The Ordway new era., 1918-12-13
M1N .MIxErA14 MIR M <N% ANaN

pedtionRry force in record time, finishing
four-room apartment, with bath, every hour. His
apartment houses were much Hke the cantonment
buildings at the army camps in Canada and the
United States, aid housing accommodations were
soon ready for 5000 people.
These various forms of temporary relief caused
the expenditure of about $4.0O00OO, and while
this imperative task was 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 for permanent pensions, rehousng, ETC.,
announced that although no legal liability rested
upon the crown, nevertheless the explosion was
an incident Of the great which had done
enormous damage to Halifax and Its environs and
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 a volcano. In view of the
fact that the French steamship Mont BlancAaSs
"using the harbor in pursuance of the cca 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 sum of S5,OO0O0O had already been
appropriated, but an additional sum Of $7.O0O.OOO
at once placed ut 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 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 permn-
nent pensions for those who were made dependent.
The broad powers of the commission were granted
by two orders In council and by act of the
Nova Scotia legislature. There many
ad mn tn that tho ,ovv,to.
siOners were empowered to use their own judR-
ment in settling Individual claims. in awarding
pensions. in expending 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 $4,000. has already had
is having built for him, free of CHARGE a new
home better than the destroyed by the blast
Claims exceeding $1,000 are being settled by the
commissioners. and $1,000 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-cass firm of
architects. and also employed town-planning
adviser. There was a splendid chance to put over
a town-planning scheme, archtecturally nnd 9TH
erwise, that would be credit to both Halifax and
to Canada, and the commission did not overlook
tho 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.
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 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