The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1906-04-25
RELIEF WORK BEGINS.
Food aud Shelter Will BE Provided Fo
San Francisco sufferers.

problem now confronting the city
government and federal authorities is
how to feed the multitude of destitute.
Supplies are coming in by the train
load, but as yet the system Of distri.
button 10 not within complete working
order. At the Presidio, where proba-
bly, 5000 people are camped, water is
plentiful and rations are dealt out all
day long. The refugees stand patient
ly in line and there 10 not q murmur.
This char acteristic is noticeable all
over the city. The people are brave
and patient and the wonderful order
preserved by them has been of great
assistance. In Golden Gate park are
camped 10000 people. They are be.
ing taken care Of. A huge supply
station has been established there,
and provisions are being dealt out.
Probably 100000 more people are
camped in vacant lots and squares
scattered about the city, and these are
the unfortunate tn at are hard to reach.
Instructions were issued by Mayor
Schmitz today to break open every
store containing provisions and to
distribute them to the thous ands under
police supervision. The Young Mems
Hebrew associations hall near Col
den Gate park has been stocked with
provisions for the use Of the needy
victims in the adjacen. fields.
Bread sold as high as 81 q loaf in
parts of the stricken city, aud two
loaves and can of sardines brought,
In one instance, $3.50, bu; this condi.
tion of affairs will not be permitted to
las; long. In towns across the bay the
master boxers have met and fixed the
price Of bread at five cents per loaf,
with the understanding that they will
refuse 10 sell 10 retailers who attempt
to charge famine prices.
1t is impossible TO secure a vehicle
except at extortiorate rates. Que mer-
chaat yesterday engaged: teamster
ana horse and wagon, agreeing to
pay $50 an hour. Charges Of 500 for
carrying trunks few blocks were
common. The police and the military
, seize teams wherever they are re.
quired, their wishes being enforced at
the revolver point II the owner proves
indisposed to comply with the de.
mands
Out at the Presidio yesterday, the
government pressed into service all
men within reach who came near the
camp, and forced them to work. Some
objected, but the troops stood nc
triaing, and everyone was forced tc
work an hour. Rich men, who had
never done much work, labored by
the side OF workingmen, digging
trenches in the sand for the sepulchre
of those who fell in the awful calami'
ty. At the present writing many still
remain unburied, and the soldiers are
still pressing men into service.
Chief of Police Dinan today says HI
believes that $50 will fully cover tn
number of dead when all the facts are
known. So many are missing how
ever that it is impossible to make othe
than conjectural estimates. The are'
OF the fire at this hour covers l:
square miles, 200 city blocks, and tn
property loss is variously estimates
from $3.50, ,0o0, 900 to $3.50, 600, 900.
This is absolutely the greatest dis
aster that ever overcame an America
city and one of the greatest fires o
history. Beside it the Chicago, Bos
ton and Baltimore fires are almos
unimportant. No American city wa
ever SO completely destroyed as thi
: and outside of the earthquake the fir