Camas Prairie chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1901-1917, 1906-04-27
and SAN FRANCISCO'S INSURANCE
AMOUNTED TO S2OO,OOO,OOO.
over Seven Square Miles of Ruins
500 Bodies Recovered Already
No Hungry Person in the City, No
Disorder; All Are HOpeful.-Health
of Camps Good.

ciated Press representatives have coy
cred the entire outer edge of the
burned section. The circumference of
the great confagration, as near as
can be ascertained by the markings of
a cyclometer, measures rs miles, and
the ruins comprise the entire business
district and a large section of the
residence district, all of which was
donsely populated. Seven square miles
Of ruins are presented.
Five hundred bodies have already
been recovered.
1t was estimated today by competent
insurance authorities that the loss
would aggregate $SOO,OOO,OOO, and on
this vast amount of property the in
surance companies carried approx
mately $175,000,O0O insurance.
Had it not been for the sight of the
rude affairs set up in the open wher-
ever San Francisco's homeless thou
sands were camped one would have
had some difficulty in finding any of
the peaceful associations of the Sab
bath in this city today. Everywhere
throughout the burned, as well as the
remaining section of the city, there
was the greatest activity. Streets
were being cleared of debris, laborers
were repairing broken water pipes,
sewers and gas mains; electricians
were everywhere seeking to olsen
tangle the almost hopeless confusion
of wires; in fact, San Francisco was
in the first stages of its regenera-
ton.
There are no hungry people here to-
night; the gaunt specter of starvation
has been banished by the magnificent
response of the people of California
in particular, and by the entire nation
i'll general, to the appeals that went
out for assistance. Food by the car
load and boatload poured into Oak
land last night and today, and in suf-
ficient quantities to Overwhelm the
committee which has in charge it's dis
tribution. So great was the volume
of foodstuffs brought into the general
depot at Oakland mole that the gen
eral committee made an appeal for
skilled labor in the handling of these
supplies. Grocers, butchers and COM
mission men have been requested to
secure men who are familiar in the
handling of fOodstuffs, in order that
the distribution at the scores of sta
tons might go on without confusion.
The homeless people are no longer
obliged to subsist upon bread and
canned stuff entirely, as they had been
during tie previous days of their try
ing experience, but were today given
hot coffee, canned meats, and even
cakes and oranges. Oranges have
come in in plentiful supply from south
ern California, and the sight of Cali
Tornia's famous product was every
where hailed with words of delight.
1t must not be understood by the
charitable people of the country that
there is a surfeit of food for the suf-
ferers. While the supply is abundant
at this writing, it is well for the pub
lie to remember that the homeless
thousands must be fed and cared for
by the organized relief committee for
an indefinite period. It lis desired,
therefore, that contributions be con-
tinued everywhere until the people
who have been rendered helpless and
destitute by the city's misfortune can
care for themselves.
The water situation, while causing
inconvenience to the public, is no
longer such a problem. About two
thirds of the remaining section of the
city is being supplied with sufficient
water for the pressing domestic needs,
but, of course, there is not yet enough
to be had for fire fighting purposes.
Because of this fact the most string
ent orders have been issued by the
military and civil police that no fires
shall be built within any house, and
20 lights. not even a candle light, can
be shown at night in the houses. ALI
cooking for the present must be done
en- the sidewalks or in the open streets
and in the daylight.
One of the noteworthy features of
the situation is the remarkable
prOmptness with which the work of
systematically caring for the homeless
has been thoroughly organized and put
into operation. The fear that existed
two days ago that the immense task
of caring for the destitute and help
less people could not be organized
quick enough to save hundreds from
hunger and possible epidemic exists
no longer.
The administration of the city's af-
fairs is progressing most harmonious
ly. Mayor Schmitz and General Fun
ston are working in perfect accord.
There was some slight confusion yes
terday owing to the misunderstanding
Of orders by some members Of the