New-York tribune., 1905-02-06
BALTIMORE PH0ENIX-LIKE.
Great Fire Of 1901 an Actudl Benefit
Despite the Loss of ,982 Buildings.

Baltimore. Feb tspeoiaD.-The Monumental
city has risen from Its ashes One wear after. the
greatest conhagration' that ever swept through
blocks OF modern steel and stone ''hreproof build
ings the business and banking section is more than
half rebuilt and building operations in the remain
ing portions advancing as rapidly as winter
weather will permit.
What at first appeared to be crushing oloV 70
the city's business interests IS proving TO be
an actual benefit. A few business men were
ruined, and some families were Impoverished py
the fire. but the stimulus given 70 trade ana ianoI
by the prompt payment of S20nco insurance
money the influx OF outside capital and the EN-
ployment Of 10000 men in ali branches of the build
ing trades have contributed greatly to the general
advancement of the city.
The ravaged by the flames consisted OF le9'4
acres. bosnded by Liberty. Baltimore, fayete'
Lexington and Gay SITS. Jones's Falls the water
front and Pratt and Lombard sts. With the eN-
ception OF ABOUT thirty structures everything was
laid low, and the region practically terri
tory Of unimproved land. 1t meant the ouuding
anew OF the district.
Where on February q when the cessation Of the
days fire Officially declared, were me
ruins of 1882 buildings. there to-day 3sl sepa-
rate and distinct structures completed or IN
the of construction, at an estimated aSsre-
gate value Of so,25s766 returned to the city
building inspector. OF the old buildings 800 were
below Pratt-st and in what Is popularity known
now as the wharf district, 81 in the market DIS
trict g. in the path of the street widening I'M
provernents.
These sections have been taken by the city and
cannot again be used for individual building. With
the buildings in this territory eliminated there
actually 95S lots upon which the rehabilitation
OF the district depended. On these as lots there
either have been built or are building 3sl new and
distinct buildings. In many cases the new struct-
ures embrace more than of the original build
/ ngs IN fact. the 351 new buildings now cover
lots on which there were before the fire 5ol build
ngs king more than oue-haf Of the 9SS original
! lots rehabilitated.
/ Another interesting and significant fact is that
the declared valua tions of the buildings are
ALREADY s4,167 than the assessments for tax
| alton before the fire. The assessments amounted
to s1oS40975 and the valuation Of the new buildings
is declared al SlO925.142 1t was stated the City
! Hall that the declared valuation is not a true
! index to the real taxable value of property. and
! that one-third could be added, a general rule.
/ On this assumption the value Of the buildings
! would be H456s, ,s56 s3,725,ssl than the
! assessment on the original 95s buildings
In these figures the assessment OF Sl.01z525 on
the 300 buildings in the wharf district and the
/ assessment of ss1. 400 the 60 buildings in the
market district not included.
This showing is apparent in ar inspection of the
burned district Many Of the larger and better
buildings are now being finished, and they reveal
an ehective style Of architecture and are decided
/ Improvement on the old structures
1t was the greater number of infarnmable struct-
nres Tst in the line of the fire which increased its
/ fury to such resistess proportions that II even
! swept through what had been pronounced by the
/ most expert of modern engineers and builders as
absolutely "freproof" So intense was the heat fed
oy escaping gases and all sorts of inharon,a hla
/ matter that it cracked great blocks Of granite.
scaled marble pillars and melted and twisted staal
grdeFs.
Ihe erection Of so many more freproof buildings
aeainst BUSINESS dre section is almost guarantee
ne Continental Trust the Calvert the
srra Jaenle ana the Union Trust, the largest sky
/ Iarape #hleH i were completely gutted by the
pTeve m i9' al oeen reha olii tated greatly i'm
In 1ne entirely new buildings is that for The SaIti
t gountry. 1t 10 fourteen story abs6l1 civ, nIa
fl of structure which with its complete new cut
reo,,jsitse ypesetting machines and c:Eer
an outlay Of over 81 6oS ~: aper plant repre-
General Felix Agnus. F'tfU the mbl,sber ~ rna
13aGfi1Ca 1ai has led the way in the rebuilding Of
c6ara 9T1ding had cooled the general with his
pTSss e5terprse had contracted for neW
the y,a1, Lii5eu @rcnltects TO prepare plans for
E uo ~" building, and the work Of cleaning avya =
first Of The Batfmore IHS Amersan will be the
ing an ar,i au vii celebrate the by print
ciaI district there has I5slcu5ary 5ea1 in the finan
citation Of the tact that bes1tv heathy appre-
-tohloliied III builcingS. and in a nuubar ~ ~ =
fGe res4S hs c2moination has been worked out with
archteots GSiueraole t;atole rivalry among and
tinE ma owners and ever since the fire Baitimors
known architects in The co1ntrT The et Ie lest
m come N for good share of the contracts
ership in the production Of 10 & tor iead-
eraI way @Ee res responded to the expectation in a h-
handsome structures than before The ire more
stock E1change %onid SeaGed DO in & Sha' the Baltimore
selected design and sfarta% spirit and quickly
o1Hding VIII soon be ready for occtIpancy le Tbe
caiTfng ~ me new structure IS most pleasing Re
that occupied this site the new buiId1ng cre.ta
fitting cenrepece for block that promises to be
, one o. me finest in the downtown district SEN
he 4f1a, r1I{.sf
OF the National Mechanics Bank Here 4. Toat tbs
atlllOsI general policy adopted Of building single
This is departure from the old style Of com
more Savpgs R1qqlng ga and rank The old Balt
OF the nneSt white marble and OF Grecian temple
located the southeast corner Of tbaElss VIII s oe
sts the exact centrs of the city On the
building, four story structure on the northwest
corner will be the Baltimore and Ohio Rsjirosd
Central Building. which will be thirteen stories
7t ana oCcdpy large portion Of Of the most
The city, will cost. with Furnishings about 81 7Od
w. and will afford offices and accornmodations for
as the president and chief of1cials as wen
Of fe MaFEana really Gompany composed largely
story once building on the site of the old Baiti-
SITS. TO cost sl6O0000 The Mechanics Bank biSiId
ing. with its square windows and pillars pro-
duces an effect that should make the architects
hSs9Py S New AGSsinlng The $50 Sock E39hang yin
hendsomer than the old building but as the brand
Of hospitality OF the truly Baltimore type
narrow aIIey ls another one-story huilding-tfe
home Of the Mercantile Trust and Deposit Com
well with the ornate structures already man
toned The interior Of this building, with the i'm
proYeIneuts under way WILL be compare a bic
with the interiors Of the finest buildings OF like
At South and German sts there will be a new
Office building. where beauty with utility will find
st. is the National Bank Of, Commerce one Of the
most effective examples OF the classical style Of
building Of the Merchants National Bank which