The San Francisco call., 1909-04-20
BUILDERS HELP
TO MAKE CITY
MORE BEAUTIFUL
Constructions Companies Give
Employment TO Thousands
at Good Wages

! approximately S2OO,Voo-oOV ana thal
an equally large sum Will go
into further building operations in
the Immediate future. Il Will be seen
that construction and construction ma
terlals form an industry Of transcen-
dent Importance.
The city had its fun qnota Of con-
struction companies before the fire Of
three years ago. all doing an excel
lent business, but the task Of rebuild
ing exceeded their capabilities; there
was so much tOGbe done; hence 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
number of eastern firms Of the high
est repute invaded the local field i'm
mediately after the fire and have found
plenty Of work to keep them busy.
These firms in many instances were
skilled in reconstruction work, having
gained their experience in Baltimore
after the disastrous fire which wiped
out the business section of that city. as
well 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 VINO have learned every branch
of their 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
called into being by some magician
possessed Of Aladdin's lamp II has
become a common expression in San
Francisco that new building seems
10 spring up by day on a 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 \ con-
struction with frames of stee! and deep
foundations. Many Of the new build
ings are OF reinforced concrete, the
form Or construction which has been
selected by expert engineers as most
in6ostructIble
steel and concrete. it has been sci
entiGcaily determined. expand and con-
tract almost identically. and this ac-
counts lor the absence of cracks and
assures in reinforced concrete build
inEs. Tiles buckle burst and fly off
from steel because Of the difference in
the rate Of expansion of the two ma
te-ials But this is not the case when
reinforced concrete is used.
Much Of the work done when using
concrete in buildings can be done by
unskilled labor. when with other ma
ferial skilled labor would be necessary.
so that 2 reinforced concrete building
one that is absolutely fireproof-class
A. so 20 speak. can be put up at not
r1uca 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 10 the time necessary for get
ting the frame for a steel frame build
ing They 20 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 uo IN
vestors and investigators IS that .hese
concrete structures are by FAR the
most rigid ard the freest from vtbra-
tion Of any buildings possible to erect
The steel sinews forming the rein
forcement give 20 the concrete suf5-
c.ent elasticity % withstand the strain
produced by seismic disturbances. With
the simple bracket connections betprcan
columns and fccT beams which tie re-
enforcement SUPPLIES Il would require
greater shock than any OF which
There IS record 10 produce any sign of
failure. Even though the strain was
sufficient 70 produce cracks the strength
OF the structure would be little I'M
paired because OF tho reinforcing
metal.
within the fire limits Of the city no
wooden structures may be erected and
this has bad a sanitary infuence unon
tho character Of construction. The
Himsy structures which were erected
Immediately after tho disaster TO meet
the urgent needs OF the moment have
have gradually disappeared from Mar
ket street Snd the other big business
thcroughtares- making room for i'm
posing buildings. which not only repre-
sent the investment OF much capiral
but are also q delight to the eve that
looks Tor fire architectural effects.
Preliminary to the work OF rebuild
ing was the necessary labor of clear
ang S~aE me ruins left by the fire.
This removal of debris from the sinple
clearing or OF burned over lots TO the
tearing down of partially destroyed
brick and stone walls and the olsen
tanRling OF the knots into which enor-
nous steel girders were tied by the
fierce heat Of the connagration. has
assumed the proportions of a 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 a new problem which the
energetic contractors have been forced
20 tackle IN . way wholly new So
Interesting have some Of these opera
tions been that large crowds of spec
tators have gathered TO watch the top
pling II = wall oi the dsintegration
Of mass OF steel