The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1906-05-02
THE FUTURE OF SAN FRANCISCO

Ont of the chaos of San Francisco
order is rapidly coming-much more
RAPIDLY than might have been expected
| from the character and extent OF the
destruction. News of persons is still
scarce because nearly all wires were
krocl<ed down. and whatever means OF
communication with the outside "orio
there were left were confiscated to the
| official and larger interests Of start
| ing relief work. - g,'nt
If begins to be understood that many
buildings which were at first declared
| TO be destroyed were not, in fact serl-
ousv damaged. This gives guide to
the rebuilding of San Francisco. The
kind of buildings which withstood the
terrible wrenching of the shock should
naturally be the kind to deplace the
structures which went down in ruin.
Another thing strongly suggested is
the need of large and frequent open
spaces in a city like San Francisco.
These are necessary not only as
means of escape for the people, should
another earthquake come, but also 10
prevent or retard the spread of fire.
Irnouestionably the great Golden Gate
=,
thousands of people who would other
| wise have persisted miserably in the
| nuddle of ruined buildings and barri-
caded streets.
The CITY of San Francisco will be re-
bniIt This much is strongly indi-
! Gated already from the tone OF the
DISPATCHES. The capitalists of the west
ern metropolis are not daunted by the
catastrophe which has overtaken them.
Like Chicago and Baltimore, San Fran
cisco will rise from it's ashes better
| and cleaner for it's experience. The city
has had for several years past an asso-
citation of merchants which had already
accomplished wonders for the city. 1t
had reformed many laws and customs
and done things for the city which
timid politicians would never have
done through legislation.
In addition. this association had
MANNED a great San Francisco 1t had
employed Burnham, the celebrated
landscape architect, and he had made
a report upon a scheme for beautifying
the city. This involved the destruction
of many buildings in order to bring
| wide mall from the Golden Gate park
into the heart of the city and the de-
struction of other buildings to provide
breathing places in the downtown dis
trict. The destruction of the city by
fire does not destroy the plan. 1t makes
it more practicable. 1t makes it easier
/ to carry out in full instead OF on
compromise lines. The outlay Of money
| would be immense and the city would
be under heavy load OF ueDt lof Soihe
time to bring forth the new city. Bal
timore was in the same situation, but
Baltimore has not hesitated to issue
bonds for millions to accomplish the
purpose of Strengthening and widening
it's leading thoroughfareS, laying out
new parks. renewing it's sewerage sys-
TEN and improving its docks. The
additional business which will come to
Baltimore as the result of providing
facilities for doing business will grad
ually wipe out the debt. The same will
happen in San Francisco. The harbor
of the Golden Gate is too important
to be abandoned. 1t will not be
abandoned American enterprise will
renew the city and adapt it not only
to the character of the ground upon
which it is built but the new builders
will take advantage of the opportunity
to build city in which the amenities
of life will have a better chance for
development.