The Washington herald., 1908-05-27


10 the most marvellous OF modern mir
acies. The most destructive disaster in
history IN three days wiped out the City
OF the Golden Gate, and 1t was mourned
as the city that was" The indomitable
spirit OF its people was sufficient in two
years to restore II to full. pulsating life.
Now it stands. the newest and most mod
ern city on the globe, as the noblest
monument ever reared 10 celebrate the
genius Of man who holds dominion over
the powers OF the elements. II is not fin
ished-what American city is?-but II is
rebuilt in so far as restoration OF nor
nal life and business is concerned. The
building now going on, and that which
will follow. will soon cover the whole of
the burned area, but 1t will not stop when
these limits are reached.
Coming into San Francisco now from
the ferry building, one looks up that
magnificent thoroughfa1e called Market
street upon live American city, and
there is nothing in all his range of vision
TO suggest the chaos that was here. From
the commanding height of one Of the hills
which are San Francisco's crown jewels.
one looks out upon a jungle of steel.
Never before has 1t been possible 10 wit
ness so many modern steel-frame struc-
lures in course OF erection at one time.
Here and there is a vacant spot, in which
are neatly piled the old bricks which be-
longed 10 the buildings OF a forgotten
age. The wrecked City Hall is still there
as II was left by the wreck OF the earth
quake and the storm Of iire, as If Gods
curse still burdened the temple Of the
eity's voice which had been so grossly
oefled by the false trustees of the people.
But one must search for these things
the picture which lies before him. in its
bolder outlines. tells no tale OF disaster.
its theme is the miracle OF construction.
Red-hot bolts cleave the air like meteors.
70 be caught BY dexterous men, who use
them 10 fetter the great ribs of steel
which are swung into the heights 20 the
music Of the pneumatic tool. Hundreds
OK feet below the streets are thronged by
happy, care-free folk, hurrying to busi-
ness or pleasure. and swelling with pride
IN their newer. better, safer city.
The city that was" came into being
as a gradual growth from the pioneer
days Of 1919. Its buildings were Of wood
and brick, ana a few were OF steel. As
the always-mOving tide OF business re-
ceded from old quarters IL had left rows
OF dingy buildings which were all that is
vile. The modern section Of the city was
honeycombed with buildings that we're
decades behind the times.
Then came ths earthquake and the fire
In three days property to the vnlue Of
S5oo.0OO'OOO had been swept away. OF this
amount Of damage SS50,O00.0OO resulted
from the fire. Since that time the insur-
ance companies have paid to San Fran
ciscans $19S. 10000. Nearly five square miles
Of the heart Of the city were left in ruins
To clear away the wreck was the greatest
task Of the kind ever undertaken. Rail-
road rails were laid through the city and
heavy engines carried away billions Of
bricks and millions OF tons OF twisted
iron and steel The very greatness OF the
task or clearing away the wreckage en-
eouraged men in their determination to
build On-a greater scale
More than 5000 buildings were de-
stroyed. Nearly 1000 new ones have been
erected, and over 1900 remodeled. so that
San Francisco in two years has really re-
placed half OF the structures DESTROYED.
But the superiority Of the new city over
the old is shown by the fact that the
5000 buildings burned cost slO5, 900 OOO,
while the 14.0O0 new buildings have cost
N-A-FNNNfNFf-
value Of the Improvement on the real
estate In the burned district is greater
than il was before the fire! And this IS
not all Of the miracle OF the Sl12. 600 600
invested in the new buildings, SlO5. 900 900
is local San Francisco money In these
buildings OF the new city there Is now
stock and furnishings TO the value Of
Sl5O,0O0OO0.
The city had population Of about l75.-
600 at the time Of the fire. The estimates
made on the school census shows a ronu-
lation to-day Of nearly $4,000. There was
great exodus Immediately after the
disaster, but San Franciscans assert with
the utmost confidence that the loss in
population has been more than made
up by the influx brought about by re-
building
Before the fire" and after the fire"
are the phrases used here to FIX a time
or denote an era. With the unlamented
obsolete buildings of certain sections of
the city there also perished much that
San Francisco will long remember and
long for. The intimate juxtaposition OF
business and social life which obtained
when Offices. shops. clubs. and hotels
were in their old relation will not be
known again. The Offices will again be
conferred downtown. The shops will also
take up their old quarters, but the great
shopping districts which sprang up In the
unharmed residence districts will not sur
render their life, and Van Ness avenue
~ The avenue to-day. The clubs are
scattered, and the bohemian restaurants
which contributed both 10 the fame and
infamy OF the city, have found new and
widely separated quarters But only the
sld-tmers viii regret the change OF lOca-
uons-there is no change in the existence
or the things that make San + ancisco
the little Paris" so beloved OF American
bohemians.
The city that Is has taken the place
OF the city that Was. Its people are
looking forward with faith and undaunted
spirit to the city that Will Be. Some of
them now regret that no advantages was
taken Of the opportunity to rearranse
the street plans. But that Is not IN he
thought of now. The lessons taueht nv
the great disaster have been carefully
studied OF the great loss. 90 DER cent
was by fire, per cent by dynamite used
IN lighting the fire, and only 2 per zen,
by the earthquake. The rebuilt c,tv ,s
ma1e up Of buildings OF that type OF
construction which resisted the force or
the earthquake. As Ear as human nra-
caution can go, the city is protected from
danger from another "tenblor." Tho
people have just voted to spend over
100000 TO install an auxiliary wa+er
system TO be used only in fighting are
Further than this mar cannot go in his
efforts to guard against the unknown
dangers OF the future
Before the fire San Ernnninno -.