Gilpin observer., 1906-05-03
FEAR OF HUNGER
SAN FRANCISCO SUPPLIES MAY
RUN SHORT.
WILL LAST Fifteen DAYS
Amount OF Relief Fund Has Been Over
estimated - Seven Hundred Car
loads Of Goods Already Distributed.

Amount OF Relief Fund Has Been Over
estimated - Seven Hundred Car
loads of Goods Already Distributed.
San Francisco.-A feeling akin to
CONSERVATION was created at the
meeting Of the general municipal COM
stated that the city faced shortage in
the food supply.
1t had been the popular belief, and
that of many officials also, that San
Francisco, through the generous aid of
the Nation, had been placed in a posi-
ton above want for a long time to
come, and the mayors declaration
came in the nature of painful sur
prise.
1t was decided at a conference held
| to-day by Governor Pardee, Congress
man Kahn, General Greely and Mayor
Mott that the general distribution of
relief supplies in Oakland should also
be placed under military direction, sim
liar to that in vogue in San Francisco.
Oakland being the nearest large place
of refuge from this city, has been
obliged to attend to the task of feeding
and housing thousands of unfortunate
people, and it is stated that the same
misuse of food by unscrupulous and
mercenary persons has been un-
earthed there.
To-day the plan of General Greedy
for distributing food to people in want
was commenced in a number of the
newly created districts and there was
some diminution noticeable in the out
put of goods.
Yet Mayor Schmitz informed the
general committee this morning that
from information in his possession it
appeared that 700 carloads of food and
supplies of various descriptions had
been distributed since the morning of
the earthquake, April 18th, and the
Southern Pacific, the Santa Fe and
other transportation lines had informa-
tion of only 11S cars on the way.
If" said the mayor, this informa-
ton is correct, and have no reason to
doubt it, we will soon be worse off
than we were a week ago. If the in
formation has gone abroad through the
country that we are amply supplied, it
is most unfortunate. for it is apparent
that we are not. 1t is not even known
how much money we can depend upon
with which to purchase supplies. for
you have heard from Mr.. Phelan on
several occasions that part at least of
this money subscribed by individuals
or companies in the East is being dis
bursed through private agents here.
Basing his opinion on reports re-
ceived in the last twenty-four hours.
General Greely said this morning that
the food supply, including shipments
on hand and those en- route, would be
sufficient for the present population for
fifteen days. This reckoning is made
upon the rate at which supplies have
been consumed since the fire. Under
the army ration system that Will here
after prevail, General Greely stated his
belief that the same amount of food
would last twenty-one days.
An unfortunate happening today was
the destruction of a few homes in the
saved section of Van Ness avenue. The
blasting gang was obliged TO use a
large amount of dynamite to blow
some walls down that were menace
to pedestrians. AS result of the tre-
mendous explosions four houses on the
other side of the city's broadest thor
oughfare were utterly wrecked.
Signs of renewal Of industrial activ-
ity were apparent in many parts of the
burned districts to-day and the work
of clearing away debris preparatory to
rebuilding was in progress in score of
places. 1t was said that plans for over
thirty large buildings have been drawn
and will be submitted to the authorities
Immediately after the new building
laws are promulgated.
The mayor notified the Board of SUI
pervisors to-day that he would appoint
committee consisting of engineers.
architects, builders and lawyers to pre-
pare plans for laying out streets and
boulevards and reconstructing San
San Francisco.
Street car lines are being extended
in all directions and the United Rail-
ways Company has promised to give
he>people within a short time a better
system Of transit than existed before
the fire.
Shipping is rapidly returning to nor
NAL conditions. Beginning today one
steamship company will run all its
steamers on schedule dates in force be-
fore the big disaster. According to the
Merchants Exchange. the usual num-
ber of vessels are arriving.
The regulation against ships taking
out foodstuffs is still in force.