The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1906-07-21
Conditions In San Francisco.

cisco since the fire gives the most &C
curate view of conditions being met
by the enthusiastic and faithful work
ers in the rebuilding of the city, With
this end in view progress" has solic-
tied from the workers themselves ex-
pressions which present the view
point of the merchant. the banker, the
railroader, the engineer and other rep
resentatives of interests vital to the
existence of great city.
The following article by the presi-
dent of the San Francisco Real Estate
Board is significant as coming from
one engaged III business most sensi-
tive to the actual prosperity of COM
munity. Realty values reflect the very
substance of commercial growth. The
man who deals i'll them engages ex-
cellent opportunities for testing actual
conditions. Mr.. Howells optimism is
inspired by his intimate observation
of the stability of San Francisco's
realty market.
The unparalleled and awful conf1a.
grafton which swept San Francisco on
the 18th Of April last and left over
four square miles Of devastated ter
ritory with tottering walls. twisted
steel and iron and great piles of brick
and debris. with tloroughfares choked
md CITE r.,
for traffic and everything in help
lessly and apparently hopelessly cha
otto state. is rapidly becoming history.
| The world has marvcled at the en-
ergy shown by the courageous and
sclf-reliant community which has re-
sumcd. or. we ought to say. continued
is daily pursuits. and is today carry
ing on trade which rivals the bust
| ness of the old San francisco.
On every side are seen the signs OF
activity. and while certain favored To-
cations are already dcnscly built with
retail stores. every section OF the city
is showing signs OF life and energy.
I, a strong. healthy sentiment pre-
walls. and the depression manifested
during the early days after the fire has
! disappeared with the revival of bust
ness. Practically every banking
house is doing business at its old loca-
ton and many banks have estab-
| lished branches in the Van Ness ave
nue. and Fillmore street business cell
tiers. All are doing normal ahd rap
idly increasing business, as the clear
ing house reports will show.
The tendency is to get down town--
get down town quickly. if possible, but
get down town. 1t is the belief Of
many that the banking, insurance and
mercantile center will be greatly en-
large in the reconstruction of the
city and will reach we'll into that
part which, was heretofore given over
to small retail business houses.
The real estate market is keeping
pace with the activity which is being
displayed III other lines Of business.
and while the bulk of the transactions
now reported are leases for short
terms, made by owners to insure inn
mediate revenues from their property,
giving them All opportunity to adjust
and collect their insurance, arrange
their finances and prepare their plans
| for permanent structures, gratifying
number of long term leases have been
made and many sales have been
closed at prices approximating the
values which prevailed prior to the
great fire.
The insurance situation is clearing
gradually and daily grows more salts
factory. Much of the clamor against
thecompanieshas ceased, and the adj
justments are being taken up and dis
posed OF as rapidly as possible. Tile
sound and solvent companies are meet
i'll gtheir liabilities promptly and fully
and their action is reassuring after the
many weeks of doubt and uncertainty
due to the pages Of transformation
published during the trying times Of
April and May.
Effective work in the reconstruction
OF the city has been done by the
United Railroads in restoring traffic
and rendering it possible to go about
the city boil, in the burned and un-
burned districts. The employment of
thousands of laborers in this work and
in the clearing and hauling OF debris,
has done much to assist in solving the
| problem of relief work.