Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1906-05-17
REBUILDING
SAN FRANCISCO
Reinforced Concrete i'm EaNor-At-
titudc of the Labor Unions.

Unless we are very much mistaken,
the San Francisco fire will provide
invaluable data not only for the
building of the new city. but for all
construction work throughout the
country. Fireproofng is one OF the
great questions of the day, as is
readily recognized by those who have
deplored the almost incalculable an
nual losses by fire in the United
States. We have advanced somewhat /
from the early days when IL was as /
stunned that whatever was nom in |
hammable was therefore freproof. /
, but We sim have great deal TO
, learn, and We are yet long way
} from very desirable uuanimity OF
} opinion. There are almost as many
theories as there are experts and
the experience of San Francisco. as
searching an dexhaustive an experi.
ence as is ever likely To Ice provided.
will he OF value In supplying the dato
for muoh-nceded conclusions. We
} have now direct object lesson i'm the
Kind OF building that will best resist
fire. Many and many a theory has
there been put to "A direct test far
exceeding In value any artificial tests
that could be devised. and the re-
suits ought To have an authoritative
bearing upon the general construc-
lion work OF the future, not only iu
. san Francisco. but throughout the
!. country II reinforced concrete can
|. stand such an ordeal as This. moth
I. ing can prevent its adoption.
. The attitude of the labor unions in
. tho presence OF the existing situation
. is as admirable as their warmest
. friends could have predicted Nor
: only are they Joining heart and soul
I. IN the general deliberatiyc and exec
|, u'ive work, but they have mad.
. haste to waive whatever there may
. have been in their regulations ,hot
. was likely TO retard or hinder tho
? work of rebuilding They have do
. 'iued mat there shall be no change
. IN the general wage scale and mar
!. 'here shall be no special overtime
!. charges either for week dav or SIM
day labor and IL would be hard IN
; overestimate the substantial nature
OF snch contribution to the general
= good. Capital and labor have had
, their little differences i'm the uost
}. and they may have them again i'm
the future, but IL will be safe To pre-
, dict from the present loyal good feel
J ing from the present unison of civic
: sentiment. that their mutual relation
= snip viii stand upon better basis
> IMAM ever as result of common
. fronting of "A common danger. If
Nuch should indeed be the case n
VIII be magnificent victory for truo
ana constructive citizenship, and not
the least OF the cOuntcrpolses to the
!. present calamity.
. The question OF land values is of
course still in the air. There will be
great many sellers among those
VINO are not In position to rebuild
ana this combined with the general
Shock VIII certainly give a downward
tendency for a time But il Will be
Tor a time only The universal conf |
dence that is so astonishingly evident
VIII rapidly assert Itself and will |
give a new buoyancy 10 values. How !
ever many sellers there may be. there |
VIII b greater number of buyers
Large areas will pass into new hands
and with them will come new ideas
- new progresslveness and a break,
ing up OF whatever Conservatism NAV
! nave existed. Great fortunes will nc
made as before. but they will no
! made In new way. There will be an
! era or opportunity, an thrush OF new
! methods and chance for the men
| who can look at the actuallties of the
! present free from the distortions of
! habit and Of the past San Francisco
! is about 10 enter upon one more OF
! her great transition periods. and the
strenuous optimism that has never
/ vet deserted her will carry her safe
/ iy through Sacramento Union.