The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1925-07-01
STRICKEN CITY
STARTS LABOR
OF REBUILDING
Residents of Santa Barbara
Face Serious Problems of
Reconstruction
TEN PERSONS KILLED
Damage From Earthquake Is
Estimated as About
$25,O00,OOO
TEN PERSONS KILLED

Santa Barbara, July l-LF-A
bright dawn spread over Santa Bar
bara, earthquake stricken city, as
thousands Of her sons and daughters
arose to face serious problems Of
reconstruction which confront them
in returning their city to what was
formerly described as the million
aires playground Of. the Pacific
coast
Ten people are known to have lost
their lives in the earthquake. de-
scribed as the heaviest to visit the
Pacific coast.
Huge Property Loss
No exact estimate Of the loss has
been announced, but it has been de-
scribed as between 20 and 25 million
dollars. During the night structur-
al engineers. who have been assigned
to testing the strength of the citys
buildings. began arriving from Los
Angeles and San Francisco and it
was freely predicted that many
buildings showing but slight traces
of the Quakc's ravages would be
condemned as unsafe.
Facing an estimated loss Of bo-
tween $2O0OO.0O0 and $25.00O,OOO.
with possibly $2.000.OOO Of earth
quake insurance, the banking, bust
ness, industrial and civic leaders
launched program of immediate
building based on $4,000, 900 loan
and a $9.OOO.O 900 earthquake aid fund
Broadcast Loan
Jumping into the financial breach.
the banking chiefs broadcast to the
clearing houses of the nation "A re-
quest for the floatation OF the $40
100000 reconstruction loan through
the Santa Barbara Clearing House
association.
simultaneously the business and
civic leaders accepted the offers of
San Francisco and Los Angeles to
send their best engineering talent
here Immediately to direct the de-
molit;on of the antiquated, damaged
buildings and to outline the plans
Of the new Santa Barbara.
I'VE have "A wonderful opportunity
to build the type Of city that we
have been talking Of and dreaming
Of for years and years" said Dr..
Rexwald Brown, president Of the
Santa Barbara Chamber of Com
merce. who presided at the recon-
struction meeting. The $2,OOO,OOO
earthquake aid fund, it was explain
ed by the clearing house association,
is to wipe out mortgages on the
business section. thus paving the
way for the utilization Of the entire
$2O,0OO,00O loan for new buildings.
An indication Of the spirit that
pervades the city was furnished bv
the statement of one of the bank
presidents who said that Of the hun
dreds who came to the temporary
banking quarters amid the ruins to-
day, the great majority made depos-
its and only few withdrew cash.
Plenty Of Water
The water and sewerage systems,
never interrupted, are in good shape
While the Sheffield storage reser-
voir went out, the Gibralter dam
stood intact and. although the pipe
lines have been reduced, there is
plenty of water for all. The gas
still is cut off.
Electric power also is conspicuous
by its absence, but it, too, is looked
for to stage comeback within "a
hours. However, last night two of
the main streets were lighted and
tonight lights also are promised in
the residential districts.
Supplies are coming in from out
side cities, but much bread is being
turned out here over wood fires.