Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1906-04-27
WASHINGTON LETTER.

1
swiftly and effectively when the eDor
nous extent of the disaster at San
Francisco became apparent. 1t is a
satisfa ction TO be able to record that
the bill appropriating Sl COO 600 for
the relief Of the fire and earthquake
sufferers Was pasSed in record time
without IA word of debate la less
than six hours from the moment it wns
introduce in the House it was through
the House and SauAfe ana had been
signed by the President. The oniy ad
diion TO it was made the following day
when joint resolution was passed msk-
ing 1t clear that the funds were to be
available to buy medicines as well as
food. This was wise proviso, but it
appears from the news the government
has received that the officers on the
spot from Gen. Funston down are not
likely TO let tue letter Of the law stand
in the way of relief work They have
b zen in the habit Of notifying the de-
APARTMENT that they had taken certain
measures and asking If there WAS any
thing else to be suggested
Since the first news of the disaster
the lights have not gone out in the
great State, War and Navy Building.
1t has been like war times. Relays Of
telegraph operators have been on duty
day and night. Secretary Taft and
Secretary Bonaparte have cancelled
all engagements outside Of Washington
to give their undivided attention to
the relief work and Secretary Metcalf
of the Department of Commerce and
Labor has been hurried to the Pacific
coast as the representative OF the ad :
ministration on the spot. This detail
has been particularly grateful to him
as the Secretary has son and sister
in the doomed city and has heard moth
ing from them since the beginning ef
the trouble.
The War Department has ordered
practically all the tents in the army to
odh l. iobCloCO hhu HUI uCCcOohT4 UudLl
tents has ordered the commiss aries of
all points within reach OF San Franisco
to buy good supplies in the open mar
ket and rush them forward 1t Was
thought that the first traiuAof govern.
ment supplies would reach the city on
Thursday night. The War Depart
ment is sending supplies from as far as
the Schuykill Arsenal aud early On
Friday morning two specials OF the
ding and tents paused for a moment IN
, Washington on it's flight to the coast
The run of this special is likely to be 9
, record breaker, for the War Depart
ment has arranged to give it a cleal
track from the Atlantic to tho Pacific
coast and it is believed that once out
OF Chicago the train will make the run
in three days.
1t has been a great test for the recon
structed army. Such an emergency
has not arisen since the change in for
nation was made in 1902. But the
army is standing up well to the test
and the relief going forward promises
to be effective and above all things
quick.
The War Department has ordered all
available vessels on the Pacific coast
to the scene of the disaster to aid in the
work of rescue. The Pacific Squadron
which has sailed from San Diego fol-
target practice was caught by wireless
and hurried north two torpedo boats
leading the way. The old Albatross
the big Fish Commission steamer wal
pressed into service On Tuesday and all
the tenders of the light house service
available around that part of the coast
have been ordered to San Francisco az
fast as steam can take them.
The Secretary of the Treasury has
done bis best to meet the emergency
from financial viewpoint. He gave
orders for the transfer $40, 900, 600 from
New York to Oakland to meet press
ing needs. There is $50, 600, 900 buried
in the vaults of the sub-Treasury at
San Francisco but there is no telling
how much of it has been destroyed or
how long before it will DO available.
However, according to dispatch to
the Director of the Mint, the Mint in
San Francisco was saved and is almost
the only building standing in the down
town district. In this there are many
millions in coin and bullion that have
been saved by the plucky fight that the
officials made.
The President has been deeply moved
by the disaster and issued a brief and
effective address to the people Of the
country asking for contributions and
suggesting that while the help OF the
government would be given through
the War Department that private con.
tributions should 60 to tho national
Red Cross. This has been done 30 far
as Washington is concerned, for there
was meeting OF representative bust.
ness mon IN Washington today and be-
fore it was over tho chairman was able
to telegraph Mayor Schmitz, OF San
Francisco, that $4,000 had been sub
scrlbed on the spot and that this was
only = start 80 far az Washington was
concerned in the relief work. The col
lection will be made systematically
over the whole city and 1t il believed
that all the other cities in the country
will be glad to do the same.
Dismal Swamp Boiling.
A dispatch from Richmond on Tues
day says: A volcanic disturbance OF
| 1or ~ 10 pronou<;oo. Ioa