Omaha daily bee., 1906-09-16
SAN FRANClSCO'S JUNK PILE
Task Of Clearing the Ruins Going Forward
Vigorously.
OBSTACLES IN THE PATH OF PROGRESS
Labor and Material Prices Boosted
to the Prohibitive POint-Per-
manent Building Projects
Mt a standstiII.

Few persons away from San Francisco
and who have had no opportunity Of see
ing conditions exactly as they are in that
city, have the slightest conception OF the
amount of work involved in clearing away
the debris which resulted from the disas-
ter OF April L. Many visitors receive the
impression that nothing is being done.
because they see lots innumerable covered
with debris, and in some places the streets
almost in the same condition.
Shortly after the fre one of the largest
contractors on the Pacific Coast reviewed
the situation and declared that with the
most modern and best of appliances, and
with all the men and teams that could be
utilized, it would require eleven months of
steady work to remove the debris from
San Francisco. The work that has been
done has been under conditions not as fav-
orable as those promised by the contrac-
tor. yet the result is most appreciable and
most gratifying.
1t must be remembered that the debris
covers an area of $3.50 acres. Nearly five
hundred city blocks and thirty-six miles
Of streets were covered with debris. con-
sisting of brick, stone, mortar. ashes, and
structural steel 1t is estimated that there
were six and a half billion bricks in the
ruins OF San Francisco. These bricks
placed end to end would encircle the world
thirty times. To haul these bricks with
two-horse wagons would require thirteen
thousand loads.
It is estimated that there were something
like four million cubic yards of concrete
used in the territory devastated. This will
weigh Ave and quarter million tons-a
fairly heavy load to be carted away.
Take with these brick and concrete all the
building stone, terra Gotta, and marble,
and 1t will be seen that considerable work
Is to be done before 1t can be all hauled
away from San Francisco. For nearly
three months this debris has been taken
away at the rate of more than 100 carloads
a day. Not all of It by the railroads; IT
has been going In constant professions of
wagons from all parts OF the city and has
been utilized to fll low ground, raise road
beds. make new land on the bay front,
form foundation for railroad track and
bridge work, in fact in a hundred ways
It has been carried out OF the burned dis
trict to help some other section.
steel Junk.
Building steel is a most obstinate ma
tcrial, when 1t comes to tearing 1t down
atie ease with which immense steel beams
are handled when the building is under
construction is dream, but the removal OF
that same steel when II is twisted and
distorted by fire is nightmare. Il takes
time and most wonderful patience. 1t has
been estimated by dealers in iron and
steel that the steel debris of San Francisco
is worth as junk s2o.00o.o0o This means
that there are about 100000 tons of this
twisted, bent and distorted metal to be
removed from the ruins. To dismantle a
six story steel frame requires something
like months time.
Besides the heavier material there are
75.oooo.ooo square yards of plastering many
million yards OF stucco work I'm ornamental
| ton, ashes from millions upon millions OF
feet of lumber, from all the furniture of q
great district. the stoves, ranges, water
and gas piping, plumbing material and
builders hardware. melted into great con-
glomerate masses by the heat. and holding
| In their cohesion masses of brick and stone
to such an extent that they have to be
| separated by the use OF Dynamite; the
queensware, glassware and table ware OF
all OF those homes which went up ir
smoke. and the window glass in the thous-
ands of windows which melted and rar
equal to that OF any ceramic oven.
Clearing aud cleaning the ruins is q
mighty task and San Francisco is equal tC
Il.
| Obstacles to Rebuilding.
Problems far mere serious than removal
of debris rise menacingiy in the way OF
| San Francisco's rebuilding Labor anC
material have advanced TO a point regarded
as prohibitive by many lot owners. Thii
phase OF the situation has become acute
forcing local newspapers to utter warningi
against the policy OF squeeze. Editorially
the Chronicle OF September 10 reviews tn,
situation and sets out present conditions
IN the labor and material market. It con
fesses that permanent building project
have come TO a standstill Buildings onI,
partly destroyed are being restored q
rapidly as possible. whatever the cost
| Very likely. now and then.", says tn,
| Chronicle. "a venturesome person ma,
start new work on q first class building
The majority OF owners will not do SO
They will lease their land or put up shacks
No owner can figure out a profit In rent
ing buildings at present cost. and until the,
can there will be very little permanen
building. A day or two ago We gave a
instance where certain stone work hai
originally cost in round numbers $500
but for replacing IL the lowest offer was
In round numbers. $500 This was
very extreme case and seems hardl
credible. but We had the owner OF the prop
orty for authority. Here Il a definite cas-
which anyone can verify. The original COS
OF all the marble work OF the Merchants
i 81 TIA. =.