Los Angeles herald., 1906-04-26
REBUILD
NOW THE
SL0G
San Francisco More
Than Optimistic
These Days
Her Own Sturdy Sons Are
Doing the Work in
Rapid Style
Business Has Been Resumed on a
4 Serious Basis and the Dread of
Disease Has Entirely Passed
Away-Food Plentiful
BY Ben Blow.

Special to The Herald.
SAN FRANCISCO, April 25.-"More
progress toward restoration has been
made in San Francisco during the past
three days than was accomplished in
sixty days after the Baltimore fire."
was the statement made by John P.
Herman, a prominent st. Louis real
estate man, in an optimistisc interview
today.
Mr.. Herman was interviewed while
he was seated on a shattered stone
which had fallen from the blackened
walls of the Palace hotel. He was
making MONDAY meal of bread, beans
and cold ham, and apparently enjoy
ing it to the utmost.
When asked his opinion of the man
ner in which the work of restoration
was progressing, he stated that as he
watched hundreds of sweating men un-
der perfect discipline toiling ceaseless-
ly at the chaos of brick, stone, half
burned timbers, twisted iron and steel
and the conglomerate debris of what
had once been San Franciscos busi-
ness heart, the energy, perseverance
and undaunted spirit of Californias s
typical laborer was a constant marvel
to him.
Spirit That Cannot Down
"Such a spirit as this" said Mr. Her
man enthusiastically, motioning toward
the sinister ruins of Market street,
Cannot be put down."
And it is by building up Market
street with two skyscrapers and sew
eral hotels and commercial buildings
in st. Louis that Mr.. Herman made
himself famous in the Mississippi val
ley.
'fWhat that spirit is accomplishing
daily is akin to the marvellous. BY the
hands of her own sturdy sons San
Francisco, but a day or two ago in
her death agony, will be raised from
her ashes more resplendent and more
powerful than ever before"
The prediction of the st. Louis capi-
talist is heard on every side. There is
not trace of the gloom and forebod
ing that marked the early days of the
disaster. Men who a few hours ago
were saying, "Good-by, old Frisco"
with tears in their eyes, are now sing
ing at their work. They have turned
their gaze from the "old Frisco and
are looking toward the new city. The
spirit of cheer and hope has infected
the entire city and has resulted in an
amount Of work accomplished almost
beyond belief.
Business activity has been resumed
on a serious and substantial basis. The
merchant princes of the San Francisco
that was have established offices in
automobiles tents and covered wagons,
apparently undisturbed by changed
conditions. Typewriters are selling for
$500 and stenographers and bookkeep-
ers are luxury.
Only Twenty Deaths
Twenty deaths only were recorded to-
day and the dread of an outbreak Of
disease to add to the horrors of the
past week has almost entirely disap-
peared. Sanitary conditions are mar
velously satisfactory under the circum-
stances and the food supply is clean
and wholesome.
Manager Kirkpatrick of the Palace
hotel is among the missing and the
greatest anxiety is felt for him. He was
the last person who left the hotel when
1t caught fire on Wednesday evening
and so far as can be learned he has
not been seen since 1t is feared that
his body will be found beneath the
ruins of the hotel.
Food is plentiful and it's distribution
by the government perfectly regulated.
Supplies have ceased to come from Oak
land and are no longer needed. The
governments bakery on Polk street
continues in operation and is the source
of practically all Of the bread supply.
Banks Have opened
The Oakland banks have opened and
are doing regular business. The
withdrawal of deposits was somewhat
above the average, but the fact that
there were no heavy runs at any of
the banks indicates clearly that the fear
of further disaster has subsidized. The
Oakland relief offices are nearly empty
and the city is rapidly assuming its
ordinary aspect, Troops are preparing
to leave and as 1 write 1 hear the
strains of "Good-by, Little Girl Good
by" from the military bands 1 am
leaving for Santa Rosa tomorrow
The railroads are steadily cutting
down the issuance of passes, as great
majority of destitute refugees have al
ready been transferred to other por-
tions of the state. The days of terror.
starvation and death are past Order
and industry are now the watchwords.