The Roswell daily record. [volume] (Roswell, N.M.) 1903-current, 1906-04-25
ceptacles come to be examined.

oAl NC
But taking the lowest estimated fig
hundred lives already sac.
less. six square miles of city build
ings and residences wiped out of ex-
istence. $3.50, GOO. 900 worth of proper
~ gone up in smoke and he
are face to face with the most ire
mendous catastrophe, On the material
side of all events, in the history of
our country. Certain prior visitations
suggest themselves for comparison,
but it will be seen that the figures ap-
plying to these have been far passed
at San Francisco.
The great fire of Chicago took place
in October, 1871. For W days and
nights the flames ragged uncontrolled
Al area of three and one-third square
miles was devastated; property valued
at $1s7. 0OO. 900 was consumed; out of
a population of $4,000 some 10000
was left homeless; and although this
figure must always remain c%onjectur-
al, 300 persons lost their lives. Look
on that picture of 35 years ago, n
on this one today. Incomparably
more terrible is the plight of San
Francisco. Double the area devastat-
ed, and no four-fifths of the population
left with homes wherein to shelter
the homeless one-fifth. The great fire
of Chicago has always been accounted
Americas most disasterous calamity.
But henceforth it will be the great
fire of San Francisco that will be thus
cited. And pray Cod the record may
never again be broken.
All other notable CONGREGATIONS,
pale into insig~nificance when compar-
ed with those of Chicago and San
Francisco. Boston,. in 1872 had fifty
acres in the business portion of her
city ireswept, and property destroyed
to the value of $75, 900, 900. Baltimore
in 1904. had nearly a square mile of
it's business section consumed, and
$50, 900 900 worth of property destroy
ed. But neither of these disasters in
vOiyed serious loss of life, nor the
sacrifice of homes with the pitiful ira
gedies and terrible sufferings thereby
involved. When we consider these
comparative points we realize all the
more forcibly the unexample severity
of the blow that has smitten San Fran
cisco.
There have been other caiamities
affecting American cities hat have
sent a thrill of pity through the civil
lied world. But in certain points
none of these can compare with the
latest one in California. At Galveston
six thousand persons persisted in the
terrible hurricane that on the night
of September 8. 1900. drove the wa
tiers of the Gulf of Mexico over the
city. Grievous this loss If life. But
the material damage at Galveston
amounted to only SIT, 200, 900. At
on August 81, 1886, an
shock demolished several
hundred buildings, and made three
of the whole city uninhabita-
BILE. But only a few score lives were
sacrificed, and the damage to proper
ty totaled no more than 8 ZOO, 900. |
Jo~hnstown, On May 81, 1889, there
occurred the memorable flood, caused
the bursting of a reservoir, that
swept 1926 human being into eterni-
y. In this case the material damage
the entire valley devastat-
han $40, 100000. At st Louis on May
IS, 1896, a cyclone struck the city,
yrecking building which in turn kill
ID psf people injured o others.
The material damage in this ease was
good at an expenditure of less
han $1,000 900.