Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-04-23
- 5&sef4
Al The WHITE HOUSE
Federal Buildings in San Fran
cisco Damaged.
THEY ARE TO BE REBUILT
Senator Flint Has an Interview With
the President.
ESTIMATES OF COST TO BE MADE
Treasury Department Now Taking
Steps to Ascertain the Amount
of Money to Be Needed.
ESTIMATES OF COST TO BE MAD1

The reconstruction of federal buildings de-
stroyed at San Francisco and the repair OF
those that have been damaged in that city
and elsewhere was the subject of a confer
enee the President had this morning with
Senator Flint of California. Just as soon as
the proper officials of the various depart
| ments are able to definitely inform the Pres
ident how much money will be needed. the
chief executive will send special message
to Congress recommending appropriations.
The most of the work of estimating the
amount OF money required will fall upon
the treasury Department, and the suner-
sislas architect Is engaged now in trying to
ma out the condition of the buildings. He
mas sent special agents to the stricken city
anu TO San Jose. Oakland and Sacramento
70 iearh exactly how much damage has
ueeh wrought to government property.
"hen the proper reports have been received
and the facts are officially ascertainea the
gress. ~ Soii
Damaged Buildings.
Senator Flint said that the nnhIio hu,,d-
at san Jose, Oakland and Sacramento
Deeh damaged more or less. In San
ehe United States mint building
rs easeo' put was badly damaged. The
new city postoffice. which cost 50. 500 600
was also saved, but was cracked by the
earthquake. How much will he nacassary
.or these two buildings is not known. hut
IL Is supposed that $500, 600 will cover hotb
oulidlngs. The subtreasury was DESTROYED
s ls9, II was not an especially impos-
ing building anyhow. and was hedged In by
number of other buildings Congress- will
nave 10 provide for new building and will
propaoiy be asked to appropriate money for
more ground so that the site may be
larger one.
The appraisers warehouse and customs
pullolng was among the other buildings
damaged. but can be made fit for use again
The governments greatest loss was In the
military warehouses, in which were stored
the supplies for the army headquarters at
San Francisco and for shipment to the
Philippines and elsewhere. This building
was destroyed, together with the contents
worth many hundreds OF thousands of dol
lars But for this destruction there would
have been food and blankets on hand for
the suffering in San Francisco Immediately
after the disaster
1t is expected that the government will
be liberal in appropriations for new build
ings. The fact that the present intentions
are to provide as fine buildings as those
destroyed shows that the government has
no hesitation In regarding the future Of
San Francisco as assured. AS to the new
military warehouses, they will probably be
constructed on the Preside grounds and
not in the city. The military buildings and
headquarters at the Preside suffered COM
paratively little.
Take Care Of the Chinese.
The President today sent letter to Sec
rotary Taft urging that the suffering Chi
nese in San Francisco receive the same
care and attention as other races of peo-
pie. The letter is as follows:
THE WHITE HOUSE
A 90
40 the Secretary of War:
According to newspaper reports, the suf-
| fering and restitution are peculiarly great
among the Chinese. l need hardly say that
| the Red Cross work must be done wholly
without regard to persons, and just as
| much for the Chinese as for any others.
Please wire DR.. Devine at once to see that
| this Is done. Would it not be well also to
wire General Funston to the same effect? I
know nothing Of the matter beyond what
appears in the daily papers
THEODORE ROOSEVELT"
Secretary Taft has telegraphed to General
| Funston to see that the Chinese are well
| cared for in the distribution of supplies
Distinguished French Visitors.
The French ambassador. NJ. Jusserand.
| today presented to the President Mr.. S.
Halfon vice president Of the Compagnie
| Generate Transatlantique. and his secre-
| tary, Mr.. Fleury, who are direct from the
l
| the general agent of that line in New York.
This delegation of distinguished Frenchmen
| invited the President to attend dinner to
| be given on board the new French steamer
| La Provence in New York May l. The
dinner is to celebrate the arrival at an
/ American port of this newest, largest and
| finest steamer ever built by the French line
| La Provence is to arrive In New York next
| Friday She has speed of % knots, 80, 600
| horse power, is more than 500 feet long and
/ will challenge comparison in modern con-
| veniences and luxurious equipment with
| the greatest steamers af1oat. She has a
vators and complete equipment of wire
| less biography, both long and short dis
| lance, by the aid of which a daily news
paper containing the important news of the
| world will be printed on board.
The President greatly appreciated the In
| vftation but was forced to decline 1t be-
| cause of the press of official duties. M.
1 Jusserand and q large delegation from
| Washington will attend the dinner This Is
/ Mr. Halfon's first visit to our country. He
and his secretary and Mr.. Faguet speak
| English f1uently, and all of them were very
| gracious in their compliments to the United
| States.
A Cuban Correspondent.
/ Gonzales Quesada. the Cuban minister, In
| trod,lced to the President Gabriel Ricardo
Espana, the special correspondent OF the
Diaro de la Marina, the greatest of Cuban
newspapers, to the wedding of King AL
fonso of Spain, June 8. The Cuban people
| feel a deep interest In the marriage, and
the leading papers will have representa-
| tiyes there.