Chapter XXXIX: Section 2: , between 200 and 300, and so on. This numbering was used (1)

instead of that of General Orders No. 18.

1st Section wherein all official relief stations are numbered between 1 and 100, is bounded as follows: On the south by Fulton street, on the east by Devisadero street, on the north and west by San Francisco Bay, and Pacific Ocean, including Presidio Reservation, but not including Fort Miley reservation.

2nd Section wherein all official relief stations are numbered between 101 and 200 is bounded as follows: On the north by Fulton street, on the east by Devisadero street and Castro street, on the south by 18th and L streets, on the west by the Pacific Ocean.

3rd Section wherein all official relief stations are numbered between 201 and 300, is bounded as follows: On the north and east by San Francisco Bay, on the south by Union street, on the west by Devisadero street.

4th Section wherein all official relief stations are numbered between 301 and 400, is bounded as follows: On the north by Union street on the east by the Bay, on the south by Market street, on the west by Devisadero and Castro streets.

5th Section wherein all official relief stations are numbered between 401 and 500, is bounded as follows: On the north by Market street, on the east by the Bay, on the south by 18th street, on the west by Castro street.

6th Section wherein all official relief stations are numbered between 501 and 600, is bounded as follows: On the north by 18th street, on the east by the Bay, on the south by the County Line, on the west by the Southern Pacific Railroad.

7th Section wherein all official relief stations are numbered between 601 and 700, is bounded as follows: On the north by L and 18th street, on the east by the Southern Pacific Railroad, on the south by the County Line, on the west by the ocean.

BY COMMAND OF MAJOR GENERAL GREELY:
S. P. JOCELYN,
_Colonel, General Staff, Chief of Staff_.

OFFICIAL:
W. G. HAAN,
_Captain, General Staff, Military Secretary_.

3

THE ARMY IN THE SAN FRANCISCO DISASTER[285]

BY BRIGADIER GENERAL C. A. DEVOL

[285] Extracts from article printed in the Journal of the United
States Infantry Association, Vol. IV, No. 1, pp. 59-87.

At 7:45 on the morning of the disaster Companies C and D, Engineer Corps, arrived from Fort Mason and were reported to the Mayor and Chief of Police. They were directed by the former to guard the banking district and send patrols along Market Street to prevent looting. At 8:00 a.m., the Presidio garrison, consisting of the 10th, 29th, 38th, 66th, 67th, 70th, and 105th Companies of Coast Artillery; Troops I and K, 14th Cavalry; and the 1st, 9th and 24th Batteries of Field Artillery, began to arrive.

The Headquarters and 1st Battalion 22d Infantry, were brought from Fort McDowell by boat, arriving at 10:00 a.m., and were held for a time in reserve at O’Farrell Street. They were later utilized as patrols and as an assistance to the fire department. The Fort Miley troops, the 25th and 64th Companies Coast Artillery, had a longer march and did not arrive until 11:30 a.m.

Troops subsequently arrived in the city as follows:

April 19. Companies E and G, 22d Infantry, from Alcatraz Island; Companies K and M, 22d Infantry, from the depot of recruits and casuals, and the 32d, 61st and 68th Companies Coast Artillery, from Fort Baker;

April 21. Headquarters and two battalions 20th Infantry, from Presidio of Monterey;

April 22. Headquarters and ten companies 14th Infantry, from Vancouver Barracks;

April 23. The 17th and 18th Batteries Field Artillery from Vancouver Barracks.

These troops were all stationed in the Pacific Division and were ordered to San Francisco by the Division Commander. Troops arriving later by orders from the War Department will be enumerated later. It is believed the prompt appearance of the United States troops on the streets of the city was an object lesson to the minds of the evil-disposed, reminding them that the law of the land still existed with ready and powerful means at hand to enforce it, and was of incalculable moral and material benefit to the city.

General Funston moved into the Commanding General’s quarters at Fort Mason, establishing both Division and Department Headquarters at that point, and the Signal Corps immediately began to stretch wires for telegraph communication to various points of importance in the city.

The entire force in the city finally consisted of 1 Major-General, 1 Brigadier-General, the 1st and 14th Regiments of Cavalry, the 10th, 25th, 27th, 29th, 32d, 38th, 60th, 61st, 64th, 65th, 66th, 67th, 68th, 70th, and 105th Companies Coast Artillery; the 1st, 9th and 24th Batteries Field Artillery; the 11th Battalion Field Artillery, consisting of the 17th and 18th Mountain Batteries; the 10th, 11th, 14th, 20th and 22d Regiments of Infantry; Companies C and D, Corps of Engineers; Companies A and B, Hospital Corps; Companies A, E and H, Signal Corps, and 168 staff, detailed and retired officers, a grand total of 6000 men and officers. To these men were added during the earlier days a large force of the navy, a battalion of marines, and a force of naval apprentices, also the force of the National Guard, State of California.

Officers of the Quartermaster’s Department were stationed at Oakland Pier, Point Richmond, the Santa Fe freight yard, Entries Nos. 1, 2, 3, and 4, Quartermaster Depots Nos. 1, 2, 3, and 4. Officers of the Subsistence Department were stationed at the Food Depots, Nos. 1, 2, and 3. The various Quartermaster and Commissary Depots were connected by wire with the office of the Depot Quartermaster, which had been established in the Quartermaster Warehouse at the Presidio, and the Commissary Depots connected with the office of the Depot Commissary, which was established at Folsom street dock. Every arriving car was checked up across the bay, either at Oakland Pier or Point Richmond. Every lighter leaving for any of the entries was reported by wire to the Depot Quartermaster with the car numbers and what entry consigned to. The Depot Quartermaster could thus control the supply and balance the arrivals at the different entries, wiring orders to deliver more or less at the different points as occasion demanded. A dispatch boat was put in service, making two trips daily to Oakland Pier. At each trip, yard car slips giving complete list of cars with numbers and contents were forwarded to the main office. These were abstracted as fast as they came in and from this abstract acknowledgment of arrival was made to all donating parties in the different parts of the country. This branch of the work was most important, as Relief Committees in the various cities and towns were always desirous of obtaining information which would enable them to inform the people of their community that the stores had arrived in San Francisco and had reached the suffering people. The record also enabled satisfactory answers to be given to the hundreds of inquiries by wire and mail from all over the country on this subject. Every car load was finally accounted for and inquiries answered locating stores, except in some cases of individual packages.

The Quartermaster-General had been asked by wire to have the number of every car of military supplies reported to San Francisco by wire as soon as it was dispatched. These instructions were promptly given, and this advance information aided very greatly in preventing confusion.

The stores for the Presidio were delivered by river steamers acting as lighters from cars at Oakland Pier. At Entry No. 2, or the three docks above described, deliveries were from river steamers acting as lighters and also from cars delivered alongside of the docks by floats. Entry No. 3 was by cars sent across the bay on floats and delivered at the 3d and Townsend Railroad yard, which fortunately was not destroyed by fire. The small amount of freight that arrived from the south also came into this depot. Entry No. 4 was from the Santa Fe Railroad by float to the Spear and Harrison freight depot. The steamships delivered at the three docks, 8, 10, and 12. It will thus be seen that there were four avenues through which supplies could reach the city simultaneously, and by night as well as by day.

Forty-five officers were detailed on arrival to take charge of various stations throughout the city. Fifteen were ultimately detailed as assistants to the Depot Quartermaster, and placed in charge of the various entries and depots, as above stated. As the various stations were established in all administrative departments, the Signal Corps connected up the stations by wire with the main offices and Department Headquarters. Operators were placed at all instruments and communications by day and night established. During the first three days issues were made from the quarter-master supplies in store at the four depot warehouses at the Presidio, which amounted to 3,000 tents, 13,000 ponchos, 58,000 shoes, 24,000 shirts and other articles necessary to relieve immediate suffering. This issue was made in the face of necessity without any authority, but when reported was promptly approved by the Secretary of War.

The Finance Committee asked that the army take over all transportation in the city for all purposes for betterment of management in systematizing under one head. The Division Commander directed the Depot Quartermaster to take it over, and Captain Peter Murray, Quartermaster, 8th Infantry, was directed to report to him for that purpose. An office for this part of the transportation was established at Hamilton School, and in two days the number of hired teams for this part of the work was cut down from 557 to 109.

The population of San Francisco had spread over the surrounding country, refugees in large numbers going to San Jose, Oakland, Berkeley, Alameda and Sausalito, and naturally the people in these outlying towns demanded their proportionate share of relief. Officers were sent to the various interested sections and remained in charge, the system being similar to San Francisco. The distribution, however, of supplies over this enlarged territory added considerably to the burden which relief workers were already carrying.

The gradual evolution of a completed camp system had kept pace from day to day with the growth of other relief work. As before stated, there were on hand at the Depot Quartermaster’s storehouse for immediate issue some 3,000 tents (common), and 12,000 shelter tents. This canvas placed indiscriminately wherever ground was available initiated what grew into a very complete system of camps. By the prompt action of the War Department, tentage had been shipped by express from different depots in the United States and soon became available, there being finally issued some 25,000 tents, many of which were conical, and wall tents of large capacity.

As fast as camps were established the outlying and scattered tents in that vicinity were called in and placed systematically as a part of the camp. Each camp was known by number and each tent was known by number.

On May 29, General Orders were issued, defining the camps, the total at that time being twenty-one, eighteen of which were in San Francisco and the other three in outlying cities. The sanitary arrangements varied in regard to the different conditions. Eighteen camps were variously scattered through Golden Gate Park, the Presidio Military Reservation, what is known as Harbor View Flat, Fort Mason Military Reservation, and the various other parts of the city. No restrictions were placed on the inmates of these camps save those required by decency, order, and cleanliness. If the occupants persistently refused to obey the rules to meet the above requirements they were obliged to forego the benefits of government canvas and relief stores.

4

LETTER FROM GENERAL GREELY TO JAMES D. PHELAN

HEADQUARTERS PACIFIC DIVISION SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA

June 15, 1906.

Mr. James D. Phelan, Chairman,
Finance Committee of Relief and Red Cross Funds,
Hamilton School, City.

Sir:--

1. I understand from the morning papers that a telegram signed by you
and Mayor Schmitz, has asked the retention of the Army on duty in San
Francisco for ninety days from July 1st.

2. I have seen Mayor Schmitz this morning and he concurs with me in
the belief that the relief of the Army on July 1st is in the public
interests, and after consideration of the opinions expressed by me in
this letter, I trust that the Finance Committee will agree in the
wisdom of withdrawing their request.

3. The spirit of American institutions is obviously adverse to the
quartering of troops in times of peace in large cities, which is in
this case supplemented by reasons of a practical and economic
character. From all sources, there is a consensus of opinion that the
service of the Army for relief purposes in San Francisco was of great
benefit to the city of San Francisco and the State of California. That
July 1st marks the date on which federal troops should cease to guard
stores, control camps, administer order and provide sanitation for
civilians quartered on city grounds or private property, is my
conviction.

4. Your attention is called to the fact that there are classes of
worthy citizens who in considerable numbers are now deprived of their
ordinary means of gaining a livelihood, either by lack of public funds
or from destruction of private business. Among these may be mentioned
firemen, policemen, school teachers and physicians.

5. Your attention is particularly called to the fact that a certain
number of such persons could be given temporary employment by the Red
Cross organization if the present guards and camp administrations of
the Army were withdrawn. In short, the officers and men of the Army
are now performing duties and rendering services which should be
performed and rendered by the destitute men in San Francisco. I submit
to your Committee whether it is advisable to favor a policy which thus
discriminates against civilian labor because the work of the Army is
done without expense to the Red Cross Funds.

6. If the Red Cross was not amply supplied with funds, there might
exist a necessity for free army labor but such is not the case. The
morning paper reports that Mr. Bartnett is favoring the immediate
distribution of the greater part of six million dollars now in the
possession of the Committee.

7. Of all the methods of relief that which most commends itself to me
from a careful consideration of this question, is that advanced by
Dr. E. T. Devine, and known under the general term of rehabilitation.
There is no better way of rehabilitating a man than by allowing him to
earn a living salary. In this case it can be conjoined with the care
and relief of the destitutes who are rapidly being reduced in number.

8. It has been unofficially advanced that the withdrawal of the Army
would involve conditions of disorder and that sanitary conditions
would not be as carefully observed as under strict military methods.
It is believed that the rigidly enforced methods of the Army cannot be
equalled by ordinary civilian control and it is also acknowledged that
the suggestion of a soldier with a gun is more potent in enforcing
order that the directions of a policeman with a club.

9. On the question of order and sanitation, experience has shown that
the people of San Francisco are self-respecting and desirous of
conforming to proper methods of life as regards the three important
points of order, decency and cleanliness. That this is a fact and not
an opinion, is shown by the conditions attending the 43,000 people now
under canvas in the City of San Francisco. Of this number 18,000 are
under military supervision, while 25,000 are scattered elsewhere
throughout the city. About 10,000 of these people have been
continually under military supervision and 8,000 more have lately been
taken in charge. It might be thought the 25,000 other people
supplemented by the 8,000 lately transferred, would in the past two
months have become centers of infectious diseases or the centers of
disorder and violence, which has not been the case as infectious
diseases have been sporadic and the conditions of order have been such
that as far as I know no murder has been committed and only one or two
assaults have been made.

10. It appears to me that the time has arrived when some definite plan
of organization should be formulated. At present no one connected with
the Red Cross has any power to act, not even Dr. Devine, save as to
certain expenditures for rehabilitation which in limited amounts have
been appropriated.

11. To illustrate a practical method of handling this question, a
definite line of organization is herewith suggested. It is worse than
useless to expect that the interests of the tens of thousands of
people and sums of money running into the millions can be economically
and efficiently administered by men giving such part of their time as
remains after transacting their own business, to the questions of
relief. There must be not only a paid personnel but to obtain men of
character, efficiency and skill, they must be well compensated.

12. The Finance Committee should allow no money to be spent except on
estimates which should be submitted monthly in advance so that they
may be properly discussed by the Finance Committee before paying the
money. Emergencies can be met by allowing a small sum for each
particular department for contingent expenses. It is believed that the
duties of the Finance Committee should be confined to questions of
policy and considering of estimates and authorizing them formally.

13. The executive work should be done by three men who should receive
a salary of not less than $5,000 per year. One member should be a
special representative of the Red Cross and as Dr. Devine would
probably not remain many months and his services are needed as an
advisory to the Finance Committee, it is suggested that some one be
named by Dr. Devine if he will not serve himself. The second member
should be named by the Mayor of San Francisco and the third should be
selected by the Finance Committee from individuals familiar with the
industrial, commercial and business interests of San Francisco. This
committee should divide the duties between themselves.

14. Supplies should be centralized and should be in charge of a
carefully selected man to receive $10.00 per day, with an assistant
who should receive $5.00 per day. This official should under no
circumstances have anything to do with the purchase of supplies but
only be responsible for their receipt, care, and issue.

15. Each camp should be placed under a very carefully selected officer
of the Fire or Police Department who is on furlough; preferably to be
Captains and Lieutenants of the Fire Department and Captains,
Lieutenants and Sergeants of the Police Department, and should be paid
according to the size and importance of the camp. The familiarity of
these men with the people of San Francisco and their habits of
authority should enable them to properly supervise these camps, which
naturally would be under the general direction of one of the three
executive members of the committee. The present surgeons should be
replaced by doctors of executive ability and standing of which it is
understood that there are many without practice. There should be about
one doctor to each seven hundred persons and their pay should be from
$3.50 to $5.00 per day.

16. At places where guards are necessary, civilian watchmen, drawn
largely from furloughed policemen and firemen and male school
teachers, should be placed in charge. It might be added that wherever
opportunity for women’s work offers, it should be given to school
teachers of standing now on furlough.

17. All expenses of sanitation and policing of these camps should be
at the expense of the Red Cross. While they would be naturally
subjected to inspection from time to time by the sanitary officers of
the city yet such officers would, it is believed, not interfere unduly
with the arrangements in these camps. There should be special police
officers on duty at night at the larger camps, these also to be paid
employees.

18. In short, an organized, well selected and properly paid personnel
is indispensable to the successful handling of the relief work.

19. Supplementary to the executive committee, there should be an agent
charged with the rehabilitation work, acting under the special
direction of Dr. Devine or his successor. The policy regarding
rehabilitation should be liberal and a very considerable sum should be
set aside therefor subject to distribution as Dr. Devine or his
successor might direct.

20. Briefly this letter looks to action and organization, which cannot
progress satisfactorily while the Army is conducting independently a
part of this work. There are large sums of money on hand and the
public naturally has a right to demand results.

21. Valuable time is being lost as regards questions of shelter and
rehabilitation through lack of suitable organization.

22. The Committee will think perhaps that I have expressed myself
very forcibly in this matter, but my great interest in the adoption of
the best and speediest means of restoring normal conditions in San
Francisco and in the relief of its destitute, will, I hope, be viewed
as excuses for my speaking freely and fully, and offering definite
advice relative to the work in hand.

23. In view of the great importance of the interest the municipality
has in this work, I have furnished a copy of this letter to his Honor,
Mayor E. E. Schmitz.

24. May I then express the hope that the Finance Committee will agree
with me that the Army will be withdrawn on July 1st.

25. I may add that should the services of say half a dozen officers be
needed in the way of advice and aid during July, I should be glad to
take steps looking to their detail provided the Secretary of War
approves which I believe he will.

Very respectfully,
A. W. Greely,
Major General, Commanding

5

PLAN OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMISSION[286]

Submitted to the Finance Committee, Relief and Red Cross Funds, June 26, 1906

[286] See Part I, p. 20.

The work to be undertaken will naturally fall into eight main departments.

I. MANAGEMENT AND SANITATION OF CAMPS. The camps are of four classes:

1. Military Camps on military reservations. These will continue under the supervision of the military authorities and our only relation to them will be to furnish any necessary food, clothing or other relief, and to arrange for the eventual removal of any who are not able to make their own arrangements.

2. Military camps in public parks and squares. The problem in these camps is to provide superintendence, sanitation, policing and labor, which are now supplied by the Army. The present organization should be continued, the pay-roll being transferred but the personnel so far as possible being retained from the commanding officer of camps down. Estimates for the expense of conducting these camps for the month of July have been supplied to the Finance Committee by General Greely and appropriations in accordance therewith are recommended.

3. Camps in public squares or on other city property not under military control. These camps should be immediately incorporated into the system which now prevails in the military camps. The co-operation of the Park Department, the Health Department, and the Police Department will be essential, but we are informed by the Mayor that the expense of sanitation and policing which has heretofore been borne by the Army will have to be met from the Relief Fund and probably the same is true of the non-military camps which will become a part of the same system.

4. Camps and straggling shacks and tents on private property. The Commission will have no authority to interfere with persons living either in tents or in temporary dwellings on private ground, but the giving of any relief to such persons may be made subject to any conditions which are considered necessary, and the intervention of the Health Board may be asked whenever there are insanitary conditions.

II. WAREHOUSES. After July 1st, there will be only two warehouses, one in the Moulder School, for provisions and the other, now in the Crocker School, and about to be removed to the new warehouse, Geary and Gough Sts., construction of which has been authorized by the Finance Committee, for clothing and other relief supplies. It is expected that the present management of these two warehouses can be continued, the military officers now in charge being given leave for this purpose and engaged by the Commission. In this event the officers, as superintendents of the warehouses, will probably be made purchasing agents of the Commission for the kind of goods of which they respectively have charge.

III. HOT MEAL RESTAURANTS. There are now some 27 hot meal restaurants, on which 10 cent and 15 cent tickets are issued by the Red Cross in the several sections, to be redeemed by the Finance Committee. As these restaurants are located in camps any necessary supervision of their management and sanitation so long as they are continued may safely be entrusted to the superintendent of camps and to those who are in charge of the several camps under his direction. The Commission should assume responsibility for the issuing of tickets and certifying the bills of the contractors to the Finance Committee.

IV. SECTION ORGANIZATION. The civilian chairmen of the seven sections, in addition to their duties in the distribution of food and clothing in the relief stations have succeeded to the duties of the military chiefs of sections, and they should be responsible to the Commission until relieved, which cannot probably be earlier than the end of July. These chairmen have given their entire time to this work since May 1st and they should be paid for their services. They should be held responsible in the immediate future for the distribution of clothing, meal tickets and other relief and for the second registration which is now in progress and which will bring to the Commission a large number of cases in which gifts of money or its equivalent are required.

V. HOSPITALS. The care of the indigent sick has thus far been in part in emergency hospitals maintained as a part of the camp system, and in part in private hospitals on a per capita basis--payment being made to the hospitals for each patient who is accepted as a proper charge on the relief fund. It is desirable that the present plan be continued, under the supervision of the Commission, the medical executor who has been engaged by the Hospital Committee remaining in charge and supervising the emergency hospitals in camps as well as the care in private hospitals, of which the expense is met from the Relief Fund.

VI. SPECIAL RELIEF. This is now one of the most important parts of the work to be done by the Commission. It includes all aid given to individuals or families other than food or ordinary clothing. Its key-note is rehabilitation. Its object is to enable those who are now dependent on the relief stations, or whose means of livelihood have been destroyed, to become self-supporting. The means employed are the furnishing of tools, furniture, sewing machines or other things, transportation to other places, or loan, as may be indicated by the investigation in each instance. The Finance Committee has thus far advanced $15,000.00 for experimental work in this direction. About 500 applications have been passed upon, and checks have already been drawn and await signature, for over $3,000.00 in excess of the amount appropriated. It is recommended that an additional appropriation for this purpose be made at once. An advisory committee of 5 or 7 members will be appointed in connection with this work.

VII. LOANS. The Commission has under consideration the advisability of opening a department of loans on

1. Pledges, such as are ordinarily deposited in pawn-shops.
2. Real estate mortgage for the erection of homes.
3. Chattel mortgage on furniture, etc., and
4. Personal endorsement.

Such a department or departments would be of great service to persons who do not wish to accept charity and who are still not in position unaided to build, furnish their homes or get started in business. Especially is this true on account of the delay and uncertainty in the payment of insurance claims. The Commission is not yet prepared to make a definite recommendation on this subject, and it is named only as one of the departments of work which it may be desirable to undertake in the near future.

VIII. HOUSING. The question of shelter appears to the Commission to be the one of paramount importance--so important indeed as to require not only further consideration by the Commission itself and by the Finance Committee, but also the co-operation of a strong board of consulting architects and builders who would doubtless be willing to assist the Commission in this capacity without compensation. Estimates are before the Commission for the construction of temporary dwellings of from $200.00 to $400.00 each. His Honor, Mayor Schmitz, has expressed the opinion to the Commission that instead of constructing such temporary buildings efforts should be made to provide before the winter season a sufficient number of permanent homes of an attractive character for all who need to be housed. The Commission is inclined to accept this view although it is admitted that some additional temporary barracks may be found necessary if by September 1st, it appears that there will be a shortage of permanent housing accommodations.

If the Finance Committee decides that it will be advisable that $1,000,000.00 or some such amount be invested in acquiring land and erecting homes to be rented and sold on reasonable terms of monthly payment, it is probable that this sum can be greatly augmented by investment from private parties, if for any reason the Government deposits are not found to be available for this purpose. The business can be so conducted as to pay a reasonable return on such investment and still make the dwellings of moderate cost to the renter and purchaser.

FINANCES. It is understood by the Commission that complete financial control remains with the Finance Committee as was suggested by General Greely in his letter of June 15 to the Finance Committee. All work undertaken by the Commission will be on estimates and plans submitted in advance to the Finance Committee. All bills will be audited and paid by the Finance Committee. The Commission will make only such purchases and contracts and engage such employees as have been authorized by the Finance Committee, and the certificate of the duly authorized officers and agents of the Commission would become a warrant for payment when found to be in accordance with the action of the Finance Committee. Certified copies of resolutions authorizing given lines of work should be supplied by the Finance Committee to the Commission. On the other hand, to fix responsibility and prevent confusion, all executive work, both for relief and for rehabilitation, should devolve upon the Commission, which should be held responsible for initiating relief measures, presenting them to the Finance Committee and subsequently carrying them into effect.

6

ORIGINAL HOUSING PLAN

Recommendations Submitted to Finance Committee, July, 1906

San Francisco, Cal., July 10, 1906.

James D. Phelan, Esq.,
Chairman Finance Committee.

Sir:--

The Finance Committee at its last meeting referred to the Rehabilitation Committee for consideration and report a proposition made in the Finance Committee by Mr. M. H. de Young that a donation be made to any workingman owning a lot in the burnt district of one-third of the value of the dwelling to be erected on it, this donation however, not to exceed in any case the sum of five hundred dollars, and to be paid, not to the lot owner, but to the contractor who builds the house when it is completed and clear of liens.

The Executive Commission has had under consideration various plans for acquiring tracts of land and building homes for sale or rental, one such plan having been referred to the Commission by the Finance Committee at its last meeting. The Executive Commission has also appointed, with the knowledge and approval of the Finance Committee, a consulting board of architects and builders who have placed their services at our disposal without compensation, both for expert counsel on general plans and for the making of suitable designs for dwellings which might be built by the Commission, or by individual lot owners.

Under these circumstances, both the Executive Commission and the Rehabilitation Committee have given careful consideration to this subject, and have held informal joint sessions in order that any recommendations made by this Committee might have the endorsement of both bodies, and might, if possible, be such as to secure the immediate favorable consideration of the Finance Committee. It is agreed on all sides that no time is to be lost if houses are to be made available before the winter season, and before the tents which are now in use are so dilapidated as to be uninhabitable.

The Rehabilitation Committee recommends the acceptance of the principle that workingmen and others of moderate means whose homes were destroyed by fire, who own lots in the burnt district, and who cannot obtain from banks, building and loan associations or other societies enough to rebuild without assistance, should be aided in rebuilding by a donation or loan from the relief fund. This policy involves no new action by the Finance Committee except the appropriation from time to time of such sums as may be required by the Rehabilitation Committee to carry it into effect. It is exactly in line with the work which that Committee was created to undertake. This Committee is therefore already endeavoring to ascertain how many applications are likely to be made for such donations or loans, and devising such safeguards as will protect the operation of the plan from the obvious abuses to which it might be subjected. If there are any conditions of such grants which the Finance Committee, or its members, would consider it desirable to call to our attention, it is suggested that this be done at the earliest possible moment; and if the Finance Committee disapproves the plan, that of course, should be indicated before any further steps are taken. As soon as the information is available, an estimate will be presented to the Finance Committee as to the amount of money which is required to carry this policy into effect. We consider it doubtful whether this plan, of itself, will go very far towards providing shelter for the families now in tents, but the time which has elapsed since the plan was proposed has not been sufficient to enable us to secure accurate information on this subject.

The Executive Commission on July 9th held a conference with the consulting Board of Architects and Builders, at which the Chairman of the Finance Committee, the Mayor, and some of the members of the Rehabilitation Committee were present, and the whole subject was exhaustively considered. The conclusion reached was that no one plan had been suggested which would completely solve the problem of housing the homeless families, but that immediate action is desirable in the following directions:

I. The first necessity is the shelter of those who are entirely dependent. We recommend for this purpose the erection on city property of an attractive permanent building or buildings on the cottage pavilion plan for the care of aged and infirm persons, chronic invalids and other adult dependent persons for whom it is not so much a question of rehabilitation as of permanent maintenance. We recommend that such building or buildings to be erected from the relief fund be large enough to accommodate one thousand men and women, and that the maintenance of the institution after it is erected be left to the municipality. Alternative plans would be to care for these aged and infirm persons in existing private institutions, on a per capita weekly basis similar to that on which patients are now cared for in private hospitals, or to make an allowance in the nature of a pension for their care, in private families. We believe that the erection of a special pavilion would be more economical and that it has the indirect advantage of enabling the city to secure an attractive modern public home for aged and infirm persons. The plan suggested, supplemented by the policy now in force of caring for the indigent sick in hospitals and the ordinary operation of the established charitable agencies of the city, will, it is believed, adequately and humanely shelter those who are actually destitute, and who, from lack of any earning capacity, must remain entirely dependent upon public relief.

II. The next and more serious problem is the supply of dwellings for families who ordinarily pay a moderate rental, who do not own land and have no considerable savings, but who are in receipt of ordinary wages. There are probably five thousand families now in tents or other temporary shelter who are in this position. Possibly, if those who are temporarily out of the city and who desire to return are included, this number may be ten thousand. No accurate estimate is possible for the reason that there is no information available as to what number have already permanently removed to suburban towns, what number has been absorbed in existing homes by the doubling up process, and what number will build for themselves. What is certain, however, is that no real beginning has yet been made by private enterprise or otherwise in the erection of dwellings for the five thousand families of which we do have knowledge, although nearly half of the long summer season, which, fortunately, lay between the disaster of April and the winter season, has already elapsed. It was, therefore, the unanimous conclusion of the conference, and it is the official recommendation of the Relief Commission that in addition to all that is done for individuals through the Rehabilitation Committee some considerable contribution to the supply of homes should be made directly from the Relief and Red Cross Funds, either by financial assistance to private individuals or corporations in building on a large scale, suitable dwellings, on satisfactory terms; or by the creation for this particular purpose of an incorporated body, which can make contracts and enforce legal obligations. It is, therefore, recommended: that unless the alternative suggested can be made immediately effective, eleven or more persons, including the Mayor, the Chairman of the Finance Committee and suitable representation of the National Red Cross, the Executive Commission and the Rehabilitation Committee, be designated by the Finance Committee to form a corporation under the laws of this State relating to corporations not for profit, that not less than one million dollars be subscribed by the Finance Committee as capital or as a permanent loan to this corporation; that the homes thus provided be sold on a monthly installment plan to families who were living in San Francisco on April 17th, and rented to those who are unable to purchase; that all income from rentals and sales after meeting necessary expenses be invested in the building of other houses, or for such other public philanthropic objects as may be decided upon by the corporation with the consent of the Finance Committee. After one year it might be found practicable and desirable for the corporation thus formed to sell its remaining property and interests to Savings Banks or otherwise, and to dispose of the entire sum thus obtained for the relief of those who were still at that time in any way in distress through the disaster, or if there were no such distress, then for some public purpose which might be decided upon.

The essential thing at this time is that, at the earliest possible moment some of the funds which are now lying idle in the treasury of the Finance Committee, shall be put at work providing homes for the working people of the community. The plan which we have recommended is proposed, first, as a relief measure because the tents will not provide proper shelter after October; second, as a measure of public policy, because, in the interests of the community it is not desirable that San Francisco shall lose her present population of working people merely because there are not dwellings to be rented or bought; third, also as a measure of public policy, because it is desirable that workingmen shall have the opportunity to own their homes, and this opportunity is now afforded, not on a charitable, but on a reasonable and just business basis; and, finally, because the intelligent and efficient carrying out of the plan proposed will enable the community to set a standard of attractive, sanitary, safe, and yet comparatively inexpensive dwellings which will have a beneficial effect not only in the immediate future, but for the coming generation. The co-operation of the municipal administration in enforcing suitable conditions as to sanitation, light, ventilation, fire protection, etc., of the architects in making plans for convenient and attractive homes at moderate cost, of the building trades in getting these homes built, and of the Finance Committee in advancing capital and creating a corporation which will ensure the purchasers against fraud or injustice, will solve the housing problem and nothing less than this co-operation will solve it.

In closing this report, however, the Rehabilitation Committee and the Relief Commission alike wish to emphasize the fact that there is no intention that the relief fund shall become a providence of the refugees, solving all their difficulties and relieving them of all individual responsibility. On the contrary, it is confidently expected that each family will to the greatest possible extent solve its own problems, find its own capital, decide on the plans for its own home, discharge its obligations for any money advanced as soon as practicable, and that if these recommendations are adopted the entire business will be so conducted by the Rehabilitation Committee, the Executive Commission and the corporation formed for the purpose of acquiring land and building homes, as to preserve in full integrity the fundamental traits of American character, individual initiative and personal responsibility.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the Executive Commission and the Rehabilitation Committee.

Edward T. Devine,
Chairman.

7

THE INCORPORATION OF THE FUNDS

SAN FRANCISCO RELIEF AND RED CROSS FUNDS, A CORPORATION

(Incorporated July 20, 1906)

MEMBERS AND DIRECTORS

James D. Phelan, President
F. W. Dohrmann, First Vice President
W. F. Herrin, Second Vice President
J. Downey Harvey, Secretary
Horace Davis
Frank G. Drum (resigned Aug. 21, 1906, resignation accepted Feb. 26,
1907)
I. W. Hellman, Jr.
W. F. Herrin
Rufus P. Jennings
Herbert E. Law
Thomas Magee
Garret W. McEnerney
Judge W. W. Morrow
Allan Pollok
Rudolph Spreckels
F. S. Stratton
Charles Sutro, Jr.
Joseph S. Tobin
Charles S. Wheeler
Ex Officio, the Governor of California
Ex Officio, the Mayor of San Francisco

Changes made later:

O. K. Cushing, elected member and director April 16, 1907, to succeed
Mr. Drum.
Edward T. Devine, elected member July 27, 1906.

The plan of organization adopted by the Executive Committee of the Corporation for conducting the five departments into which it divided its work was as follows:

DEPARTMENT A. FINANCE AND PUBLICITY

This department shall be in charge of the President or Acting President of the Corporation. It shall comprise all matters pertaining to

Finances of the Corporation.

The donations made or promised to the Corporation.

The custody of funds on hand.

The General Office.

The Bureau of History.

All publications issued or made by this Corporation.

All Information to be given to the Press shall emanate from this Department or shall be submitted for approval to this Department before being printed except that each Chairman of the Department may transmit information concerning the work contemplated or done in his Department to the Press.

All automobiles except when assigned to their Departments, shall be in the custody and under the direction of this Department.

The Staff of this Department shall consist of the Secretaries and stenographers at large.

Accountants and Employees of the General Office.

The Janitors, door-keepers and messengers of the Office Building.

The Chauffeurs of the automobiles not assigned to other Departments.

The Committee and employees connected with the History Committee.

Any other employees for general work except those of the other Departments.

DEPARTMENT B. BILLS AND DEMANDS

This Department shall be in charge of Chairman, M. H. de Young. It shall comprise all matters pertaining to bills and demands against this Corporation.

Staff of this Department shall be the employees required for the examination of all bills and demands to be passed upon by this Department.

DEPARTMENT C. CAMPS AND WAREHOUSES

This department shall be in charge of Chairman Rudolph Spreckels. It shall comprise all matters pertaining to:

Camp and camp supplies.

Sanitary matters connected with camps.

Outside warehouses and contents of same.

The staff of this department shall be employees of the office of this department, the Superintendent, officers and assistants and employees in charge of or connected with camps; Officers and employees in charge of or connected with Warehouses.

DEPARTMENT D. RELIEF AND REHABILITATION

This Department shall be in charge of Chairman F. W. Dohrmann. It shall comprise all matters pertaining to the business of the Special Rehabilitation Committee appointed by this Corporation.

Of all applications for donations, relief and assistance not regularly referred to the Special Rehabilitation Committee.

Of all matters connected with patients placed in hospitals on account of this Corporation.

The Staff of this Department shall be:

The office employees required in addition to the staff of the Special Rehabilitation Committee.

DEPARTMENT E. LANDS AND BUILDINGS

This Department shall be in charge of Chairman Thomas Magee. It shall comprise all matters pertaining to the erecting of a municipal home for the indigent and aged.

The erecting of temporary buildings for housing the refugees.

The granting of bonus for the building of individual homes.

The buying of land and erecting buildings on same to be rented or sold on installments.

The collection of rent or payments for buildings rented or sold.

Any other provisions or plans for acquiring land, erection of buildings and the providing of homes for families.

The Staff of this Department shall be:

Employees of the Office of this Department.

General Business Manager and Assistants.

Architects, Draftsmen and Builders required.

Legal advisers necessary for the transaction of the business of this Department.

8

APPOINTMENT OF BOARD OF TRUSTEES RELIEF AND RED CROSS FUNDS, FEBRUARY, 1909

Results of Conference between Chairman Executive Committee of San
Francisco Relief and Red Cross Funds and Representative
American National Red Cross,
January, 1909

All active relief work to cease at once. A reserve fund of $100,000 to be set aside for the payment of all judgments or other legal claims, for all refunds due camp tenants, and for meeting the current expense of the corporation. All other reserve funds to be cancelled and the amounts reserved transferred to a General Relief Fund. All receipts and any balance left of the $100,000 reserve mentioned above to be paid into this general fund.

Specific appropriations were made out of the new General Relief Fund for certain philanthropic organizations to the amount of $150,000. The rest of this fund was to be used as follows:

The balance of the General Relief Fund, consisting of all the money in
the hands of the San Francisco Relief and Red Cross Funds, a
Corporation, not specifically reserved or appropriated as hereinbefore
described, and all money hereafter received from cancelled reserves
and appropriations and from collections, unexpended balances and
receipts from whatever source as above provided, is hereby
appropriated for the purpose of general relief. It is intended that
this relief shall be of a character that will most speedily and
effectually remove the needs and distress still existing or which may
develop prior to April 18, 1911, as a direct or indirect consequence
of the fire.

BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF RELIEF AND RED CROSS FUNDS

To the end that the purposes of the Executive Committee, as above
described, may be carefully and thoroughly executed, there is hereby
created a Board of Trustees of Relief and Red Cross Funds. This Board
shall consist of five members as follows: F. W. Dohrmann, Oscar K.
Cushing, D. O. Crowley, John A. Emery, A. Haas.

The existence of the Board shall terminate when its duties are
completed, but in any event not later than April 18, 1911. The Board
shall have power to fill vacancies in its membership, subject to the
approval of the Executive Committee and of the National Director of
the American National Red Cross. The officers shall consist of a
Chairman, Vice-Chairman and Treasurer, to be selected by the Board,
and the Board may partition its work into such departments or
subdivisions as will expedite the discharge of its duties and increase
its efficiency. Authority is hereby given the Board to defray from
the fund in its hands, all the expenses necessary to the proper
discharge of its trusts.

DUTIES OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES

The entire General Relief Fund remaining after the deduction of the
amounts specifically appropriated as above described, shall be paid to
the Board of Trustees by them to be expended at their discretion in
such a manner and under such conditions as will strengthen the
regular, organized, charitable and philanthropic agencies of the City
of San Francisco.

In making grants to charitable organizations, the Board of Trustees
may prescribe conditions which will safeguard the fund and assure its
careful and proper expenditure. Every organization to which a grant is
made, shall be required to submit vouchers to the Board of Trustees
for all money expended.

The Board of Trustees shall fix the conditions under which specific
grants shall be made, as above provided, to St. Luke’s Hospital, The
Children’s Hospital, Roman Catholic Organizations, Jewish
Organizations, German Organizations, such hospitals and kindred
institutions as the Board itself is empowered to select.

It is expressly provided, however, that all grants to hospitals or
kindred institutions are to be conditioned upon a return, by the
institutions, of free service to the poor, of value equivalent to the
amounts of the grants. Within this requirement, the Board is to have
full discretion.

All current appropriations for individuals made in trust to the
Associated Charities are hereby made subject to the Board of Trustees
precisely as they were subject to the Rehabilitation Committee prior
to February 1, 1909.

If the trust herein created is not terminated prior to April 1, 1911
the Board of Trustees, between April 1 and April 18, 1911, shall
select organizations eligible under the terms of this trust, and allot
to them in such sums and upon such conditions as it may determine, the
entire amount of money remaining unappropriated in its hands.
Provided, that any grant to a hospital or kindred institution shall be
conditioned upon a return by the institution of free service to the
poor of value equivalent to the amount of the grant.

Upon the termination of the trust, the Board shall make a full report
of its operations and disbursements to the Executive Committee, and to
the American National Red Cross, and the records and papers of the
Board shall be turned over to the American National Red Cross for
preservation in its archives.

Both executive committees adopted along with this plan the following agreement:

The American National Red Cross hereby agrees to forward to the Board
of Trustees of Relief and Red Cross Funds the sum of $100,000 on or
before March 1, 1909. This agreement is supplementary to the
resolution of the Executive Committee of San Francisco Relief and Red
Cross Funds, a Corporation, adopted February 4th, 1909, and will be
without effect if said resolutions are rescinded or modified.

It is understood that the balance of the unreserved principal of the
Relief Fund, remaining in the hands of the American National Red
Cross, after the payment of the amounts herein specified, shall be
held subject to such final disposition as the circumstances warrant.

This agreement before becoming effective shall be confirmed by the
Central Committee of the American National Red Cross.

On February 4, 1909, the Rehabilitation Committee, at that time consisting of the men who had just been designated members of the Board of Trustees, met for the last time and listened to the resolution of the Executive Committee quoted above. After directing the Treasurer to return to the general funds all unexpended balances then in its hands, the committee adjourned _sine die_. On the same day they met as the Board of Trustees of Relief and Red Cross Funds and organized by the election of

Chairman, F. W. Dohrmann
Vice Chairman, Oscar K. Cushing
Treasurer, A. Haas

At the second meeting, February 12, the following committees were appointed.

Committee I Care of the Sick, F. W. Dohrmann, Chairman
Rev. D. O. Crowley
Committee II General Relief, Oscar K. Cushing, Chairman
Rev. J. A. Emery
Committee III Housing and Sanitation, Rev. D. O. Crowley
Committee IV Accounts, A. Haas

9

LIST OF OFFICIAL CAMPS