New-York tribune., 1907-04-15

sSoO0O.OOO spent for labor in eleven months Of
@ f@euullaIng Tor during the first months after the
hre very little real work was done aside from
building shacks for refugees and putting up
one story temporary stores in the burned dis
Crlct me same estimate gives $4,000 900 spent
Tor materials during this period and $4,000 900
goods
Here are some statistics which show the great
increase OF building operations and the liveu
ness OF the real estate market. The value of
oullding permits for March S9434.452, or
@ 1oIaI Tor building permits since the fire of $685.
Sl1,56S. March real estate transfers amounted
10 TO $50 of value Of 100000; postal receipts,
Sdos'S5V; customs receipts. $660,2S0 50. against
S6S6'O2l 36 in March. 1906; March bank clear
inss' SlS1,S7O476 40. against SlS5,417,224 95 for
March, 1906
REPAIRING THE sKYsCRAPERs.
or the thirty-fve Class buildings which
We're left gutted after the fire. all have been re-
paired or are in process of repair. Only one
the Kohl, or old Alynza Hayward building. at
me northeast corner Of Montgomery and Call
Iorhla streets-was practically uninjured by the
hfe. This was due to the metal window silis
ana the fact that the building surrounCed
by very low buildings. OF the others. several
are near completion, like the Merchants EN-
change Building, while others like the Flood
Building and the Chronicle and the Mutual
savings Bank buildings. are now occupied and
practically completed The work of reconstruc-
ton OF these Class 4 buildings has been very
heaVy. as most Of the exterior stone had 10 be
replaced On the ST. Francis Hotel about one
lulTO OF tue stone facing was removed, ana
aDout an equal amount OF the SpreNe BulluIis.
The outer walls OF the Merchants Exchange
Building were practically rebuilt, and the same
process Will be necessary with the Mills Build
ing 1t is a curious fact that granite suffered
more than any other stone from the heat. The
fine granite Corinthian pillars on the Hiberna
Bank. the most beautiful in the city, were scaled
off by the heat and practically ruined. All me
granite curbngs Of the sidewalks were Clipped
off by the heat
Before the fire San Francisco had more hotels
and lodging houses TO the population than any
city of its size in the country. After the flre
many apartment houses beyond ihe nre inc
were converted into hotels, but inside the burned
district at least a Of hotels are rapidly APP
preaching completion. while three permanent
hotels have been opened-the Hamlin In Eddy
street near Leavenworth: the Grand Central
al Market and Fell streets. and the Robins, IN
Post street, near Leavenworth- The new hotei
district promises to he between Van Ness and
Powell streets and Post and Market streets In
this district, which was formerly given up
largely to apartment houses and private resi-
dences. many large hotels have been begun and
half dozen are nearing completion, none con-
tanning less than 100 rooms. The St Francis
viii be opened in September. and the new addi-
ready in June l90S The Fairmont will open
on the 18th Of this month The new Palace
Hotel viii be enormous structure on the site
Of the old hotel. but il viii require TWO years to
complete IT, There probably more res
taurants in the city now than before the hre as
the great number of men employed In rebuild
ing must be fed and lodged near the scene of
their labOrs.
The tendency Of business IS to seek the old
quarters occupied before the fire. The real es-
tate and banking houses have gone back TO their
old Sites and this has carried all allied business
to Montgomery and Sansome streets Kearney
street promises TO become one or the great re-
tail streets. rs il before the fire, but Post
street and Grant avenue will be improved. All
the streets running from Market up to Van
Ness south of Sutaer street viii be devoted en-
tirely to business and hotels and apartment
houses. as under the fire regulations, IL Will be
impossible TO build I'm this district in wood. The
old Mob Hill district promises 70 be rebuilt large
ly with apartment houses and hotels.
Chinatown, which il was suggested before the
fire should be removed 10 the Potrero, is back
in its location. the Chinese merchants surpass-
ing their white rivals In the energy with which
they have restored their business places.
To sum UP. il may be said that by another
anniversary of the disaster more than half of
the burned district viii be covered with perna-
nent buildings and five years will II COM
pletely restored Portions Of the residence dis
the f1re ordinances are relaxed. for IL will be i'm
possible TO get returns from brick buildin9s for
residences on such streets Powell, Mason,
Iaylor. Jones and LeavenwOTth from BUSH 10
SutteT.
The main feature Of building is the large use
Of reinforced concrete. which before the fire
was barred by the labor unions. The latter at
tempted 10 prevent the use Of concrete after the
nre, but they found that public sentiment
against them The cost Of rebuilding has been
greatly increased not only by the advance in
wages OF al kinds. but by the spirit of unrest
and csrelessness among the mechanics. The ex-
perience Of an builders is that 1rickayers. Who
are getting s. a day, and carpenters. who ara
getting 50 d day, do not work az we'll as ;hey
did when they were receiving normal wages.
They soldier ;ncTa, ard they resent The re-
proofs Of forer1ea, frequently leaving 4 good Job
oeofuse called 20 account for scamped work or
for :alirE.