New-York tribune., 1906-04-20

The earlier issues OF rations and tents have
been increased, and IL will be necessary, in or
der TO supply one million ratons which may
have to be handed out TO the sufferers. to make
extensive purchases in the open market at such
places afford the promptest shipment into the
section visited by the disaster Instructions
have been sent by telegraph TO purchasing com
missaries in the West TO obtain options on large
quantities of supplies in anticipation of a con-
tinued a greatly increased demand for such
provisions.
The army quartsrmasters were especially in
terested in the information. which came late
this afternoon, reporting the probable loss OF
the property on the waterfront including the
piers at which the army transports receive and
discharge their cargoes. 1t was hoped that the
wharves might be saved, as this would be an aid
to commerce which would materially help in
rebuilding the city of San Francisco
It is understood in Washington that every ef-
fort was made TO protect this property, but ap-
parently without avail. although the military
authorities still entertain the hope that these
early reports Of the destruction of the piers are
without foundation. If the facilities for loading
and unloading the army transports are lacking
in San Francisco IL is probable the army quar-
termasters VIII transfer this branch of their
work 70 Portland or Seattle. This is a business
which is greatly desired by all the Pacific ports.
and San Francisco was regarded with some envy
as being the shipping point Of the large amount
Of material sent two or three times a month to
Manila II is possible that the freight NAV be
| handed elsewhere in San Francisco Bay but in
! this connection careful consideration VIII have
to be given the means Of storing the r,s+ay,aI
The newspaper reports indicate that means or
taking care of army stores in San Francisco
have disappeared.
None OF the official dispatches from, San
! francisco indicate that the army posts in the
vicinity OF the city have been materially daro
aged injured at all All OF the army propertv
III lhe city was reported destroyed. and it is the
| intention at once to rebuild If Congress- will
make the emergency appropriation which is the
subject of an estimate prepared in the War De-
partment this afternoon.
The Navy Department learned v,i+b r,,,ob
sra tihcation that its several stations including
! the training station at Yerba Buena in +bA bar
| Dor OF San Francisco and the navy yard at
Vallejo, had escaped injury Instructions were
promptly sent have every means tal,an to
assist the War Department in its relief of those
in distress. All the surplus stores AT Mare
! Island viii be placed at the disposal Of the War
Department. Rear Admiral Goodrich has ad-
vised the Navy Department tnat he is returning
10 San Francisco from the South with the Chi
! cago the Marblehead. the Boston and two tor
! pedO destroyers.
The revenue cutter service has placed at the
/ disposal Of the War Department five of its yes
! sels-the Perry. the McCuIloch the Chetis the
| Hartley and the Golden Gate. The Perry is
: al Astoria, Ore. and will carry supplies from
Vancouver Barracks TO San Francisco
The Quartermaster's Department in Philade-
/ pha shipped 10 san Francisco yesterday $500
/ conical tents. all that available in the
! Philadelphia depot