Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 38, Number 85, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 July 1906 — STILL A CITY OF TENTS. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

STILL A CITY OF TENTS.

Sau Franeliieo Must Provide Shelter far Vd,OOO Before tVlnter. The troops having been withdrawn from San Francisco, tlie Mayor is now supreme. To guard the storey, control

camps, administer order and provide sanitation for those quartered on private grounds or city property will keep a small army of unemployed busy. The Red Cross, which is abundantly supplied with funds, something like $6,000,|o6o™wfil pay the wages of the caretakers. The execu- | tive work will be ! done by three men, who will receive a

salary of $5,000 a year. Dr. Devine, of the Red Cross, will select one, Mayor Schmitz the other and the third will be selected by the Finance Committee, and will be a man familiar with the commercial, industrial and business Interests of the city.

The great concern of the San Francisco authorities just now is how to care for the refugees now encamped in the parks, when the blustery winter weather comes on, and how to provide houses for the thousands of workmen who will come to San Francisco as soon as building operations are well under way. There are 25,500 people living in tents at the present time, for whom concern about the winter is Imperative. Assuming that 25.000 persons have left San Francisco permanently, that 100, 000 will double up in the residence section that escaped the flames, and that 50.000 will be provided for by private enterprise, about 50,000 remain out of the 225,000 rendered homeless by the fire to be cared for. It means virtually the building of a good-sized city within a few weeks if these unfortunates are to. be properly housed. Capt. W. W. Harts, United States' engineer, has prepared plans for temporary houses to be placed in the parks ind public squares. These will be two and four-room cottages, and the designs afford better hygienic conditions than the ordinary city tenement. The Red Cross Society has a plan to use its surplus in building temporary homes for all who cannot find houses already built. It is proposed to rent these houses at rates varying from $4 to $8 per month. To the destitute no rent will be charged. The Red Cross will also extend the helping hand to working men who own land and wish to weet permanent homes and will lend them money at a low rate of interest. Portable houses that can be put together “while you wait” are also to be had In emergencies. Barracks will bpbuilt If the influx of working men hurrying to the city for the good wages that await them is realized.

MAYOR SCHMITZ.