The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1906-05-23
PURSE
AIDS STRICKEN CITY
The Contributions to the San Fran.
cisco Relief Fund Exceed
$2O,0OO,O 900.


unprecedented in this or any other
country riches have been showered into
the hundreds of relief funds for the
homeless thousands of San francisco.
The nation, through Congress, added
another 100000 to its appropriations,
making ST. OO,0 900 in all. The Legisla-
ture at Albany, n. Y, appropriated
$250,O00, the largest gift of>any one
State. The funds Of the Chamber of
Commerce, the Merchants Association,
the Mayor and the Red Cross all re-
ceived substantial additions.
Besides these four great funds every
one of the exchanges and the various
trades and innumerable organizations
have funds, which are constantly grow
ing. The total already contributed by
New York City exceeds $2,OOO,OOO, and
gives promise Of reaching $3,00O,ONO.
The nations contributions of cash
and valuables of even greater worth
than money amounts to $~15,SO0,OOO,
and will probably exceed $4,000, OOO.
This huge contribution is more than
the equivalent of a contribution of
twenty cents from every man, woman
md child Of the 100000 comprising
the entire population Of the United
States. IF divided pro rata among the
200, 900 destitute people of San Fran
cisco it would give each one Saa and q
few cents over.
The contributed services Of the vari-
GUS railroads in hauling great trains
of supplies across the country at ex-
press speed are figured at $3,45O,W0.
The Hartman roads alone, it is fg-
ured, are doing relief work which
would cost SIS, 900 daily, and the work
will undoubtedly continue thirty days.
The Atchison's share amounts to about
$25, 900 a day, and the Gould roads to
about SIS, 900 daily. TO run a train OF
freight on q passenger schedule from
Chicago to San Francisco would cost
a merchant from $4,000 to $4,000.
Nor does the expression of universal
brotherhood halt with money alone.
Provisions of all kinds are being hur-
ried to the relief of the sufferers on
scores of trains.
Magnanimity is expressing itself IN
unheard-of ways. Merchants are Civ
ing their best without charge, railroads
are shipping stores free and will make
special rates into San Francisco during
her resurrection. The Postofice De
partment has ordered all letters out of
that city to so free Of postage.
Churches, race track clubs. baseball
aggregations, business organizations,
foreign banks, steamship companies,
theatrical tr0upes, rich people. poor
people, school children and even chill
dren too young to 60 to school are vie
ing with each other in their desire to
help.
A striking incident of the relief work
are the heroic efforts being made by
San Francisco citizens to help them
selves. In spite of their terrific losses
the people Of the ruined city have
raised the sum of $228,250. One
wealthy woman, who lost all her in
come-producing property, but had $40
900 in cash remaining in the banks,
has given the relief fund one-half, or
$4,000.
. Never before has there been a mtre
spontaneous, nor more generous, l,or
more worldwide %outpouring Of practi-
cal sympathy. Not alone in this u
try, but from Americans in London.
Paris and other European cities is the
money pouring in. The sum of $4,000
was alone cabled by the American COL
ony in London. Canada still shows her
sympathy by cash contributions.
President Roosevelt has refused to
accept offers of assistance from abroad.
He holds that the United States Is able
to care for the San Francisco sufferers,
and that contributions from foreign
countries should be declined. His first
refusal was of $4,000 cabled by Mr..
Balm, of the Hamburg-American Line.
Tie Canadian Parliament voted
500, 900 toward the San Francisco re-
lief fund. The Toronto Bank of Com
merce sent S25, 900, and the Canadian
Salvation Army $3.50.
Every city Of any size, and scores Of
towns and villages all over the land,
are gathering thousands Of dollars,
which promise to total many millions
eventually for the relief of San Fran
cisco and other California cities.