Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 39, Number 69, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 May 1907 — The Recovery. [ARTICLE]

The Recovery.

In spite of the incubus of a corrupt municipal administration, the City of the Golden Gate is rapidly reassuming shape. Great blocks of brick, concrete and stoue are springing up in what a few short mouths ago was a desolate waste, among which stood thousands of ruined walls, marking the sites of once proud business structures. Fifty thousand men are busy rebuilding the city, and when the work is done and the last deep scar left by the hurricane of fire Is removed, San Francisco will be a greater, richer and better city than ever before. The buildings that are going up in nearly every case are better than those the fire swept away. The old city was constructed of wood, even in a great part of the business section. In all the down town districts now fireproof materials must be used In buildings. With feverish energy the work Is progressing. On many structures two shifts working eight hours both are employed; and from 8 In the morning until midnight the sound of hammer and saw and the steady grind of concrete mixers can be heard. Within a radius of five blocks from the corner of Kearny and Market streets there are in process of construction or rehabilitation 146 fireproof buildings. Between June 1, 1906, and April 1, 1907, permits were issued for the erection of 841 fireproof and seml-fireproof buildings. Already the steep slopes of Telegraph and Russian hills are covered thickly with wooden residences, while the downtown streets are lined" wftK Business structures. Conservative estimates show that more than $100,000,000 has been spent In reconstruction since the fire. This amount would have been greatly Increased but for the difficulty of getting building materials. The railway blockade which caused trouble throughout the country was felt with triple force In San Francisco. The complete reconstruction of manufacturing plants aa well as the vast stores of goods and building materials kept In stock here left the rebuilding bf the dty at the mercy of the traasportatloa companies.