. After earthquake and fire . d the condoning of dishon-est contractors. On the other hand, the structures erected by the FederalGovernment have proved their stability and the fact that theywere in some cases provided with an artesian water supplyalso indicates a rare good sense. To these factors the com-munity owes the inestimable good fortune of still possessinga post-office and a mint that can play their necessary part inclearing the confusion of business caused by the recent catas-trophe. But there are many other buildings that exemplifythe results of good work well done. Most of the tall
. After earthquake and fire . d the condoning of dishon-est contractors. On the other hand, the structures erected by the FederalGovernment have proved their stability and the fact that theywere in some cases provided with an artesian water supplyalso indicates a rare good sense. To these factors the com-munity owes the inestimable good fortune of still possessinga post-office and a mint that can play their necessary part inclearing the confusion of business caused by the recent catas-trophe. But there are many other buildings that exemplifythe results of good work well done. Most of the tall officebuildings, constructed of steel and erected on proper founda-tions of steel and concrete, have stood the test and will becomethe nucleus of a new hive of industrial life. Among these, thebig Call building stands pre-eminent. To most men it hadoften suggested the question of safety during an earthquakeand of all the proud sky-scrapers it seemed the one that mostwantonly braved such a peril. It is sixteen stories high and. The Call or Claus Spreckels Building. 84 AFTER EARTHQUAKE AND FIRE. is surmounted by a big dome that contains three floors a base 75 feet square, it is 300 feet high. Observers havespoken of telegraph poles that swayed wildly and that bentlike a reed in the wind; what must have been the swing atthe top of that great tower of steel and stone? Nevertheless,there it stands, unscathed, without a visible crack, devastatedby the flame but triumphant over the temblor. Let us feelashamed of the sordid dishonesty of the men who built theCity Hall, but we can well afford to be proud of the scientificknowledge and the honest handiwork that dared—and yet notunwisely—to erect that splendid structure, which looks downtoday over a world of ruin and inspires the people of SanFrancisco to the proper recognition of the value of good build-ing construction. Look at this picture and on that! Lookdown on the ruins of the City Hall and look up to the Callbuilding
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, bookidafterearthqu, bookyear1906
