The San Francisco call., 1906-05-05
RECONSTRUCTION
IS DISCUSSED
A Noted Architect
Gives Views to
Committee.
Urges Members to
Be Deliberate
in Action.

The committee of forty on the recon-
struction Of the city held its second
meeting yesterday morning Like the
session Of the previous day, it was one
of discussion mostly. When it ad-
journed Chairman Ruef cf the sub
committee gave his report to the
Mayor. This consisted Of few rec
concentrations, besides the outlining of
twenty-four subcommittee to look
ports to the main body.
In Ruef's report he recommended the
appointment of twenty-four commit
tees, including finance, assessments.
municipal departments, special session
of Legislature, charter amendments,
Judiciary, revision of building laws,
structural material, public buildings,
Federal buildings. extension and wild
ening Of streets and other necessary
improvements.
When the rebuilding committee of
the reconstruction committee met the
Mayor suggested that the first thing to
be considered was the rebuilding of the
burnedtbusiness district. He expressed
himself in favor of disposng of this
matter before the work of beautifying
the city should be thought of He said
it was necessary to decide upon what
sort of buildings should be erected be-
fore permits be issued or streets wild
ened, SO the owners of property may go
ahead with their structures.
Arnold W. Breuner, q noted New
York architect, was present and gave
his views briefly. He urged the COM
mittee not to be too hasty in its ac-
tion but to wait and consider. He
pointed out that the Baltimore citizens
acted too quickly, with the result that
the city was being rebuilt on unseemly
lines instead of plans of beauty.
Breuner suggested that the commit
tee first decide upon the height of
buildings on certain streets and to
make this height uniform as far as
possible. He said the fault with the
American cities lies in the fact that
each builder is trying to outdo the 9TH
ers in the height of skyscrapers, thus
making their cities eyesores instead Of
ornaments. Breuner is evidently OPP
posed to skyscrapers, though he did not
express himself directly on this issue.
The majority of architects and build
ers are of the opinion that the rein
forced concrete that has lately sprang
into prominence as building material is
the right sort of stuff for this city.
Thlu tS hnth ri hpl1okQ and
fire proof, as well as ornamental. Por-
tions of the Fairmont Hotel construct
ed of this material withstood the fire
and earthquake better than any build
ing in the city.
A committee of architects and build
ers was delegated to secure the copies
of the building laws of the city and the
Burnham plans at once. Other COM
mittees were selected to unearth copies
Of the municipal ordinance and other
documents relating to building.
1t was suggested that the buildings
to be erected should be nc higher than
once and a half the width of the street.
On Market street this would mean that
the highest building would be 100 feet.
This matter caused much discussion,
but the majority of the speakers
seemed to be in favor of skyscrapers.
as buildings OF this class all stood the
recent severe tests and proved their
worth as substantial and ornamental
structures.
On motion of Contractor Jeremiah
Dineen it was agreed that all citizens
of the city and county should be in
yited to write to the committee their
views on the rebuilding of the city.
special committee will be appointed TO
read all these communications careful-
ly. 1t is expected thai in this way
valuable ideas will be suggested.
Regarding the height and construc-
tien of buildings the members of the
committee differed. Finally a commit
tee consisting of Architects Shea and
Berkeley was detailed TO make report
on height and Contractors Dineen and
Leahy were asked to report on con-
struction and material. They Will
make their reports to the building COM
mittee, which meets this afternoon at
$3.50 at Mowry Hall.
In the meantime the twenty-four
committees suggested by Ruef will be
selected as rapidly as possible. They
will each elect chairman to make re-
ports to the main body at each session.
1t is thought that in this way the work
may be facilitated and more progress
will be the result.
The reconstruction committee will
meet again this morning al II O'Clock.
rlrb IJolds Election