The Elk Mountain pilot., 1918-11-28
WNE Xxx VI EN&0A

pedtionary force in record time. finishing a
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.OOOOOO and while
this Imperative task was being performed plans
were formulated for the rebuilding Of the dev-
nstated 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 no legal liability rested
upon the crown nevertheless the explosion was
incident Of the great which had done
enormous damage to Halifax md Its environs anu
for which Hnlifax was in no may to blame Steam
loaded with great cargoes Of explosives sought
Halifax harbor to convoy across the AT
lantic TO the seat Of wa-. and In numerous In
stances the people of the city whose homes had
been destroyed did not even know that they were
living the edge of volcano. In view Of the
fact that the French steamship Mont Blnn,-NO
"using the harbor in pursuance of the co IN
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 by the
disaster. The of S5.OOOO0O had already been
appropriated. hut additional sum of St.WOOW
was at placed at the disposal of the stricken
city and the Halifax relief commission was ap-
pointed and given extraordinary powers to eXpend
the money and afford the necessary relief.
The commission consisting of T. Sherman Rog-
ers. X c.. chairman: Judge William Bernard
Wallace and Frederick Luther Fowke. with Ralph
=. Bell as 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 orders in council and by an act of the
Nova Scotia legislature. There were so many
t1. that nry,,tS-
sioners empowered to use their own judg-
ment in settling individual claims. in awarding
pensions, in eypendng all the money contributed
with the exception Of special sums donated for
certain purposes. and in replanning and rebuild
Ing the devastated area.
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.
home better than the one destroyed by the bInst.
Claims exceeding 5000 being settled by the
commissioners. and over 1900 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 n frst-cass firm of
architects. and also employed town planning
adviser. There splendid chance to put over
town-planning scheme. INTELLECTUALLY and 9TH
erwise. that would be credit to both Halifax and
to Canada, and 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.
streets and avenues have been laid out in the
devastated area and the repanning and rebuild
ing program is being carried out with the idea
of making Halifax more beautiful than ever.
Months ago contracts let for 400 houses
which to be completed before winter set in.
This work has been done and the remaining per
manept homes needed are also under way. The
new houses artistic in design. and Of many