Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1907-05-02

worth mllllOnS became pauperS IN
those three days. In the days that fol-
lowed 100000 people left the city and
practically all that remained were
compelled to live on the bounty of a
generous nation.
The Recovery.
In spite of the incubus of a corrupt
municipal administration, the City of
the Golden Gate is rapidly reaSsunipg
shape Great blocks of brick, con-
crete and stone are springing up in
what a few short months ago was a
desOlate waste, among which stood
thousands of ruined walls, marking
the sites of once proud business struc-
lures. Fifty thousand men are busy
rebuilding the city, and when the
work is done and the last deep scar
left by the hurricane of fire is re-
moved, San Francisco will be a greater,
richer and better city than ever be-
fore. The buildings that are going up
in nearly every case are better than
those the fire swept away. The old
city was constructed of wood, even in
a great part of the business section.
In all the down town districts now
fireproof materials must be used in
buildings.
With feveriSh energy the work is
progressing. On many structures two
shifts working eight hours both are
employed, and from s in the morning
until midnight the sound of hammer
and saw and the steady grind of con-
crete mixers can be heard. Within a
radius of five blocks from the corner
of Kearny and Market streets there
are in process of construction or re-
Mobilization 146 freproof buildings.
Between June 1, 1906, and April /,
1907 permits were issued for the cree
ton of 81 fireproof and semi-freproof
buildings. Already the steep slopes
of Telegraph and Russian hills are
covered thickly with wooden resi-
dences, while the downtown streets
are lined with business structures.
Conservative estimates show that
more than $100,OO0,0OO has been
spent in reconstruction since the fire.
This amount would have been greatly
increased but for the difficulty of get
ting building materials. The railway
blockade which caused trouble through
out the country was felt with triple
force in San Francisco. The complete
reconstruction of manufacturing plants
q vaS t of M
building materials kept in stock here
left the rebuilding of the city at the
mercy Of the transportation companies.
About $4,000 men have been en-
ployed in reconstruction work and the
number is steadily growing. These
men have received an average Of $3.50
a day each, which brings the total
paid to labor alone nearly to the SIC
100000 mark. The remarkable wages
secured by skilled mechanics have
served to increase enormously the
cost Of reconstruction, but they have
drawn toilers from ell parts of the
country and so FASTENED the progress
of reconstruction. 1t is estimated that
at least S5O,O00,OO0 has been spent in
building materials.
Just after the fire estimates of the
time required to rebuild the city
varied from 10 to 20 years. If the
present rate of progress is maintained,
in five years there will be little evil
dence of the fire.
The immense contribution fund
showered in on the stricken city by
the generous-hearted OF the world
footed up s7,9S9, 33I02, 70 March Is
last. Of this there has been disbursed
S7,439, 1921 leaving balance of
$3.50. 154S9. Most of this balance will
be used in providing for the future care
of the aged and infrm refugees