Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-06-17

least, ever went riding behind broad
casting label, and it was an interesting
experience. Americans are not unfa-
miliar sights in Toxic. There are some
thousands of our folks here. But a
squad of a dozen whizzing around in
closely grouped machines seems to ex-
cite the most avid interest on the part
of the populace.
Visit Reconstruction Bureau.
First we drove to the Reconstruction
Bureau. To most of us the disaster Of
September l, 1928, has been, until now,
merely tragic tale in the news dis
patches, of which we have written COL
umnS of consolatory, and perhaps ad-
viSory, matter Today it became an epic
as we looked upon the maps of the
reconstruction area and upon the pho
tographS of the devastated region and
saw the plans for the rebuilding and
heard the details of the tremendous
work of recovery and improvement I'M
6ertaken by the japanese people.
1t is not my purpose to repeat the
story of that horror of 1928, the terrific
earth shock. followed by the devouring
confiagration which took an appalling
number of lives. 1t is. however, my pur-
pose, very briefly to tell how Japan has
faced the situation thus created and has
performed the titanic task of rebuilding.
Sometimes, in reflection upon the mat
ter. / have been tempted to think that
perhaps such terror in our own coun-
try would not have been met with quite
such a stout spirit and with such good
works in reparation. We have had some
disastrous fires and quakes and have
not in all cases fully improved our OPP
portunities for better city making.
IUn fol In
the Reconstruction Bureau, itself To-
Gated In the heart of the devastated
district. and listened to succinct
statement OF the work by one OF the
members Of the staff of this organi-
cation interpreted in relay speedily and
effectively by two young men with the
bi-lingual faculty which is coming TO be
so prevalent in Japan. The speaker did
not stress any of his facts, merely CIV
ing us a plain statement of what had
been done. 1t was job he was de-
Scribing, not an achievement.
Scope Of Destruction.
will give Just few figures, which
will illustrate the magnitude of the
work that started as soon as possible
after the ruins had cooled and plans
could be formulated for the regeneration
of Toxic: Ten thousand acres of city
area were IOIdlIy WIcGhcd, t,OUu hClcS
were relaid in streets: TAG kilometers
of roads were built: 900 acres OF land
needed for new roads were given by the
owners to the municipality.
Behind those figures lies big story
Before the disaster Toxic was maze OF
narrow, crooked streets. The capital
city is indeed, an amalgamation of nu-
merous small communities that have in
the course OF the centuries been ANAL
gamated into single civic unit. The
city grew through the asSemblage Of
the towns that clustered for protection
about the imperial center. And they
retained their street systems when they
became districts" instead of individual
communities. The great fire offered an
opportunity to straighten out the tangle,
and with splendid courage and with
exceedingly sagacious vision the recon-
Structors have planned a street system
that will, when finished, make Toxic
one of the most convenient OF world
capitals.
Then there are some other figures
Of interest. No less than 400 new
bridges had to be built in replacement
of those that had been wrecked. In the
construction Of the larger ones, crossing
the Sumida River, the rebuilders looked
far ahead and. in the face OF criticism.