The San Francisco call., 1906-06-17
Furnishing Roofs
for Many Thousands
Serious Problem

The rearing of great edifices of steel
and stone to maintain the majesty of
san Francisco seems easily disposed
Of Engineering skill copes with the
gigantic undertaking with calmest as
surance. But how to house the thou
sands of men who viii be engaged in
this stupendous rebuilding of a great
city has been a perplexing problem
Money is available in abundance to
bald the skyscraper of d million dol
lars cost or so. The banks are over
flowing with capital for the most tow
ering enterprise But to provide the
humble dwelling for the man whose
hands and shoulders are required to
carry out these great projects an ap-
peal has TO be sent to Uncle sam for
a loan Of a few millions. fo urge this
appeal leading men of enterprise in
the country are sent on to Washington
20 explain the sorry plight
When it came TO casting about for
coin to rebuild massive business blocks
resort TO national aid was a sugges-
tion that lived overnight. The next
day came offers of money in $500, ,00O,-
GOO lots. There had been no shatter-
ing Of faith in the city by the Golden
Gate, and money would be shipped
here by the carload, if il were needed.
came the cheering word from New
York and other centers of big finance
Il was a stirring exhibition of what re-
sources the country has to draw lI,on
in. hours Of need.
But there were no thrills in the mat
ter OF getting funds to build the two
and three and four and hve room
houses for the men who must put the
steel girders together and set the
stone so it cannot be shaken down.
The generosity of a Congress must be
depended upon.
Summer is almost half over and can
vas viii soon be overtaxed by the
rains II Congress fail-what?
But another ugly question mark pre-
sented itself to the Governor, the
Mayor and the other big men upon
whose shoulders have devolved incom-
prehensible responsibilities in all the
trying days of the disaster.
Even with funds available, how
could sufficient number of houses be
erected before the damp days of No
vember? 1t would be a physical i'm
possibility 10 build roofs over the
thousands of people in the few months
allowed. A labor difficulty on the
water front threatening the supply of
lumber added TO the complication.
II any one believes that those men
who have been bearing the brunt OF
things since April IS found much keen
delight in their work. let the error
be corrected. To know what were best
TO do was in the catacylsmaI order OF
affairs subject Of grave concern; and
If TO do were as easy as to know what
'twere good to do, chapels had been
churches and poor mems cottages
princes palaces.
But there came a mighty arm to the
aid Of san Francisco 1t was good
that California belonged to the fedora
ton OF the States. What would san
Francisco have done during the great
Ere without those men in blue from the
Preside, who came without fanfare.
but with steady purpose. on that fateg
ful cay OF April?
And when the question arose of
building houses for "A poPulace, with
the wet aad blustery winter nearing.
X was again the United States army
that came . the rescue. Jncle Sans
good men nave way ef doiag things.
They know how; they nave organiza-
tion and talent and men TO do them
with.
how cOGlo the thousands OK people
be housed. lie secure under roofs be-
fore inclcmcRt weather sets in? Con-
greas could be asked for the funds
necessary. with good prospect of sue
ccsS. But how about the task Itself
CT planning and building those houses
once again the srmy was appealed to.
And n very few days Mayor Schmst=
was In possession Of plans, thorough
SaJ practicable No municipal admin
istration on earth has the orGanlza-
ton 10 10 things with snch intelligence
aad l:s7atch.
Notice how Thoroughly facts and fig
Eres are given in this part OF the re-
port OK Major General A. ". Greely to
Mayor Schm.tz:
In accordance with my instructions
Major J. A CASTOR. Girst Cavalry. has
carefaIiy exainined all parks. public
grounds etc, in such parts Of the city
as seem 70 Offer sites for workmenf
houses that are convenient 10 lines o.
railway, either in operation or pro
jccted. AS a result of this investigs-