River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1925-07-16
mrs. PARKER WRITES
OF RECENT "QUAKES"

Mrs. w. D. Parker, formerly of
River Falls, has sent an interesting
account of the rebuilding which is
already under way at Santa Barbara,
California, the city most affected by
the recent earthquakes.
Mrs. Parker points out that these
quakes are no more to be considered
against California than are tornad-
oes against Wisconsin. She states
that the shocks We're scarcely MOTTO
able in Pasadena, where she is To-
Gated
eve spend no time worrying about
them," writes Mrs. Parker, knowing
that it is all the result of natural
forces and laws upon which our very
existence depends, whether living in
one section of the country or an
other-since tornadoes are as much
to be dreaded as earthquakes.
"The laws and forces which seem
at times so pitiless were ordained for
our protection and adornment, and
should be deemed 'visitations of
Providence
Following is the description of re-
Mobilization work at Santa Barbara
which Mrs. Parker enclosed in her
letter, an article which will be of es-
special interest to Journal readers
who have visited that city:
Restore Old Mission
The old mission, keystone land
mark of Santa Barbala a, will be the
first of the quake-razed edifces to be
reconstructed.
Plans for complete restoration Of
the historic mission were under way
today. The ancient Spanish padres
founded the old Santa Barbara, when
they erected the mission in 1886.
They will be emulated by the present
Franciscan fathers, who will inau-
gurate the reconstruction of the new
city that is to rise from the ruins Of
disaster.
Father Superior Augustine esti-
mates the cost of rebuilding the
Santa Barbara Mission will be APP
proximately $4,000. A good share
of this has already been raised by
voluntary subscriptions, he said
May Abandon Street
State street will not 10 REBUILT I'M
til the formal report of biologists,
making a survey of the earthquake
zone, has been made. Preliminary
findings of the experts indicate there
is a quake fault running directly
across the city, and it may be decid-
ed necessary to rebuild Santa Bar
bara's business district on new
ground
The destroyed area was kept under
guard of 300 marines today, while
the task of razing and clearing away
the ruins continued. Police regula-
tions were frightened to facilitate the
work. Sightseers were still banned
from the city.
Returning to Normal
Santa Barbara was rapidly return
ing to normal today, to the accom-
paniment of earth rumbles which
continue internationally but with dim
inishing volume.
More than 700 faint shakes since
the terrific upheaval a week ago,
which devasted the city, have been
recorded on the local seismograph
Approximately rs of these shocks
were felt throughout the city.
The city was still without gas,
but water, phone and lighting SER
vice was restored to normal. No
fires We're allowed in buildings and
all cooking was done over campfres.
Residents still sleep outdoors.
Many are Condemned
More than 500 men continued the
task of clearing away the quake
debris, fencing off dangerous build
ings. Seventy-four large business
structures have been condemned, and
many owners have already torn down
the walls.
Scientists, hunting for active earth
faults, reported today they had found
five defects in the quake area about
Santa Barbara. They have not To-
Gated the one responsible for the de-
struction, however, the said.