The Topeka state journal., 1906-04-24
Building viii Soon Begin at
San Francisco.
Blowing Up the Ruins Is Now
Under Way.
EMBARGO is REMOVED.
Merchant Vessels Now Permitted
to Come and Go.
Big Fort at Golden Gate Has
Been Damaged.

San Francisco, Cal. April 24.-Ar-
rangements for the reconstruction of
the new and greater san Francisco
are rapidly crystalizing and soon the
sounds Of building will be heard in
every block of the devastated dis
tricts
The blowing up of the ruins in the
business section has already begun and
IS now well under way
There viii not be a dangerous ruin
standing on Market street by this
afternoon.
A large squad of artiHerymen, assist
ed by the municipal authorities have
been dynamiting all tottering buildings
and walls This work has so far been
confined to Market street in order to
open a safe artery from the outlying
districts to the water front. The dis
aster north of Market street and the
business section will receive the same
treatment after Market street is clear.
Al commission last Sunday Investigated
all the buildings left standing upon the
main thoroughfares of the devastated
city. It was ascertained that nearly
all the steel frame structures had
withstood the earthquake and al
though almost without exception they
had been gutted. the loss was in most
cases confined to the contents.
AS showing the disposition prevail
ing among property owners of the
city. the action of the Humboldt bank,
which will at once erect a new build
ing seventeen stories in height, may be
cited.
Two months ago plans were ap-
proved and contracts let for the build
Inc e-F.1 4s.7.-. 4e
already on the way west from eastern
agents of the contra ctors. Yesterday
orders were given to go ahead with
the work of building.
Build fast was the order. and
this means the expenditure of every
possible energy that money can pur-
chase for the construction of the
building.
The site in on the south side of Mar
ket street, 100 feet east of Fourth.
The site cost 100000 and is held by
its owner to have every cent of its
original value today The building
viii cost 100000
The construction will be steel and
terra Gotta. construction that has
stood the test by fire and earthquake
The whole habitable part of San Fran
cisco has been Offered and districted
for sanitary inspection purposes in the
most thorough manner. There is no
longer danger Of epidemic because the
health department with the military
is prepared to handle anything Of the
sort before It becomes threatening.
The embargo on merchant vessels
has been removed and shipping can
now be moved as usual For the past
few days vessels of the Pacific SQUAD
ron have been keeping vessels from
leaving the port, but this restriction
has been removed by orders from Ad-
miraI Goodrich, chief OF
the Pacific squadron, to the shipping
commissioner of the port. The bis
fCrtihcations at the entrance to Golden
Gate did not escape from serious in
jury during the great shakeup. The
full extent Of the injury sustained by
the great works is as yet unknown. fol
nothing but a survey by the engineer
ing corps can disclose tn fun extent OF
the damage. At Lime Point the place.
ments Of the big guns have beer
cracked and twisted. The heavy con-
crete both on the floor and in the walls
OF the emplacements bear unmistak
able evidence of having been given q
bad shaking up.
Conditions are said to be equally bad
q the fortihcatiOns back of Old Fort
Point. AS it is now the great 1s-incF
guns on both sides Of the gate, con
stituting the main defense, are prac-
ticaIIy useless They weigh many tons
each, but their adjustment upon thei1
carriage is as delicate as that of &
watch. The earthquake destroyed thii
and though the damage can be repair