The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1906-05-03
Practical Proposition.

Practical Proposition.
Sentiment may figure with them to a
large extent, but the practical business
proposition is uppermost Chicago was
rebuilt and made greater under these
conditions Chicago contended only with
faces the terror of more earthquakes
This may brighten the easterner who has
the Pacific coast, but the old resident
has witnessed twenty or thirty shocks
year and has become hardened to them.
even in view of the recent disastrous
results He is not to be deferred but
IS planning to rebuild stronger and bet
ter to withstand possible future tremblors.
Railroads Cut a Figure
The other factor, of probably equal i'm
portance, is the Southern Pacific This
great railroad must have its prosperoII5
port on the Pacific coast and the mag
nificent haTbor of San Francisco bav
forms its only. possible great outlet To
harbor, which is dominated by James J.
Hill and his railroads. To the south is
san Pedro. comparatively new port,
where Senator w A. Clark and his rail-
road hold sway. The only other good deep
sea harbor is San Francisco bay, where
the Southern Pacific has extensive ternf-
nails, which il mas been planning to en-
large and improve. Consequently e H
Hartman and his railroad have got be-
hind the rebuilding of San Francisco and
viii do all in their power TO further this
end. They nave already done much Vice
President and General Manager E. Z. Cal
win. formerly of Salt Lake, although driV-
en- frOL2- office and home, met the situa--
ton promptly While the earthquakes
were still going on and the flames were
just starting he began to direct the work
OF transporting the refugees free from the
city and Of bringing in supplies to feed
and ctothe those who remained.
Credit Due to Hartman.
Those who had carried down from the
old regime hatred of the railroad were
quickly brought into close touch and they
later began to cooperate in the work of
retaining the city. Meanwhile Mr. Har-
special train to learn the conditions and
the action needed. According to men in
alton, to him more than any other per
son is due the credit for enliSting the
powerful financial interests of the coun-
try to aid San Francisco through the cri-
sis. He met daily with the bankers.
among whom f. w. Wilson, a former
resident of Salt Lake and now vice pres
idcnt of the American National bank of
San Francisco. took a prominent part
and listened to their propositions for re-
lieving the situation.
Financing Plan.
While ex-Mayor J. d. PheIan was pro-
mitigating his scheme to have the gov
" lille various others We're advancing prop
ositiOns which they may have known
Timan, and w. A. Simondson. vice pres
ident of the great National City Bank of
New York, agreed with the local bank
erS on a plan for the financing of San
Francisco through the crisis. In sub
stance it was for the banks of New York
and other cities to deposit presuma bIv
with small interest large funds with
their San Francisco correspondents. The
commercial banks VIII then be in a po-
mercantile customers along, while the
Sa wings banks can loan the money for new
buildings. Mr.. Harriman's recommended
tion along this line has already brought
promise of co operation from many of the
leading banks. and it is expected others
Will follow. This is the real hope of San
The Southern Pacific company has an
nOunced that it will go ahead with its
while its vested interests are not vet so
great. is advertising It's faith in San
Francisco and its determination to go
ahead with its China Basin terminals.
Other great corporations are working
along the same lines
Steel and Concrete.
The earthquake and fire have taught
many lessons One is the value of steel
and concrete construction. Another is the
Gesirabiiity for ninety nine-year land
leases. The brieklayers and stone masons.
with the powerful aid of the other la
Dor unions, have long fought legislation
favorable to concrete construction. AS a
consequence, few buildings in the affected
district were of this type. They stood
aroused public sentiment is likely to bring
about legislation encouraging this method
of building. Otherwise. outside capital is
likely to look askance on Pacific coast
investments
Long Leases Necessary.
Legislation on the lease question is also
likely to come up. Native SON. preju-
dice has hitherto prevented long leases
The limit, increased recently by great eff
fort is now fifty years. But now the
Native Sons of the Golden West are not
so naughty. Large numbers of them own
land which has been swept clean by the
fire. They know that Chicago's rebuild
ing was largely due to the nfnety-nine-
year lease plan. which involves no outlay
of capital on the part of the owner gives
him a clean income. and enables the les
sor TO put up permanent improvements
with some hope of profit.
The Native Sons still proud but
they are beginning to Tealizei that in their
time of need they are not altogether self
sufficient, and they are beginning to cuI-
tiVate the outsiders" whom they have
scorned in the time of their flnrid rnrns-