Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1906-05-05

buildings of steel construction, after
the pattern OF the New York and Chi
cago skyscrapers. were but little in
jured by the shock. and in some in
stances their walls withstood even the
ravages of the flames. although their
interiors were destroyed. 1t is the
opinion of Californians in New York
that it will be found that the damage
from the earthquake alone was incon-
siderable compared with the ravages
Of the fire, and upon this they largely
base their hopes for the future.
1T is misleading to lay the blame for
the devastation to the earthquake"
said Charles j. Brooks, a prominent
member of the California society, who
has felt two previous shocks in San
Francisco 1T IS the fire which is al
most wholly responsible. Bearing that
in mind, the plans for the new city
will doubtless he made accordingly.
From the evidence so far at hand ii
apDears that the steel construction
buildings stood up without injury, and
l EXPECT TO see them the type of the
future. with the stone work anchored
to the steel body, as is the practice In
New York There will then be but lit
tie TO fear from earthquake shocks,
and by an adequately protected water
system the danger of a cOnt1agration
will be obviated AS II was, the risks
in San Francisco were regarded by in
surance companies as the safest in the
country. The city never had had Sc
rious fire, and there is no reason to
fear repetition of this disaster if
proper precautions are taken"
Several of the men who predicted e
brilliant future for the city spoke of
the plans for identifying Ii which have
been prepared during the last two
years by ID. III. Burnham of Chicago,
who recently finished Il residence there
They pointed out the difficulties that
have seemed to be insurmountable to
the carrying out of those plans because
of the unwillingness of the owners of
Chinatown property to part with SO
profitable an investment, and now they
declare the fire has served good pur-
pose along with the great suffering it
has wrought. in clearing the way for
the working out of ideals which many
men nave nuu Tor years.
William II. Crocker, one of the great
est capitalists of the city, who was on
his way TO Europe with his family
when he was forced to cancel passage
on the Celtic the other day, voiced the
sentiment when he said in the ST.
Regis, where he has been staying until
he can make arrangements to return to
San Francisco. that the calamity will
give opportunity to make more splen-
did city than the most enthusiastic
have dared to dream of.
within five years San Francisco will
be greater and more beautiful than
ever" he said ITO even suggest its
abandonment is preposterous. BY rea-
son of it's location and harbor it is the
natural metropolis OF the Pacific coast.
Everybody l know is determined TO re-
build il stronger and finer and better
than ever. A general scheme OF fire
proof construction will be carried out,
with buildings of uniform height. Some
streets Will be Strengthened and others
viii be widened. and beautiful as San
Francisco was. city beautiful that
will be the marvel of the world will
rise from the ruins of today"
Mr.. Croker has reports which indi-
cate that enough remains of the Crock
err building so that it can he rebuilt
without having to begin at the founda-
tons, but in any event, he said. new
building will be erected on greater pro-
portions than the one which has been
injured or perhaps utterly destroyed.
Archer NJ. Huntington, son of the late
Coils p Huntington Is of the same
mind as all others who voiced predic-
tons with regard to the future of San
Francisco
Talk Of abandonment of the city for
Seattle or some other coast town Is
foOlishness.'' he said. 1T will be rebuilt
ut once without doubt on improved
lines. AS to rebuilding our own resi-
dence there no plans have been formu-
lated. Nothing will be done in that d.
rection for some time at all events"