Omaha daily bee., 1906-09-09
WORK FOR WILLING HANDS.
Labsr the Pressing Need in the Recon-
struotion Of San Francisco.
THOUSANDS EMPLOYED, MORE WANTED
Wages ut the Topnotch, Rent and
Cost of Living Equally High
UpIift in Business During
August.

august
The month of August has shown remark
able progress in the way of rebuilding in
San Francisco, and a synopsis of the Bull
letin of Progress, issued by the California
promotion committee, presents a series of
facts and speak volumes for the manner
in which the people of this city are taking
hold of reconstruction and business mat
tiers.
There Is still an enormous demand for
labor in the skilled building trades, and
ordinary labor in San Francisco, while
from all parts of the state there is a call
for farm laborers 1t is estimated that
there are now at work on reconstruction
in San Francisco 5000 men, and many
more could be used.
August broke the record for value of
customs duties of the port of San Fran
cisco. the estimate being ;1,5OO,OOO for the
month, with Monday, August "a, as the
| banner day, when quarter of million
dollars was collected in customs. The ton,
mage of the port was also very large, be-
| ing 1880 tons for the month.
| One thousand, one hundred and seventy
| six building permits were issued during the
month, at total value of Sc, 333,36S Build
ing contracts were recorded to the number
| of 40, at total value of $1,429114. The
number of permanent buildings begun in
| creased from siXty-slx at the end OF July
to I'll, an increase of GAS during the month.
f, The bank clearings OF San Francisco dur
| ing August amounted to the enormous to-
tai OF $ls0, s44594.73, against S155 9lSs6 for
the same month of 1905, an increase of Is
per cent for the month.
| Progress in All Directions.
Reports from Santa Rosa where much
damage was done April Is, show that the
city is rapidly being rebuilt. All of the
debris was cleared away within six weeks
of the fire and now buildings are under
way all along the main street. Reports
from Los Angeles and San Diego show that
unusual prosperity marks the business of
both the large southern cities. The interior
of the state also makes good reports re-
garding prosperity in all lines of business.
Careful estimates now place the popula-
ton of San Francisco at $4,000 Many
residence buildings are under construction,
and as fast as they are completed they are
occupied. 1t is estimated that September
will show wonderful increase in this
particular, as many houses begun two and
three months ago will be completed within
that time and will be Immediately occupied
quate to the demand. Lumber is coming
in rapidly and all other lines are well
stocked up. Orders for all sorts of ma
terial are being filled readily and con-
tractors are finding no trouble in this par
ticular.
In the matter of debris removal there
has been little change 1t is estimated that
with the railroads and the private dis
posal OF debris fully rs carloads are being
disposed OF each day. Much of this is being
used in the city to I'LL low-lying lots and
along the waterfront to I'LL in marshy
ground.
Business in all lines of retail trade con-
tinues to hold high mark. The mer-
chants all report continued increase of
trade. Wholesale and shipping interests
also show increase.
In the matter of increased cost of living
1t is estimated that the increase in rent
OF residence property is about 10 per cent,
while that OF property now being utilized
for business purposes temporarily has been
largely increased to meet competitive de-
mand. In table supplies the increase is
estimated at about ~ per cent over prices
obtaining before the FIRE!
Last of the Gable Cars.
The heyday of the cable car In San Fran
oars for years to come on those streets
whose hills are sleeper than electric cars
have yet contrived to glide up with ease
and safety, but in the new San Fran
cisco electricity will probably supplant the
use Of the underground wire rope on all
streets which have no heavy grades As
the cable car enters upon the era OF its
retirement it is interesting to remember
that San Francisco is the city In which the
cable system was invented and first en-
ployed.
About 1862 Peter Donahue and his as
sociates organized the Omnibus Railroad
company and cars were brought around the
Horn from the works OF John Stephenson
OF New York. The frames OF these and
the 'ironsides." brought out a few years
later for the Market street line, may still
be seen scattered along the beach at Car
Vile or reconstructed into cable cars such
as were used TIL last April on Market
street q strong testimonial to the honest,
careful workmanship OF forty years ago.
To A s. Hallidie. inventor, manufacturer
and several times president of the Ne
chanics institute. is due In a large meas
ure the wonderful growth OF the city over
the once worthless. inaccessible hills.
AS early as lsn he exhibited q model
cable railroad at the fair, and In June,
1873, ground was broken for the first cable
road in the world. and on August /, at
about o'clock N the morning, the arst
grip car started down Clay street hill. II
was a gray morning and the fog was
hanging around the hills The engine was