The San Francisco call., 1906-06-13
EAST IS READY
To INVEST HERE
G. N. Scofield, Leading
Builder, Says Capital
Is Coming.
Truth About the Quake
Alters First Bad Opin-
ion, He States.

OAKLAND, June 12.-"From personal
observations in the East, carried on
since the earthquake, am able to state
that Eastern capital is eager to enter
into the work of reeonstructing San
Francisco. said G.. N Scofield. financial
manager of the. Scofield Construction
Company of Philadelphia, who arrived
from New York Sunday evening. The
company is building the new dry dock
at Mare Island navy yard.
Continuing, Mr.. Scofield said:
Since May / have spent a consider
able portion of my time in New York,
where | am. stationed. in getting a line
toward future investment in San Fran
cisco, At first. l must admit. we all
cased aogsghth ~ the ne danags was ht chiefly
ther reports began to arrive from the
stricken city. we began to appreciate
the fact that 1t was fire and not earth
quake that was the cause of the city's
devastation.
OF course 1t was but natural that
the people in the East had their con-
tidence in the city temporarily shaken.
There were few at first who thought it
advisable to invest in San Francisco
realty. If earthquakes could in a few
SECONDS wreck the work of years. But
later, as 1t became more and more ap-
parent that it was fire and not earth
| quake that was the cause of the de-
struetion, Eastern money became more
j
tion. Capitalists then knew that
money invested in San Francisco would
be safe, for under modern construction
It is possible TO make flreproof build-
ings.
It takes but a superficial glance at
the buildings left standing here In the
were the ones that withstood the de-
| Yastating element. In the construc-
ton of the modern fireproof building,
there are many modes of construction.
-ss1lc u
concrete, steel, stone, brick and iron.
The earthquake and fire here plainly
showed the best manner of construe-
| ton. Where the flooring was not abb
solutely freproof. the huge steel GRID
ers were badly bent.
In talking with property owners
! losing confidence in brick construction.
Both in brick and stone structures
there is but one material used in bind
ing. namely, cement, or mortar. But
I make it absolutely fireproof, il is
neeessary that, the component atoms
! be Of articles. that are already capable
OF withstandfng intense heat. There
/ fore IT seems that stone Of volcanic
/ origin, such as crushed basalt cement.
! sand. and steel, are the best elements
! to be united in the construction of a
! fire and earthquake proof building.
Scofield added that he had it on
good authority that several syndicates
are now being formed in the East
which will enter heavily into the work
of reconstruction in San Francisco
From his observation it seems that
money will be invested only in fire.
! proof structures of classes A, B or G
types under the new building ordinance
now being framed
San Francisco he continued, "has
the opportunity of centuries. Here
there is a city that is entirely wiped
cut in its business district. 1t is neces-
sary TO start all over again. Science,
applied along engineering lines, will
! build city that will be the monarch
of the age
Scoffeld and his brother, Lynn NJ. SEQ
| field, Pacific Coast representative. will
carry out the interests of the company
on the coast. II expects to complete
/ the Mare Island dry dock in two years.
/ The visitor is staying with his brother
at 24I6 Durant avenue, Berkeley.