The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-04-28
First Building Permit is Taken Out for a 12-StOrV
 SkyScfaper
PEOPLE HAIL FIRST CAR
 WITH UNRESTRAINED JOY
Secretary Metcalf Sends Report to the President On Conditions as He Has Found Them In San
 Francisco.

San Francisco, April 27.-Harmony and pledges of good feeling marked the meet ings today of the various bodies of citi- zens' committees and representatives of the army which are administering the affairs of San Francisco. The last sign of confusion and misunderstanding which a times existed here has disappeared and the first sign of the return to for mer conditions were the resumption of street ear traffic in eertion sections, and the taking out of the first permit for the erection of modern steel structure upon the ground occupied few days ago by d less substantial one.
 Archbishop Riordan appeared at the meeting of the citizens general commit tee today, and in an eioquent speech counseed harmony between those who are striving to bring order out of chaos. and predicted city greater, more beauti- ful and more striking example of Amer ican pluck and enterprise than the old San Francisco
 Schmltz Acts as Motorman.
 The reappearance of the first electric cars upon the streets of San Francisco since the great disaster was celebrated as quite an event. City and railroad off cials and invited guests filled the first ear started on the run across the city, Mayor sehmitz acting as motorman.
 Everywhere the sight of the car was greeted with cheers A continuous ser vice was re-established later in the day on several of the cross-town lines.
 The first building permit applied for and granted today was for a twelve-story steel structure 10 be erected by Thomas MeGee. This is one of the first substan- tlal evidences that the business men of San Francisco intend losing no time in getting down to business.
 Cold Rain Falls.
 A cold rain fell for severa; hours last night and this morning, and brought ad- dtional hardships upon the people shel- tered only by tents and temporary buid- ngs in the parks To further add to their discomfort the wind blew a gale from the north all day. scattering dust and ashes everywhere in some places throwing down the totterlng walls of burned build ngs. Tonight is one of the most uncom- forable since the great fire.
 What to do with the unfortunate Chi nese of San Francisco, problem which has given the authorities considerable worry during the last few days, has been settled at least temporarily. Since the destruction of Chinatown its inhabitants have been living in tents. and In even less comfortable quarters on a large tract of land on the north side of the bay.
 Moved to the Preside.
 Knowing the habits of the Chinese the citizens committee and the mayor feared that If even few of them returned to their old district and took up quarters. the entire Chinese population would fol- low. and the problem of moving them, which has agitated San Francisco for many years, would be as great as ever. Therefore. when the suggestion was made that the Chinese be moved temporarily to a large open tract of land in the Preside reservation it was adopted immediately. and here they will find a resting place until arrangements can be definitely made for their permanent city at Hunters Point, most desirable spot on the southern arm of San Francisco bay. The statement went out early today that a large body of Italian and other Latin races camped along North Beach were suffering from lack of shelter of any kind. This Is not entirely true. The relief committee has had more difficulty in systematzng the work among these people than any where else, and much of this discomfort has arisen through their o,. ignorance of camp life. The unsatis- .aerofy conditions, however. were consld- or1bly alleviated in this district today.
 The finance committee late today gave out the following recapitulation of the subscription fund;
 Total out of town subscriptions, a.6l7.- 0sS
 Local subscriptions, s213950.
 Total, S4.s3i 03S.