Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-08-10
Rjsinu From the Ruins.

not to be denied that San francisco Is
showing wonderful activity in its re-
construction work, and that sub
stantial progress is being made. A
bulletin summarizing the work done
up to the first of August has been re-
ceived by the Jouranl from friend in
San Francisco, which shows that dur
ing July 40 building permits were is
sued; 610 real estate transfers made
and 1872 building contracts awarded.
There are 66 large and permanent
business structures in progress of con-
struction in the burned district, and
over $500 temporary buildings under
construction. There are 5000 firms
now doing business in the burned dis
trict, and $4,000 men doing construction
work there, while an average OF 1Vo
carloads Of debris are removed daily
The bank clearings Of the city for July
were $16O.631 1893, an actual increase Of
8 per cent. over July Of last year.
1t is true that there have been ex-
asperating delays in the settlement Of
insurances losses, and labor troubles
have complicated the situation, but
these figures indicate that the wrecked
metropolis of the Pacific is rising from
it's ruins with the spirit expected of it.
During the first month after the earth
quake and fire there was a loss of 1885,
600 in the citys population, but it is
claimed that more than 200, 900 of these
have returned, while $4,000 more are
waiting in nearby cities for accommo-
dations in order that they may return.
The present population is estimated at
365. 900. The rans-continental railways
report that the eastbound travel is no
more than normal, while the west
bound travel is far above the normal.
The number of people receiving relief
in the city has been reduced from 225.-
900 during the first week after the dis
aster to less than 1900. Hotel ac-
Communications are such that all visitors
who come to the city may be cared for
and the fact that the people are getting
some enjoyment out of life is indicated
by the announcement that seven
theatres are playing to crowded houses,
while others are in course of erection.
The figures given in this bulletin are
doubtless official and correct, and they
are of a most reassuring nature. The
new San Francisco will be bigger. bet
ter buster and more beautiful than the
old.
In connection with these San Fran
cisco figures it is interesting to note
what has been accomplished in Baltt-
more since the great fire of two years
and a half ago, which laid waste lot
acres in the heart of the city. 1t
hardly seems possible that san FRAN
cisco, or any other city for that mat
ter. can recover as swiftly as Balti-
more has done. In these two and one
half years so per cent. of the burned
district has been rebuilt. The Balti-
more Sun says that the fire laid waste
/ .343 lots, and today there are only 81
vacant spaces. The most of the va
cant lots are in the vicinity of the new
docks and piers, and the prediction is
made that many of them will be built
| upon before the close of the year. A
| period of remarkable activity set In
| soon after the fire, and it shows nc
| waning. Attention is called to the
| fact that before the fire there were
about 100 real estate brokers in Balti-
| more. Now there are more than 500
The fire was an i'll wind that blew some
good to many enterprising people.
| The buildings erected in the burnt
area are remarkable "for convenience
and architectural beauty" and include
twelve imposing skyscrapers. A splen-
did modern city has arisen on an area
which only 80 months ago was a
scene of absolute dcsolation. The in
lection of Improvement and city build,
ing has spread from the devastated
area in every direction. The restoration
of the burnt district within such q
| short time. is an exploit upon which the
city might plume itself without accom-
plishing more. In the environs hun
dreds Of dwellings have been erected
and Baltimore is enjoying a "boom' il
real estate and building operations
During the last six months activity il
the building of dwellings has been ex
trao rdinary. The Sun says that neve
before were SO many dwellings, erected
in Baltimore during like period.
Great fires in cities are invariabl!
followed by a revision of faulty stree
plans. for safety. symmetry and beauty
Such calamities. so far as this benefi
cial result is concerned, are blessing
in disguise In Baltimore the stree
area in the burnt district has beel
greatly improved by judicious widen
ings and extensions. Baltimore ha
/ now Citv ii