The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1911-04-27

Sierras, is one OF the finest supplies in the
world. Cold and pure and abundant, 1t
has everything to recommend 1t. But there
are two forces at work against its utiliza-
ton. The nature lovers OF America assert
that 1t will ruin one Of the worlds most
beautiful spots. Then there is the Spring
Valley Water company, which now sup
plies San Francisco's water. The federal
courts have fixed the value of this COM
pany's holdings at s32,000,000. and San
Francisco wants It as an auxiliary supply
atsthat price. But the Spring Valley peo-
pie want a higher figure and ex-Mayor
Phelan declares they are financing the
opposition to the Hetch-Hetchy project 1t
Is said that Mr.. Roosevelt, James r. Gar
field and Clifford Pinchot all favor San
Francisco's being permitted to use the wa
tiers Of the Hetch-Hetchy valley. The mat
ter Is schedule for determination In June
when President Taft and Secretary Fisher
OF the interior department will decide the
issue.
The rate at which San Francisco has
been rebuilt is the greatest exhibition of
pluck and courage the world has seen in
many a century. When the city lay in
ruins. with its millionaires homeless and
Its poor all but starving, the world said
that in 10 years San Francisco could not
rally from her plight. But when three
years had passed, San Francisco had a
celebration and invited the world to look.
In those three short years 1t had done
more than the greatest optimist thought
could be accomplished in 10.
But there was work to do-really more
work than to build brand new city on a
virgin site Think Of a pile Of debris so
large that 1t cost $40, 900 to get down to
the ground; so large that 5000 horses died
In its removal, brute heroes who were lit
orally worked to death; so large that 10000
workmen were engaged in the task! That
was what stared the seemingly ruined San
Francisco in the face when it began clean
ing off its lots while the ruins were still
smoking. The people were so quick to
rally from the feeling of desolation and
despair that within six days after the fire
there was signed, sealed and delivered, a
contract for a magnificent new fireproof
building.
Many incidents tinged with humor oc-
Cured during the trying days of rebuild
ing. An enterprising saloon keeper decid-
ed to build temporary drink d,spensary
directly after the fire. To this end he
leased a site from an owner who thought
he would never be able to rebuild. On this
he erected his shanty. Later the owner
decided his finances would permit rebuild
ing and sought to buy off the lease But
he was not successful. So he proceeded to
build his big building anyway, and when
he was through, the saloon building had
to be carried piecemeal out OF the main
store room OF the new building.
When San Francisco was engaged In the
work OF rebuilding 1t did not fail to pro-
vide for the stranger who might stay
awhile within its gates. More than 100
modern and up-to-date hotels and lodg-
ing houses have been e-ected since the
fire. offering 10000 rooms to the travelling
public. These VIII be added to within the
next four years, although San Francisco
was able to entertain 100000 visitors at its
Portola celebration two years ago.
The city has not failed to see that its
transportation facilities should grow apace
with other improvements, and II is the
proud boast of the native that the street
car service of the Golden Gate city is
unsurpassed. It intends to make the IA
cilities from the exposition grounds to the
heart Of the city better than anything
that has ever been planned in the history
OF worlds fairs.