The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1918-12-05

peditiOnary force in record time, finishing
four-roOm apartment, with bath, every hour. His
apartment houses were much like the cantonment
DulIdlngs at the army camps In Canada and the
United States and housing accommodations were
soon ready for 5000 people.
These various forms of temporary relief caused
the expenditure of about 100000, and while
this imperative task being performed plans
were formulated for the rebuilding of the dew
astated area, the settlement of claims and the
OF dependents.
The Canadian government, after receiving full
reports of the property losses and the needs of
Halifax for permanent pensions, rehousing, etc,
announced that although legal liability rested
upon the crown, nevertheless the explosion was
an incident of the great which had done
enormous damage to Halifax and it's environs and
for which Halifax was in may to blame. Steam
ers loaded with great cargOes of explosives sought
Halifax harbor to secure convoy across the At
lantic to the seat of war, and in numerous in
stances the people of the city whose homes had
been destroyed did not know that they
living the edge of volcano. In view of the
fact that the French steamship Mont Blanc was
using the harbOr in pursuance of the common
purpose of the allied nations in carrying the
war;" the Canadian government determined to pay
all legitimate property losses and establish pen
sion fund to for those made dependent by the
disaster. The of $5,0000O0 had already been
appropriated, but additional sum of 100000
at placed at the disposal of the stricken
city and the Halifax relief commission ap
pointed and given extraordinary powers to expend
the money and afford the necessary relief.
The commission, consisting of Z. Sherman Rog
K. c., chairman; Judge William Bernard
Wallace and Frederick Luther FOwke, with Ralph
P Bell secretary, has been hard at work for
months Strengthening out the tangled affairs of
the devastated district, paying claims for dam
ages, erecting homes and providing perma-
nent pensions for those who were made dependent.
The broad powers of the commission were granted
by two orders in council and by an act of the
Nova Scotia legislature. There were so many
complicated matters to settle that the commits
sioners empowered to their own judg-
ment in settling individual claims, in awarding
pensions. in expanding all the money contributed
with the exception of special sums donated for
certain purposes, and in replanning and rebuild
ing the devastated
Through the generosity of the Canadian gov
eminent. every individual who lost his home
valued at not more than $1,000 has already had
is having built for him, free of charge a new
home better than the one destroyed by the blast
Claims exceeding 5000 being settled by the
commissioners. and over $4,000 claims for house
hold and personal effects have already been paid
Five hundred people receiving permanent pen
sions and disability allowances.
The Halifax relief commission, upon taking
office, secured the services of frst-cass firm OF
architects, and also employed a town-planning
adviser There was splendid chance to put over
townplanning scheme, INTELLECTUALLY and 9TH
erwise, thatwould be credit to both Halifax and
to Canada and the commission did not overlook
the opportunity confronting it. One thousand
homes, not only thoroughly practical but beauti-
full, have been planned by the architects, new
streets and avenues have been laid out in the
devastated area and the replanning and rebuild
ing program is being carried out with the idea
Of making Halifax beautiful than ever
Months ago contracts let for 400 houses
which were to be completed before winter set in.
This work has been done and the remaining per-
manent homes needed are also under way The
new houses are artistic in design. and OF many