Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-04-24
PLAN GREATER CITY
WORK OF CLEARING UP THE
STREETS UNDER WAY.

SAN FRANCISCO. April 24.-Arrange-
ments for the construction Of the new and
greater San Francisco are rapidly crystal
LIKING. and soon the sounds of building will
be heard in every block of the devastated
districts
The blowing up of the ruins in the bust
ness section has already begun and Is now
we'll Under way.
There will not be a dagerous ruin stand
ing on Market street by this afternoon. A
large squad Of artillerymen. assisted by the
municipal authorities, has been dynamit-
ing all the tottering buildings and walls.
This work has SO far been confined to Mar
ket street In order to open a safe artery
from the outlying district to the water
front. The district north Of Market street
and the business section will receive the
same treatment after Market street Is
clear.
A commission last Sunday investigated all
the buildings left standing upon the main
thoroughfares OF the devastated city. It
was ascertained that nearly all the steel
frame structures had withstood the earth
quake, and although almost without excep-
ton they had been Quilted. the loss was In
most cases confined to the contents.
AS showing the disposition prevailing
among property owners Of the city, the ac
ton of the Humboldt Bank. which will at
once erect new building seventeen stories
In height. may be cited.
Two months ago plans were approved and
contract let for the building and the steel
for construction is already on the way west
from eastern agents of the contractors.
Orders to 60 Ahead With Work.
Yesterday orders were given to go ahead
with the work of building. Build fast"
was the order, and this means the expendi-
ture of every possible energy that money
can purchase for the construction Of the
building. The site is on the south side OF
Market street, 100 feet east of 9TH The
site cost 100000 and is held by it's owner
to have every cent of Its original value to-
day. The building will cost $4,000. The
construction will be steel and terra Gotta,
a construction that has stood the test by
fire and earthquake.
The whole habitable part of San Francisco
has been organized and districted for SAM
tary inspection purposes in the most thor
ough manner. There Is no longer danger OF
epidemic, because the health department
working with the military, Is prepared to
handle everything Of the sort before 1t be-
comes threatening.
The embargo on merchant vessels has
been removed and shipping can now be
moved as usual. For the past few days
vessels of the Pacific squadron have been
keeping vessels from leaving port but this
restriction has been removed by orders
from Admiral Goodrich, commander in
chief OF the Pacific squadron, to the ship
ping commissioner of the port.
Fortifications Injured.
The big Notifications at the entrance to
the Golden Gate DID not escape from serious
injury during the great shake up. The
full extent of the injury sustained by the
great works Is as yet unknown, for nothing
but survey by the engineering corps can
disclose the full extent of the damage.
At Lime Point the emplacements OF the
big guns have been cracked and twisted.
The heavy concrete, both on the floor and
in the walls OF the emplacements. bear I'M
mistakable evidence Of having been given a
bad shaking.
Conditions are said to be equally bad at
the fortifications back OF old Fort Point. AS
1t is now, the great thirteen-inch guns on
both sides of the gate. constituting the main
defense are practically useless. They weigh
many tons each. but their adjustment upon
their carriage Is as delicate as that of a
watch. The earthquake destroyed this. and
though the damage can be repaired. 1t will
take considerable time and much labor be-
fore the big guns are In a condition to do
the execution they were intended to.
The Lime Point batteries stand out on an
immense bluff towering hundreds of feet
Ingly heavy. and Is believed to have injured
the fortifcations at this point moro than
A safe expert, after examining safes and
vaults In many buildings in the burned dis
tricts, says that the vaults Of the banks are
all right, hut that 1t will be several days
before they can be opened, on account OF
debris will not be opened until perfectly