The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1906-06-27
TENT LIFE SUITS
FRISCO PEOPLE
Thousands Are Still in the Refugee
Camps.
THE CLIMATE IS IN ITS FAVOR.
rtsss Have Bsea Put 10 Good Shape, and
fhsh Sanitary couditlous Are the Best
Changes That Have Taken Place Since The
Pks--Psop,s Are Accustomed 10 Llvios
Tbs wsy and Isisy Il

San Francisco, Cal (SpeciaD Were
one familiar with conditions in San
Francisco to drop down in the city at
the present time he would undoubtedly
tngine that there had been return to
The early mining days, for the refugee
camps, scattered all over the city where
s<asr there may be a vacant lot. give the
sppearance of the Western boom towns
~ nrnshroom growth with which Amer
kczns have become so familiar. When
100000 ot the residents Of San Francisco
were rendered homeless by the great FIRE
dbe changed conditions Of living brought
10 great hafdships, for San FraDciscans
sfs accustomed to the outdoor life, made
% inviting by California's climatic con-
dstions, and when the FIRE came large
p1uber Of them were in the midst Of
eheif annual preparations for summer 5
osting under tents in the woods, on the
mountains or by the seashore. 1t is \
fact worthy of mention that hundreds
Of those driven from their homes by the
fire carried with them their own tents,
which we're pitched with the skill OF a
veteran, either on some vacant lot or
amid the shades of some park. The re-
suit of this was that these camps, wheth-
er under governmental supervision or
under individual care, operated under
ideal conditions impossible Of realiza-
Ton anywhere else than in California.
During those three memorable days
while the hre was raging in the heart
ID the city there was no order in the
migration of the people. The idea was
to get to a place of safety, consequently
every open place was pre-empted by
"sqratters," regardless of uniformity or
regularity in laying out the various
camps. Fully $4,000 refugees fed 20
Golden Gate Park, and 1900 more 10
fhe government reservation at the Presi-
Go. The others were scattered over the
hills about the city and in the various
s1,all parks in the western and southern
sections. According to the computa-
Hons Of the California Promotion Com
n1ittee, 175.ooo people slept outside OF
houses on the second night Of the fire,
while $4,000 were housed with friends
who were not in the danger line
Il was a most Heterogeneous conglom-
Grafton of people thus thrown together,
and the disaster obliterated all social
lines and sent the people back TO first
principles. Rich and poor, high and
low were on level in this common mis-
fortune, and the color line was so ef-
ffctively obliterated that it was no un-
conrnon occurrence TO see Caucasians,
hongolians and negroes in f-aternal dis
ettssion OF the events Of the day, and
sharing with each other the provender
supplied by the conlmissary department.
The camp within the gates Of the Pre-
stdio was the first to adopt systematic
miles and come under regulations. Tents
were issued TO all who applied, and at
first they were permitted to place them
Is they pleased. The restriction against
tres within the reservation was raised,
and people were permitted TO cook on
the streets in front of the tents. The
sanitary regulations OF this camp were
perfect from the beginning, and when
The Red Cross assumed charge 10 days
later not case of illness had been re-
ported. Before the end Of the second
week the tents were all repitched by the
soldiers, and everyone made as com
Portable as circumstances would permit,
with conlmissary supplies given out with
liberal hand
The process of elimination has been
at work among these tent dwellers so
successfully that but 10000 remain.
Gradually the authorities are concentrat-
ing these into two large camps in order
to facilitate the distribution Of supplies.
and now it is becoming a problem TO
induce these people to return 10 homes
in the city or to enter the barracks which
are being erected for them at conven-
tent locations.