Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-03-26
Work of Reconstruction in
the Devastated District
Under Way.
MONEYED MEN PLANNING
TO AID THE DESTITUTE
Injured Persons, Numbering Nearly
Five Hundred, Under Care in !,
the Hospitals.

OMAHA, Neb., March 26.-Burying the
dead and work of reconstruction occu-
pied tornado-stricken Omaha today Pay
ing last rites occupied the time of thou
sands of persons during the day. Fu-
nerals were held in all parts of the city
Many Of the bodies recovered from
wrecks of Sundays storm were cared
for at undertaking establishments. and
a greater number of the funerals were
held from those places Whenever pos
sible friends OF stricken families took
care of bodies and had them prepared
for burial.
In many ins stances churches were demol-
lshed in the districts covered by the storm
and others were so badly wrecked as to
prevent them being used for burial serv-
ices. Nearly one hundred funerals were
held. Many b1dies have been sent to out
of-town relatives. During the night the
work OF rescue continued. Only one body
was reported recovered, that of a negro
buried in the Idlewild pool hall debris
The authorities are taking steps to un-
cover all of the wreckage at once in or
der to remove any bodies that may be
buried.
Steps to Prevent Extortion.
The real estate exchange has taken
steps to prevent the raising of rents. AL
ready cases ct alleged attempted extor-
ton have been reported, some by men,
bers of the exchange itself.
Executives CT that body decided to deal
harshly with any owners found taking
advantage of those forced to secure new
homes on account OF the tornado.
Hundreds of persons from all parts of
the country unable to hear from relatives
have come to the CITY,. seeking news.
Many persons known to have been in the
vicinity Of that portion of the city devas-
tated by the storm have been missing and
everything possible is being done to locate
them.
Plans for the immediate rebuilding of
the wrecked district are being worked out
by a big company OF Omaha business
men. and a corporation is being formed
to handle the matter in a systematic
manner and assist the unfortunates who
lost their homes and personal effects.
This institution will begin at once the
task Of at least partially reconstructing
many homes.
Meeting Temporary Needs.
Commissioner Ryder. who is in charge
of the temporary relief work, said:
THE next ten days or SO will be taken
up with the work of caring for the tenn
porary needs of the stricken; then will
come the rea strain of rebuilding the
ruined homes. To this end we must
take Immediate steps for the formation
of committee or organization to control
the situation, that the work may be sys-
tematieally pressed"
Robert Cowell. a business man. declar-
ed the time to organize for rebuilding Is
now.
II would suggest" said Mr.. Cowell.
that a corporation be formed at once
for the purpose of loaning funds at a
merely nominal rate Of interest to those
who want to rebuild.
In the list of losers are many who are
proud and sensitive, who do not want
to accept charitable aid.
Casting Up the Cost Account.
The people of Omaha have begun to
count the cost in lives and dollars.
When a resume was made it was ap-
parently more appalling than those
who had studied the result were willing
to admit
Not less than zoo lives were snuffed
out within the vicinity of the city
proper, and not less than fifty persons
in surrounding towns lost their lives.
Nearly 500 were injured and eight of
these have since died in local hospitals.
The greatest work Is that OF or
ganizing q systematic relief bureau.
Seven branch stations are placed with
in the territory covered by the tor
nado. These stretched over strip
seven miles long, and those in charge
handed out material assistance to all
corners who showed they were in need
of aid.
regulations have been enforced. ana
hundreds who sought to get near the