The San Francisco call., 1906-05-21
CH|CAGO'S RISE
AFTER THE FIRE
Half of the Buildings
Replaced Within
a Year.
Too Great Haste One
Feature of Recon
struction.

The story Of Chicago is told over
again in the dispatches from San
Francisco concerning the spirit of the
people and their planning for the fu-
ture, says the Chicago Record Herald.
Temporary structures were put up
here in the burned district within
few days after the great fire of Oc-
tober 8, 1871. Within six weeks more
than 200 substantial buildings were
being erected downtown, and by the
end Of year not far from half the
frontage that had been destroyed on
the South Side was rebuilt. Some
conception Of the activity displayed
may be gained from the following ex-
tract which Is taken from an old peri
odical Of December, 1872:
The finishing touches are now be-
ing placed upon hundreds Of magni-
f1cent stores-too magnificent. the
croakers say, for business to be done
in them remuneratively. The three
most conspicuous OF the new build
ings-the Rock Island Railway depot,
the Grand Pacific Hotel and the Sher-
man House-have lately reared their
stately domes above all surrounding
structures, and their architecture is
the subject of general admiration.
They have all roofs Of the mansard
pattern, but in each case the outside
material is fireproof."
The last sentence Is significant of a
lesson that had been taught by the
fire, but there was complaint that work
was rushed altogether too fast dur
ing the first year. Safety was sacri-
feed to speed, and almost any ignor-
anus who had assurance could set up
as an architect and builder But
whether the work was good or bad,
an enormous amount of money was
expended, the total on the downtown
streets coming to more than thirty
eight millions.
That was satisfactory proof Of con-
f1dence and optimism, and very soon
after the fire the humor of the people
broke out in funny" signs above the
ruins. which Will no doubt reappear
with new variations in San Francisco.
But the outlook in the late fall Of
1871 was anything but cheering There
was hard winter ahead, which San
Francisco is fortunate In escaping.
1t meant both suffering and delay.
Late In 1872 there was an unforeseen
stroke Of bad luck. which also tended
to retard building operations. This
was the appearance Of the epizooty,
which made invalids of the horses in
the city and caused suspension of
business. On this subject the maga-
zine already quoted said:
The first two weeks in November
would, but for this epiZootic misfor-
tune. have been the busiest and rich
est in results of any fortnight since
the city had its existence. Instead
Of that 1t became the most futile and
barren week Of the season No horses
to haul, therefore no brick and stone
to lay. No brick and stone. no work
done, let worklnen be ever so willing.
And SO. by the time the horses had
got their heads clear and their limbs
1.-THE again, the best Of the fine fall
weather had passed away. and the
hopes Of many a builder to get his
edifice ready for tenants by New
Years. and to save waiting until next
lst Of May for rents, were rudely
nipped as by an untimely frost"
The para graph is suggestive in sew
eral ways. 1t emphasizes the difTicul-
ties that were experienced from win
ter weather and reminds us Of changed
conditions that are due to the i'm
mense progress OF the last thirty-five
years. Neither San Francisco nor
Chicago would be so dependent on
horses now as Chicago was in those
days. Prophecy had risen under the
influence OF the epizooty to the in
spring declaration-"the introduction
Of steam or compressed air upon the
street railways Of Chicago. in lieu of
horses. is only a question of time
but 1t had no visions of cable traction
electric railways and the automobile.
II knew nothing Of the modern meth
Cd OF steel construction.
Building is a revolutionized Industry,
and San francisco will profit greatly
by the revolution. What with that
ana buoyancy and energy Of her peo-
pie, we may expect marvelously
rapid new transformation from DESC
lation TO stately city far surprising
the old one. The progress will be
measured by months, not years.
TIE California Safe Deposit and Tr-,s+ +
Company viii advance money on insur-