trade of this seaport.
The restoration of almost the whole
of the city's street car line service is
one of the agreeable surprises of the
week as the inhabitants feared that
the period of walking would be extend
ed indefinitely. The success in this
direction is due largely to the energy
and skill of General Manager William
A. House and President Hood, and
they have been materially aided by
the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad COM
pany, which generously offered all the
surplus power from the tunnel power
house.
Several hundred people came here
and other near points to view the ruins
of the fire, though the crowd of sight
SeerS was not nearly so large as was
expected. The prohibition against eX-
cursion trains which was made public
yesterday and the severity of the
weather apparently had the effect of
keeping away thousands who were anx-
ious to come. AS it was, very few of
the visitors who put in an appearance
were allowed within the limits of the
burned district as dynamiters were at
work demolishing standing walls that
were regarded as menace of life.
Many walls were also pulled down
with ropes and pulleys operated by
gangs of men and the fire area was
strictly one of danger during the en-
tire day The policing of the district
was performed almost entirely by state
infantry and cavalry, the militiamen
being in evidence all along and within
the lines. Only a limited number Of
newspaper men and officials having
necessary business there were allowed
to pass Gordon of bayonets and even
these were kept at a safe distance from
the dynamiters. All the men en-
p10vod today worked under severe con-
ditions as a biting north wind blew,
and cold, damp snow fell at intervals.
In spite Of unfavorable conditions, how
ever good progress was made in the
cleaning up of the thoroughfares and in
removing dangerous distractions