The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1906-07-19
ARE NOT REBUILDING
]. N. Dale Says he Failed to See any
Signs of Rebuilding on his Re-
cent Visit to San Francisco.

--OA ~
ents, has just returned from a trip to
San Francisco. Mr.. Dale is the private
secretary of G. II. Deere, the millionaire
plow manufacturer of Moline, ILL.,, and
the following interview appeared in the
Moline Daily Dispatch upon his return
from his trip to San Francisco:
1t is a sad story that j. M. Dale,
private secretary to G. H. Deere, tells
OF the state of affairs in San Francisco
"a story of hundreds emigrating, ruin
ed buildings, desolate streets and a
dazed, lethargic population that doesn't
yet seem to have recovered from the
shock OF the earthquake. Mr.. Dale re-
turned few days ago from trip to the
Pacific coast where he spent some days
in Los Angeles and as short time as
possible in San Francisco.
I'VE read in the press reports" said
Mr.. Dale, "of the rebuilding of the city,
but saw no evidence that this was
going on" He went on to describe how
people were leaving the city in almost
continuous stream as soon as they
could straighten up their affairs, and
they are going away to remain. The
population of Los Angeles has increased
Immensely by the immigration of fugi-
tives from San Francisco, and Seattle,
Tacoma and other points along the
coast are all getting a great impetus
from the influx of San Franciscoans.
In the stricken city itself streets are
obstructed by fallen buildings which
have not yet been cleared away, the
sewer, water and gas pipes are twisted
and broken beyond repair. The only
activity in the downtown burned dis
trict is the cleaning of mortar-covered
bricks. A few wagonloads of lumber
are to be seen occasionally, but further
than this few signs of rebuilding are
evident.
Retail establishments whose down
town quarters were destroyed have
moved into the residence districts and
handsome residences now shelter dry
goods, grocery and feed stores. The
former occupants of the houses have
left.
Mr.. Dale entered San Francisco
Thursday, June 2S, on the first train
that the Union Pacific has been able to
run into the city since the disaster.
He went to hotel where it was said
the best accommodations the city could
afford were to be found. 1t was four
story frame building with the general
appearance of being twisted and turned
out of shape. 1t had withstood the
!, shock and was still habitable, but the
door to Mr.. Daieis room would not lock
and the elevator shaft was so badly out
of true that the elevator would not run.
The whole building had been screwed
out of shape; there were no water, gas
or sewer connections, and yet this was
by far the best that San Francisco
could afford.
I MIR. Dale went about the city Thurs
day evening. He says there is no APP
parent suffering among the people,
everybody is clothed and fed now, but
all seemed to be dazed, seemed unable
to adjust themselves to the new condi-
tions. Street car conductors when ask
ed for information did not seem to have
the present state of affairs in the city
right in their own minds. They set
people down at corners other than
those asked for and did not seem to be
sure whether this or that hotel was
running.
Mr.. Dale also discovered that consid-
cradle difficulty was being had with
strikes. The dock hands were "out'
when he was there and it was impossi-
BILE to get lumber brought in by sea out
of the vessels in which it came.
The following day Mr.. Dale started
for the ferry landing to get to Oakland
and leave from there on the Southern
Pacific. About two-car-lengths ahead
of the car in which Mr.. Dale was, a
terrific explosion suddenly tore up the
street, ripping up street car tracks
and hurting paving bricks twenty-five
or thirty feet into the air. 1t proved tc
be an explosion of sewer gas where the
broken pipes had been allowed to dis
. charge onto some unventilated cavity
People on the street car were panic
striken, believing that another earth
quake had come to ruin what remained
This idea seems to pervade everybody
, They fear another disturbance and i
seems hardly possible, Mr.. Dale says
what it once was.
Entering the city he met hardly an,
but those who like himself were ther,
for sightseeing and would leave yer,
shortly. Going out, however, there
; were people who We're leaving perma
saently-former inhabitants who wer,
forsaking their homes.
81 would not invest twenty-five dol
Z lars in San Francisco" Mr.. Dale con
eluded. 1.-The boasted activity is absent
The city does not seem to be rebuilding
People who lived and had their bushes
interests in San Francisco are pullin.
up stakes and going to other cities ant
only those are coming in that are at
,, tracted by sightseeing"
From San francisco Mr.. Dale went t,
Los Angeles where he remained abou
three days.
4 Christian Church Services
l Sunday, July %, 9:45 bible school, L
sermon-"Traps" II communion, 2:3
Junior and Tntarmediata CE carnop