The San Francisco call., 1909-04-13
BUILDERS HELP
TO MAKE CITY
MOREBEAUTIFUL
Construction Companies Give
Employment to Thousands
at Good Wages

" approximately $zeO.0o0,eeosand tnat s
an equally large sum will go
into further building operations in
the Immediate future, it viii, be seen
that construction and construction ma
terials form an industry OF transcen-
dent importance.
The city had its full quota OF con-
struction companies before the fire of
three years ago, sll doing an excel
lent business. but the task of rebuild
ing exceeded their capabilities; there
was so much TO be done; hence a large
number Of new construction firms were
organized. All of them have had their
share and viii continue TO have their
share in the work of making San
Francisco a great and a new city.
In addition to these local firms a
number Of eastern firms OF the high
est repute invaded the local field i'm
nediately after the fire and have found
plenty Of work to keep them busy.
These firms in many instances were
skilled in reconstrpction work, having
gained their experience in Baltimore
after the disastrous fire which wiped
out the business section OF that city. as
wei as in Galveston, after the Texas
city had been inundated.
All the firms doing business in this
city are backed by large accumula
tions Of capital and are composed of
men who have learned every branch
Of theft business through long years
spent in large undertakings. Hence
they are well qualified TO cope with the
big problems Of building which pre-
sent themselves in the San Francisco
Of today.
The best proof of their ability is
supplied by the magnificent structures
which they have erected in record
breaking time Palatial buildings have
reared their towers in the air as though
possessed of Aladdin's lamp. 1t has
become a common expression in San
Francisco that new building seems
10 spring up by day on lot that was
vacant the night before
The greater number of the new build
ings in San Francisco, erected in the
business centers. are of class A con-
struction with frames Of steel and deep
foundations. Many of the new build
ings are Of reinforced concrete the
form of construction which has been
selected by expert engineers as most
indestructible
Steel and concrete, it has been sci
enuncally determined. expand and con-
tract almost identicaIly. and this ac-
counts for the absence of cracks and
assures in reinforced concrete build
ings- Tiles buckle. burst and fly off
from steel because of the. difference in
the rate Of expansion of the two ma
terials But this is not the case when
reinforced concrete is used.
Much Of the work done when using
concrete in buildings can be done bv
unskilled labor. when with ether ma
terial skilled labor would be necessary,
so that a reinforced concrete building
one that is absolutely fireproof-class
"A. so 10 speak, can be pat UP at not
much greater cost of construction than
what is known as the class c build.
ing.
The materials for reinforced con-
crete buildings can be had on the short
est notice; the steel rods for the rein
forcing, for instance, require little time
compared to the time necessary for get
ting the frame for steel frame build
ing They go directly TO the build
ing from the cars, they require no
shop work, drilling. riveting. etc. and
can be put in position by the common
laborers. As the structure rises it is
complete. ready for plastering. with
All the plumbing and heating pipes and
electric conduits in place. Each con-
crete floor slab forms a good roof. so
that the finishing of the lower stories
may be completed and occupied while
The structural part Of the upper stories
is being erected.
Another point that recommends the
new buildings of San Francisco TO in
Nestors and investigators is that these
concrete structures are by far the
most rigid and the freesf from vihro
uon OF any buildings possible to erect
The steel sinews forming the rein
Iorcernent give TO the concrete sufi-
cient elasticity TO Withstand the strain
produced by seismic disturbances. with
the simple bracket connections betwaen
columns and floor beams which the re-
lnforcement supplies II would require
greater shock than any Of which
there is record 10 produce any sign of
iailure Even though the strain was
sufnclent TO produce cracks the strength
OF the structure would be little i'm
paired, because Of the reinforcing
metal.
Within the fire limits OF the c,,v M
wooden structures may be erected and
this has had a sanitary influence upon
the character of construction. The
himsy structures which were erected
Immediately after the disaster to meet
the urgent needs of the moment have
have gradually disappeared from Mar
ket street and the other big business
tboroughfares, making room for i'm
posing buildings. which not only repre-
sent the investment of much capital
but are also a delight TO the eve that
looks for fine architectural efrects.
Preliminary to the work of rebuild
Ing was the necessary labor OF clear
ing away the ruins left by the fire.
This removal Of debris, from the sfn,nle
clearing or of burned over lots to the
tearing down Of partially destroyed
brick and stone walls and the Olsen
tangling of the knots into which enor-
nous steel girders were tied by the
fierce heat OF the confagration, mas
assumed the proportions of great
business. Great skill and ingenuity have
been brought into play in dealing
with the various problems which have
arisen in this connection. Every con-
tract for removing debris has really
constituted new problem which the
energetic contractors have been forced
to tackle IN a way wholly new SO
interesting have some of these opera
fioFs been that large crowds OF spec,
tators have gatheredsto watch the top
ping Of wall or the disintegration
OF a mass OF steel