The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1913-04-06
Relief Lessons from
San Francisco Disaster
Made Available for Flood and Tornado Strick-
en- Regions by Sage Foundation

NEW fOdh, April b, 1913.-The
news from the disaster stricken mid
die west came, by curious coinci-
dence, at the very moment when the
first scientific handbook OF what to
do following great disasters was Just
ready TO go to press. 1t Is San Fran
cisco's last word. And 1t is definite
ly planned as a book of ready refer
ence for use on occasions Of special
emery ency.''
The volume presents study OF the
organization and methods OF relief
following the San Francisco earth
quake and fire, made for the Russell
Sage foundation by group of people
who held responsible positions in
connection with the relief work and
who are thus especially qualified to
give In clear and concise form the
important lessons OF that experience.
1t will appear on April IS. the sew
enth anniversary of the disaster.
For the assistance of those in the
middle west upon whom heavy relief
responsibilities have suddenly come.
the Sage Foundation has just sent ad-
vance sheets Of portions of the book
to charity organizations In and near
the stricken regions
THE value Of such an investigation
as this relief survey" says the In
PRODUCTION to the volume, "inheres not
only in the fact that no previous in
tensive study has been made OF any
large disaster but also in the fact that
the time and the persons engaged COM
bined to give the San Francisco relief
work exceptional significance"
1t is not enough merely to keep the
victims of disaster from the starva-
ton and exposure which confront them
in the weeks Immediately following
the catastrophe, but "the idea of re-
Mobilization. OF giving to those who
have been left with the least reas-
enable lift on the road to recovery of
the standard OF living maintained be-
fore the disaster, constantly has
grown clearer and more definite, a nat
ural fructifying Of the modern phil
osophy of charity
The Relief Survey Is divided into
six parts: Organization and Emery
ency Period; Rehabilitation; Business
Rehabilitation; Housing Rehabilita-
ton; After Care: The Aged and In
firm. Some Of the prime points en-
phasized under Organization and
Emergency Period are:
/. The recog milton of the Amer.
lean National Red Cross. with its
permanent organization, Its govern
mental status, and its direct account
ability to congress for all expendi-
lures, as the proper national agency
through which relief funds for great
disasters should be collected and adj
mtnistered; thus securing unity OF
effort. certainty Of policy, and cen
ter about which all local relief agenc-
les may rally.
2. The Importance OF poetponing
the appointment of subcommittee
until a strong central committee has
been able to determine general poll
cies and methods of procedure The
hasty organization of subcommittee
at San Francisco resulted in much
overlapping, some committees get
ting In each others way 60 that un-
necessary confusion arose. The re-
lief forces were not united until a
whole week after the disaster, and
after unfortunate difficulty and bit
terness.
8. The desirability OF contributions,
especially those in kind, being sent
without restrictions, as only the local
is able to measure rela-
tive needs at different periods OF the
work. At San Francisco much pitiful
needless suffering was caused through
the unwise restrictions imposed by
those who sent funds or supplies from
distant states. The delays In secur-
ing authority for the wise use OF these
contributions were well nigh intoler-
able The only safe course lies In
placing implicit trust in an efficient
and recognized director OF relief such
as the Red Cross is in position to
furnish.
A. The value Of utilizing for emery
ency administration body 30 highly
organized and 30 efficient as the
United States army, to take charge
of camps, and to bring to points for
distribution the supplies required for
those in need OF food and clothing
5. The wisdom Of reducing the
bread line and the camp population