The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1919-01-04
5 EeECZzD RyRALIE GO/Z/nSSIlN

peditionary force in record time, finishing
four-room apartment, with BATH every hour His
apartment houses were much like the cantonment
buildings at the army camps in Canada and the
United States and housing accommodations were
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 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, 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 envrons 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 q volcano. In view OF the
fact that the French steamship Mont Blanc was
"dsng the har5or 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 by the
disaster The sum Of 5000 900 had already been
appropriated but an additional sum of $7OOO,OOo
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 Il. sherman nos-
ers X. c.. chairman; Judge William Bernard
Wallace and Frederick Luther Fowke, with Ralph
P Bell as secretary has been hard at work TOT
months Strengthening out the tangled a1alrs VI
the devastated district, paying claims for Dam
ages erecting new 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 commis-
sOners were empowered to use their own Juug
ment in settling individual claims, IN AWARDING
pensions in expanding all the money contrlDuteu
with the exception Of special sums donated 1or
certain purposes and In replannhg ana reouiiu
ing the devastated area.
Through the generosity of the Canadian gov
eminent. every individual who lost his home
valued at not more than $1,000 has ALREADY mao
or Is having built for him, free of charge, ne"
home better than the one destroyed by the Diast
Claims exceeding $1,000 being settled by the
commissioners, and over $4,000 claims for house
hold and personal effects have already been PAID
Five hundred people are receiving permanent pen
sions and disability allowances.
Tho Halifax relief commission, upon taking
office secured the services Of frst-class firm OF
architects. and also employed a town-pianning
adviser. There was splendid chance to put over
a 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 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 been done and the remaining per-
manent homes needed are also under way. The
new houso are artistic IN design, and Of many