New-York tribune., 1906-08-26

Inc shacks Of San Francisco also interest the
traveller because of their remarkable variety.
Though all based on the one story. saloon
front type. yet they differ almost as much IS
human faces. There are all kinds Of shacks
There are big shacEs. little shacks long shacls.
short shacks white shacks, and shacl1s of every
other color including the rich red Of the un-
painted red wood used in the construction Of
most Of them, shacks with mosaic entrances and
shacks with only a plank to lead TO the front
door. shacks with garish electric signs and
shacks with signs daubed old shirt tails. with
a shoe blacking brush. shacks with big, heavy
beams and studs, substantial enough TO endure
a quarter OF a century, and shacks so wabbly
that wonders why the vigorous afternoon
winds do not blow them down Then there is the
imported" shack which is made in Washing
ton, at the big pine mills, and shipped by
boat TO San Francisco. This sort Of building is
so constructed that it can be taken apart and
put together again without the use OF nails. The
pieces have tongues and grooves that they fit
one in another. These portable shacks range in
cost from 5000 for one room affair, to 81 900.
for structure Of ive or six rooms, substantial
enough to endure a score of years. In the four
months since the fire three thousand shacks have
been built. at an estimated cost of s2.6O0,OOo.
So eager are some San Franciscans to get back
into business that they have put up structures
right the ruins OF old buildings. They have
not waited even to clear the ground. In Market
street. near Powell street for example. a large
shoe firm built shack within a few weeks after
the fire. with the rear end supported on an old
basement wall and the front on heavy beams.
down through masses Of broken brick and
mortar. Not until recently have wreckers begun
to cart of the debris underneath that at the
present time a customer in this store. while try
ing a pair OF shoes, can hear Immediately
below him the cIang Of pick and shovel. Other
wOr<men meantime saving holes in the floor
for the steel pillars Of a hve story freproof
structure. to be erected on the same site. But
the shack Will not be torn out until the per-
manent building is sll ready for occupancy.
In the construction OF some shacks their build
ers show faith in nature. which in view of the
earthquake of April 1S makes the more timor-
Gus fastener gasp. But should he demonstrate
he would be told that the Pacific slope Is not
going to take another slide for several hundred
years at least And, acting on this belief a few
San Franciscans have erected shacks right UP
against tall brick walls which were cracked by
the fire. but which. nevertheless. stand because
their ponderous masonry is still plumb.
In Sd street. not far south Of Market street,
a shack was in process of construction recently
when Bostonian OF the conservative, anti-ex-
pansionist type approached the boss carpenter
and said:
1T appears 10 me that the close proximity OF
yonder brick wall endangers the structure which
you are erecting. Are you not afraid another
seismic disturbance VIII toppe il down on your
building?"
''If we're not anxious about it, don't why
you should be- remarked the carpenter. Then.
realizing that he had been perhaps a bit too
short with the stranger. he added with that
seeming reckessness which characterizes some
San Franciscans:
We'll. supposng the wall does fall down.
That shack is only temporary affair"
The tenants of shacks show their enterprise in
many ways Their rents are nearly as high as