River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1906-11-01

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great sights is San Francisco. Cities
have been ruined and ashes have
covered them, but never before un-
der modern conditions. A city ruined
by earthquake and fire in the old
days meant that the time of recovery
would equal the age of the city up to
the hour Of its destruction. In this
age the very evidences of destruction
are turned into agencies of repair and
Improvement. Fire has rarely failed
to bring about better conditions in
city, and San Francisco is no excep-
ton to the rule. 1t is not the i'm
provement of the city that will make
them marvel, however, as much as
the rapidity with which the work
will be accomplished.
The earthquake of April IS caused
few million dollars damage-possibly
$4,000 900 would cover that loss. The
fire, which had full play after the
quake had broken the water mains,
burned over 514 squares, or 1850
acres, or four square miles, the total
loss being estimated at $500,000 900.
On this property there was insurance
amounting to about $315,000,00O. OF
this insurance about $150,000,00O had
been paid in cash to policyholders up
to September H.
The fire, az everybody knows, de-
stroyed the business district OF San
Francisco, but left the shipping and
residence districts intact. Commerce
continued without interruption, ex-
cept such incidental disturbances as
the location of new storage places and
the accumulation of freight. Thou
sands of people left the city immedi-
ately after the disaster but compe-
tent authorities estimate that SO per
cent of these refugees have returned.
Their homes being intact they find
that San Francisco is the place for
them, after ALL and they are turning
to rebuild the city, either with their
capital or their labor.
Bringing Order from Chaos.
When the fire died down on April
81, the people of San Francisco were
confronted with mighty problems,
some of them demanding instant solu-
ton. AS this article deals with the
San Francisco of the future and not
of the past, it is not necessary to go
into details regarding the remarkable
ability shown by the committee of fiji
ty in providing for the wants of the
hungry and shelterless, writes Ira E.
Bennett, in the New York Press. That
is story by itself, and a most inter-
esting and inspiring one. Another
pressing problem, however, was that
of clearing the streets in order that
communication might be restored.
Thirty-six miles of streets were piled
high with debris Within five months
this enormous mass of material has
been removed, trolley wires have been
strung, street car traffic reeStablished
and a system of debris removal inau-
gurated which disposes of 100 car
loads day If more labor were to
be had the work would go much
faster.
Admission day was celebrated this
year on Monday, September 10. saw
the city on that day for the first time
since the disaster. The scene was
appalling. With the exception of
worker here and there, the destroyed
district was destitute of laboring men.
Ruins, ruins in every direction, as far
as the eye could see; millions of tons
of bricks and mortar piled up in half
destroyed easements; a strong breeze
blowing dust and ashes everywhere.
writhing steel beams and crumbling
granite marking the sites of once i'm
posing buildings, and the very thought
of bringing order out of chaos sufti-
cient to stagger the imagination.
On the next day far different pic
ture was presented. In every base
ment was gang of workmen They
struggled with Orders. piled brick,
sifted good material from refuse. ham
died pick and shovel, mixed mortar
and loaded wagons with debris Thou
sands of busy hands We're to be seen
down every street Thousands of
teams went about on the simultane-
GUS task of removal and reconstTuc-
ton.
Little Loss of Population.
To one familiar with the crowds
that made Market street and the fer
ries famous, there does not appear
to be any diminution of population.
The car system is wholly inadequate,
although herculean efforts have been
made to establish communication.
The ferries are as crowded as ever.
Theaters are filled to suffocation. The
st. Francis hotel put up a temporary
structure in Union. square, and it is
turning away hundred guests daily.
Other hotels are filled and turning
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