The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-08-18

Bricks. ............ y. sos, 100
Gravel and crushed rock, tons u..,........ SIT, 800
cement. tons, so.S7
Shingles 27d. lis. POO
O,IBl, $50
stakes 1881 IT'S
The material received by rail fairly repre-
sents the amount now ON hand What adds
20 the effectiveness Of these figures Is that
most Of this material was sold at a large
increase over the ordinary rates. Lumber
sold a. high as SIS q thoussnd and common
hard brick a high as SIS a thousand.
The building permits since the fire up
10 July 81 last how a total cost Of SIS, 25O, $50.
A most Of these buildings cost from a
quarter to a third more than the archi-
tects' estimates. the true value OF inn
provements finished or under way il FULLY
SOS, O 1900
PooR HowING ON o HILL
A hasty rid e in an auto through the
burned district gives the visitor a Door
idea OF the enormous amount OF work
which is now going on. IL Ia only when
one goes on foot and along certain streets
that he can get an adequate idea OF the
tremendous amount and variety OF work
in this rebuilding Of a big cty.
The poorest showing in the way OF
rehabilitation is made in the residence
district from Powell to Van Ness avenue
on the streets from Gesry north to Sacra-
mento. This district includes the fashion
able residence section known as Mob Hill,
crowned by the wooden palaces Of the
railroad and bonanza millionaires.
From the lower side Of Pine street down
to Geary this district Is included in the fire
limits. 1t is q sidehill section and it is
impossible to rebuild it in brick or concrete
and get any adequate returns from the
investment. The brick building that is
going on in this district Is Of apartment
houses and hotels. II is the opinion Of the
hest experts that the fire limits must be
RELAXED In this illy district or these streets
from Geary TO Pine will not be rebuilt.
Id THEIR OWN HOMES.
From Sacramento street to North Beach
the building has been 30 general that in
the extreme northern end and on the slopes
IL Telegraph Hill the land has been 80 we'll
covered by modern buildings that one
would never know there had been a fire.
Standing on the summit OF California street
one can see very few vacant spaces on Tele-
graph Hill and at North Beach. and the
character Of the buildings il superior to
that before the fire.
This is the Latin quarter Of the town.
These people-Italians. Spanish, Portu-
guese and French-are remarkably thrifty
and very independent of the regular labor
Unions. Thousands built their houses in
cooperation; others actually constructed
their homes largely with their own hands
before going to work and after their return
from the days labor.
A walk through this quarter any Sunday
last winter found hundreds Of men and
women busily working to complete their
homes. Even the children helped to bring
lsths and shingles, to mix mortar and plas-
sshng. The women were an active as the
men and they obeyed no union scale OF hours.
They worked as long as it was light enough
10 see.
Most OF these people owned their own
homes and they rebuilt out Of the pro-
ceeds Of their insurance money. In only
one small section OF this district has any
effort been made to introduce the tenement
buildings that are 80 great an evil in New
lork's East Side
GROWTH OF THE Mission.
Another district which has seen remark
able rebuilding is the mission. which ex-
tends south Of Market street from Ninth
10 T~wenty-sixth street. Most Of these
jewellers in the district south OF Market
street, known locally az Tar Flat. moved
sut into the mission, 80 that the population
OF that section has been quadrupled.
The houses are mainly Of wood, but they
are well built and main avenues like Mission,
Valencia and Guerrero streets have been
rebuilt In brick and concrete. with many
tine stores and apartment houses.
This district is easily reached by several
lines OF electric cars and IL promises to i'm
prove more rapidly than any other resi-
dence section Of the city.
STRENUOUS DAYS IN CHINATOWN.
But the phenomenal rebuilding has been
In old Chinatown and in the business dis
trct north and south OF Market street
and east Of Leavenworth.
For several years before the fire there
we're periodical discussions Of the plan
~ removing Chinatown to som distant
nart of the bay shore. where an Oriental
oity might be built. which would not be a
menace to the health or the morals Of the
white race. The folly Of such talk may be
seen from the fact that about one-ffth
Of Chinatown was owned by Chinese.
These people. as well as the white owners
~ property. have shown more energy than
any others in rebuilding their property.
whole blocks OF Dupont street north Of
sacramento are practically rebuilt in sub
stantial manner. many OF the Chinese
decorating the fronts OF their buildings in |
ne oriental manner. with balconies painted
N vivid reds and greens and yellows.
Scores OF big Chinese wholesale stores
a"instalied in this district. and it is expected
that by early fall the 5000 Chinese who
migrated to Oakland and formed a colony
mere will return to their old quarters here
IL a body. The leading Chinese dealer in
elrios and silks has just contracted for a
h''Idlng In the pagoda style Of architecture
. the southwest corner Of California and
dupont streets. In it he proposes TO install
Inc largest and finest collection of Oriental
goods In this country.
Tho old Wholesale district, east Of China.
s'"n and extending TO the waterfront, 10
UeI"S rapidly rebuilt. Bonded ware