The patriot. (Glenmora, La.) 1918-1955, 1918-11-29
50NE or NE M1DAxNA01E EeEc7W 6yNEZNFO0nn3SNW

pedftionary force in record time was finishing
four-room apartment, with bath, every hour. His
apartment houses much like the environment
buildings 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 $4,O000O0, and while
this imperative task being performed plans
were formulated for the rebuilding OF the dew
astated area, the settlement of claims and the
care of dependents.
The Canadian government, after receiving full
reports of the property losses and the needs OF
Halifax fer permanent pensions, rehousing etc.
announced that although no legal liability rested
upon the crown, nevertheless the explosion was
an incident of the great war which had done
enormous damage to Halifax and its envfrons ana
for which Halifax was in no 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 even know that they were
living on 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 on the
war; the Canadian government determined to pay
all legitimate property losses and establish pen
sion fund to care for those made dependent Dy the
disaster The sum of S5,000,G00 had already been
appropriated but an additional sum OF $1,OOOVoO
was at once placed at the disposal OF the strlcKeh
city and the Halifax relief commission was APP
pofnted and given extraordinary powers TO expend
the money and afford the necessary reiief.
The commission, consisting of r. Sherman Rog-
ers K c. chairman; Judge William Bernard
Wallace and Frederick Luther Fowke, with ralph
p. Bell as secretary, has been hard at work Tor
months Strengthening out the tangled AFFAIRS OF
the devastated district. paying claims Tor dam
ages erecting new homes and providing perma-
xsiar fart h0
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 were empowered to use their own 1udg-
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 area. e4ss rs
Through the generosity OF the Canadian gov
ernment every individual who lost his home
valued at not more than $1,000, has already had
or Is having built for him, free Of charge, new
home better than the one destroyed by the blast.
Claims exceeding $1,000 are being settled by the
commissioners and over 1900 claims for house
hold and personal effects have already been paid,
Five hundred people are receiving permanent pen
sions and disability allowances.
The Halifax relief commission, upon taking
Office. secured the services OF frst-class firm OF
architects, and also employed town-planning
adviser. There was a splendid chance to put over
a town-planning scheme archltecfuraly and otn-
sryvise that would be credit to both Halifax and
to Canada, aud the commission did not overlook
the opportunity confronting 1t. 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
ine prograf1 Is being carried out with the fdea