Emmons County record. [volume] (Williamsport, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-current, 1918-11-28
WME NeH1lGwAeHE f7xR WE<N2lSQW

peditiOnary force in record time, was finishing
four-noom apartment with bath. every hour. His
apartment houses were much like the cnntonpent
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 100000. and while
this imperative task was being performed plans
were formulated for the rebuilding Of the dew
astated area the settlement of cuims and the
care of dependents'
The Canadian government after receiving full
reports of the property losses and the needs Of
Halifax for permanent pensions. rehousinI. etc.
announced that although no legal liability rested
upon the crown. nevertheless the explosion was
IN incident OF the great war which had done
enormous damage to Halifax and Its environs and
TOR 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 sent Of wac, and In numerous In
stances the peol e OF the city whose homes had
been destroyed diI not even know that they were
living on the edge % volcano. In view Of the
fact TINT 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
NIL legitimate property Losses and establish pen
sion fund to care for those made dependent by the
disaster The sum of IS 100000 had already been
appropriated. but an additional sum of $7O0OOOO
was ut once 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
P. 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 two orders in council and by an act Of the
Nova Scotia legislature. There 80 many
complicated matters to settle that the commits
sioners were empowered to use 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 area.
Through the generosity Of the Canadian gov
+ eminent. every individual who lost his home
valued Mt not more than $4,000 has already had
or Is having built for him. free of charge a new
home better than the one destroyed by the blast
Claims exceeding 5000 are being settled by the
commissioners. and over $1,000 claims for house.
hold and personal effects have already boen paid
Five hundred people are receiving permanent pen
sions and disability allowances.
The Halifax relief commission, upon taking
ofYice secured the services Of hrst-class arm Of
architects. and also employed a town. planning
adviser There was . splendid chance to put over
tounpianning scheme, INTELLECTUALLY and 9th.
erwise that would - 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-
ful. 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 more beautiful than ever
Months ago contracts were let for 400 houses
which were to be completed before winter set in.
This work has beeu done and the remaining per-
manent homes aee1ed ere also under way. The
Z nsw houses area dtt1stie II, DESIGN and Of many