The Washington times., 1906-04-27
Enormous Property Loss
in San Francisco Has
Not Been Exag-
gerated.
THREE HUNDRED DEAD:
FOUR HUNDRED INJURED
Relief Work Going On Salts
faCtOrily Without Friction.
Health of Homeless PeO-
pie Remarkably Good.

President Roosevelt today gave
out the following telegram received
from Secretary Netcalf, who was
sent to San Francisco as the repre-
sentative Of the Government:
Fort Mason, San Francisco. Cal.
The President. White House. Washing
Dear Sir Have practically completed
Inspection OF the ruined districts ! co
not believe the loss OF life viii be as
great as was anticipated IN my iudC-
ment II viii be impossible 10 determine
the exact number Of deaths, but couser-
NatiNe estimates place the number a
about one thousand sufferers in local
hospitals and probably not over four
hundred are seriously injured No neces-
SHY exists al the present time FC- nurses
or doctors, and they should not be sent
except on recommendation OF General
Greely or DR. Devine-
As regards Industrial and commercial
losses the conditions are appalling. fiE-
ures and distances convey slignr con-
ceptOnS or realities Not only have the
business and industrial houses and
Establishments Of one-half million pAo-
pie disappeared ieaving them destitute
financially and their means Of livelihood
temporarily gone. but the complicated
system Of transportation. Indispensable
million Of people has been almost totally
destroyed. The billy cOnfiguration OF
san Francisco made movements BY
street railway almost indispensa BILE
over the Citys area OF twenty-five
square miles the entire system of rail-
ways was damaged or destroyed and has
not as vet been operated The scanty
supply Of animals and carriages remain
ing after the fire has been largely i'm
pressed into civil and military service in
order to prevent starvation. The entire
telegraphic and telephone systems were
destroyed. making communication i'm
possible.
Three Hundred Thousand Homeless.
Practically every municipal bunding
Is destroyed. forcing the city officials
into scanty quarters. necessarily situ-
aJed in localities difficult Of access. ov--
Ing 10 distances and lack Of tr6nspOr-
tation- Three hundred thousand people
were renderd homeless. and their or
binary methods for providing themselves
with food. clothing, and shelter being
destroyed. their feeding and sheltering
demanded extraordinary action and en-
crossed the attention Of every one as
soon as the ravages of IRE were
checked. Remedial methods. adopted
and prosecuted with great efficiency,
have relieved this unprecedented disas-
ter The citizens committee. appointed
by Mayor SchmitZ. is composed Of the
ableSt business men Of the city and
their efforts. united and harmonious TO
an astonishing deSree, speedily brought
order out of chaos. and introduced sys-
TENS Of relief which have accomplished
wonders
The Efforts Of the mayor and mu-
nicipaI officials of the citizens commit
tee and OF the regular army and of
the State Guard OF California have
been practically as efficient as though
the separate authorities were under one
head Neither friction nor reflections
have at any time appeared and the work
Of relief has proceeded harmOEiOuSly.
continuously, and efficiently
The street railways ystem Is rapidly
approaching such state Of repair as N
promise partial renew Al Of operation
very soon The SIgaal cOrUs has CStah-
lished a military system OF teleSraphic
and telephone lines connecting the
headquarters Of the army, and CT the
mayor which are at Fort Mason, Win
the mint hall Of justice, district head
quarters. the ferry. and every. point OF
special Importance. Without this system
communication about the city would
nave been impossible. and with the NJ
been greatly delayed
Funston's Work Commended.
General Greely. returning from leave,
TeaSSumed command SUNDAY evening
and commends in the highest terms the
efficient and tireless efforts Of General
Funston whose orders and action utilized
and inspired army 10 most efficient ac-
tiOn in staying the progress OF the flames
and saving the remnant OF the city. Cen
eral Greely's opinion is cOncurred in by
the mayor and the citizens committee.
Most threatening conditions existed as
regards the water supply. but eXtraOr-
dinary efforts on the part of the water
company have remedied the situation
which IS improving from day 10 day so
that physical suffering from lack Of wa
ter is Impossible. although IL cannot be
delivered in sufficient quantities for
proper sanitation and fire purposes for
but am assured by General Greely and
others that the methods OF relief and
restoration were so efficient that no per
son has suffered from lack OF food, wa
ter, or shelter.
Sanitation Receiving Special Attention
The question OF sanitation Is receiving
special attention The entire city is IN
spected daily by four trained mounted
officers, who report regularly the situa-
ton and necessities
The fortifcations are practically Unin-
jured. Considerable damage was done
TO the military buildings at the Preside
and on Angel Island Reports indicate
that there was no damage TO the build
ings on Alcatraz Island. The army
warehouses in the city were entirely de-
strOyed. The mint and appraisers build