Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 40, Number 26, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 December 1907 — THE NEW CHINATOWN. [ARTICLE]

THE NEW CHINATOWN.

Oriental Quarter Arises on the Old Site in San Francisco. San Francisco’s new Chinatown which has arisen on the ruins of the old is ready for occupancy and is rapidly filling up with merchants and tradesmen who were scattered to the four winds by the terrible earthquake and fire of a year and a half ago. All movements looking toward the transfer of the Chinese to a less desirable part of the city failed utterly, and the new Chinatown has risen on the site of the old, under the shadow of Nob Hill and' touching shoulders with the financial district. In the first flush of hope after the catastrophe several plans were evolved for moving Chinatown out toward Telegraph Hill or to some suitable part of the Mission district.. The site of old Chinatown was needed for the expansion of the financial district. One thing stood in the way of this part of the “city beautiful” dream. Chinese firms and wealthy Mongolian individuals owned much of the property in Chinatown. They were satisfied with the site of their quarter. It was near the big hotels patronized by eastern tourists, and it was not too far from_ the water front whence their goods came. The Chinese refused to sell and straightway set about rebuilding. There Is a reason why Chinatown was rebuilt before the other parts of the burned area, even before Market strept had been repaved. The Chinese property owners had no trouble In getting ready cash. They did not try to borrow from San Francisco banks or even from New York money lenders. The first steamer to China carried long letters describing the situation. Inclosed were drafts on the treasurer of ' the company which backed the San Francisco firms... The return steamer brought the gold that was needed and the Chinese could tell their contractors to go ahead. The building department and the health authorities Insisted that the new Chinatown be built according to law and the new Chinatown has, of course, lost such picturesqueness as was found In the dirt and the squalor and the tumbledown effect of the old buildings. To offset this, however, there will be a heavy gain In health fulness.