operation between the Governor, the Mayor, this committee, the army and the Red Cross We will communicate with you from time to time as to the supplies most needed. We suggest the fund be credited with articles not needed, as certain quantities of tents and blankets, and that so far as practicable you expend funds in California to avoid the transportation cost and to circulate money where it is most needed for rehabilitation of business.
Cash actually on hand is less than $900,000, with drafts in process of collection of which we will report further. Will also advise you as to respective use of money at earliest possible moment. Meanwhile desire to say that we are entering a period of unprecedented privation. The assessable value of the city's property will be reduced by about two hundred million and the ability of the city government to maintain its institutions will be correspondingly decreased. Charitable institutions and hospitals depending on private contributions, paid patients and like sources of revenue are in absolute need, and those which have no endowment will be charges on us. In many institutions their buildings are destroyed. The poor, the old and young create a dependent class, which is augmented by the unemployed and certain classes of persons doing clerical work and engaged in domestic services. They will have to wait for the restoration of business houses and homes. The city with all its agencies has been destroyed and its manifold activities paralyzed. By limited rations to women and children as a measure of restoring business, the men will be required to seek work, of which there is much of a rough character in cleaning up the city and repairing it for reconstruction.
Apart from shelter, food and clothing, efforts will be made to restore the worthy to their employment. Dr. Devine [of the Red Cross] and the committee are so engaged in the important work of systematic relief that these questions, becoming more necessary of solution every day, have not as yet been carefully worked out. We will be pleased to keep you fully advised in order that you may wisely direct the expenditure of your fund in your keeping.
JAMES D. PHELAN, Chairman.
Return to the 1906 Earthquake and Fire Exhibit.