Los Angeles herald., 1906-04-27
Railroad Companies to Lay Temporary
Tracks and Remove Wreckage Of
Buildings Covering an Area
Fifteen Miles Square
Stricken City Has So Far Escaped an Epidemic
and Reports From the Various Hospitals
Indicate That No Alarm Need Be
Felt in This Direction

SeTNeu W pTeNeHl dH eplQeullC anu tic
general average health reports are al
most normal
The resumption of street car traffic
is causing considerable discussion in
the citizens committee of fifty meet
ings, as we'll as in the meetings of the
various executive bodies.
The street railway companies an
nounce that they can resume traffic at
moments notice on all the lines
throughout habitable sections of the
city and only await the final word from
the mayor.
Claim 1t Would Be Dangerous
Opposed to the resumption at this
time there is strong section of the
committee which argues that it would
be entirely unsafe to permit the charg-
ing of electric wires until sufficient
supply of water is available for the
suppression of possible fires.
The street car companies assert that
they have made a most careful inspec-
tion of their system of overhead wires
and that the danger from these wires
is hardly worth consideration even at
this time.
Means of transportation is very badly
needed Just now and the running of
street cars would very materially assist
in bringing about normal conditions.
Late this evening it was decided to
start the street cars tomorrow morning.
AS an evidence OF the determination
of San Francisco business men to re-
sumo business at their old stands. the
wholesalers association today declined
the generous offer of Oakland citizens
of large tract of land on that side of
the bay for the location of wholesale
establishments.
Offer Is Refused
After mature consideration the whole
salers declined the offer with thanks,
and reiterated their intention of re-
building and opening up business on
the old ground. 1t was stated at this
meeting that temporary buildings for
many of the wholesale firms would be
completed within fiftten days. The
wholesalers have reports of 5000 car
loads of goods now in transit between
Chicago and San Francisco, and of $500
more carloads ready for delivery as
soon as the congestion in the railroad
yards can be relieved.
The Union Mine works, where many
of the best vessels in the United States
navy were built, and the Risdon Iron
works, both of which escaped the fire.
will reopen at once, giving employment
to manpy thousands of workmen.
Militia Not Withdrawn
The state militia has not been with
drawn, nor has the governor given any
intimation when he would withdraw
them.
Governor Pardee attended the daily
conference at Fort Mason today, and
defended vigorously the reflections
which he said had been put upon the
national guard of California.
He considered that the guard had
rendered invaluable service to the peo-
pie of San Francisco during the ter
rible days OF conflagration, as well as
the days Immediately following, and
that he could not understand the SEN
timent that seemed to prevail against
them. The governor did not say
whether he would remove the militia
or not, although he was given to un-
derstand by the mayor that the fed
eral troops and the police were suffi-
cient in numbers for any emergency.
Governor Pardee announced today
that he would probably call special
session of the legislature, but added
that before doing so he would take time
to consult the best authorities as to this
important action. He remarked that
while the legal authorities of the San
Francisco bar had advised special
session, the bar association of the
capital city (Sacramento) had taken
directly opposite stand and he wished
to satisfy himself before doing any,
thing.
Finance Committee Meets
The fianance committee of the gen.
eral relief committee met this afternoon
to receive reports from the heads Of
the various subcommittee.
The questions of Chairman James ID.
Phelan and his associates of the finance
committee indicated a purpose to see
that every cent contributed to the re-
lief of San Francisco should be eco
ln1 fftll llxy o.
counted for.
There will be no granting of large
sums in bulk. While none OF the COM
mitteeS was in position to report in
detail it's expenditures, and only one
or two were able to give even an ap-
proximate figure as to the total. the
questions put to them indicated clear
ly an intention to see that there was no
waste.
"What have you been paying per day
for teams?"
"What is the per diem of the stenog-
raphers in your employ and how many
of them are there? When can you dis
pense with their services?"
"What is the daily wage of the men
"What is the rental you are paying
for your offices?"
Accounts Will Be Examined
These were some of the questions
that were put to the chairmen, and
if there had ever been any idea that
the overseeing of accounts would be
lax and claims readily passed, this idea
was dissipated at once.
1t was explained to the committee by
Allen Pollock, chairman of the sub
committee on audit and accounts of the
finance committee that complete sys-
tenn had been perfected for the audit
ing and payment of all claims.
The checks provided would eliminate
the possibility of error and the careful
scrutiny to which each claim would be
subjected would insure that none but
genuine, accurate and reasonable
ICOntinued on Pags Thrssl