p. 16 | Signs of the Times, Vol. 32, No. 20. (5/23/1906)

Earlier text: SOME DISASTERS OF THE PRESENT YEAR

Is It Safe to Build Here?

By Editor

Yes, we believe it to be as safe to build in California, in the earthquake-devastated district, as in New York, or Michigan, or Nebraska, or Texas, or any place on this earth. We would as soon meet an earthquake as a cyclone, and of the two would choose the former. From a worldly view we would as soon invest in California as in Illinois. There is no more security against earthquakes in New York or Chicago than in San Francisco so far as we or any other soul knows; the shock may come elsewhere next. We have no desire to move East unless God calls there; and where duty lies is the safest place on earth.

We have no more fear for the West than for the East; our hope, thank God, is based on a better Foundation, reaching to the better land, the better country, the city of God. When this sin-laden earth shall melt at the holy presence of her Maker, we will want, dear reader, a better foundation. If we have it then, we must obtain it now. All that is of God will endure in that day; all that is sinful and selfish will perish. "Occupy till I come," are the words of the Master, and God wants us to use this world as not abusing it; but let us not fix our hopes here. He only builds surely who in Christ Jesus builds righteous character for eternity.

Worldwide Disasters and Their Losses

By Editor

Supplementing our casualty list, on page 13, we record a great and destructive fire April 30 in Fez, Morocco; May 8 earthquake shocks in Connecticut and Scotland, showing no part of the earth to be exempt; and April 26 a fearful tornado swept over Clay County, Texas, destroying the towns of Bellevue and Stoneburg. Many were killed and wounded and the property loss was very heavy. Earthquakes are by far not the only peril to which the inhabitants of this world are subject. May 7 a cable despatch from China tells of vast floods and hundreds drowned.

It is utterly impossible to estimate the loss of lives or property in these disasters. Roughly the following figures may be given, not attempting to include the late earthquake on the Pacific Coast, for as yet the figures can not be secured:

	Loss of life	Loss of property
Earthquakes	15,000	$100,000,000
Fires		600,000,000
Accidents	5,000	100,000
Tornado	19	1,000,000
Volcano	No estimate	No estimate
Disease, Famine	" "	" "

FIRST EDITION 400,000

By Editor

SECOND EDITION—MORE MATTER

NEW ILLUSTRATIONS—UP-TO-DATE

Notice to Recipients of the Signs

By Editor

We send no papers from this office to individuals without pay in advance. When persons receive copies without ordering them, they are sent by other parties, and we can give no information in regard to them. Persons thus receiving copies of the "Signs" are not indebted to the office, and will not be called upon to pay for them. Please read the papers you may receive, and hand them to your friends to read.

To Our Subscribers

By Editor

To Our Subscribers.—We are sorry, and humbly confess our failure. We omitted our paper for May 16. We are sending out the second edition of our Earthquake Special for May 23. May 30 and on will be regular numbers till our next great special on some great subject. Please forgive us our failure. We know you would if you could have been here and have seen what we are trying to do. We hope to make the paper more than enough better to make up for the one omitted.

Santa Rosa After the Earthquake

Santa Rosa—the City of Roses—the capital of Sonoma County, is the worst sufferer of all. Fire followed earthquake and burned over a part of the town, but the fire loss was very small compared with the work of the earthquake. Brick buildings were shaken till not a semblance of a wall was left. Even small frame structures suffered the same fate. When we visited it May 1, the one hundred and second body had been taken out of the wreck, and others still were thought to be buried in the débris.

Books Advertised.

By Editor

Read of them on page 15. The earthquake is only one of the Heralds of the Morning; there are many others. Obtain the testimony of the others. You need also "The Great Controversy." It will help you to understand the reasons why calamities exist or are allowed to come. It is intensely interesting. "Daniel and the Revelation" is full of precious instruction. Send, too, for the pamphlet, "The Seven Churches and the Seven Seals." It shows how God's voice is calling to men through all the calamities of earth. Price 15 cents. Address, Pacific Press, Mountain View, Cal.

San Francisco’s Loss of Life

By Editor

Loss of life in San Francisco has been minimized. We presume to say that the so-called "official" report of General Greely—358 the last we noted—is nearer one-fourth or one-fifth of the true record. The individual accounts given by the reporters, and seemingly well authenticated, will reach over 1,000, and Coroner Walsh is reported as declaring that the number of the dead will reach from 1,000 to 2,000. There were many remarkable escapes—escapes where the good hand of God was clearly manifest; but many were crushed or imprisoned when the great temblor wrecked San Francisco, some to be incinerated by the fierce heat which followed, intense enough to melt the inside of "fire-proof" vaults and safes; solid granite pillars and curb stones, sometimes scores of feet away from any actually consuming thing, were cracked and peeled by the fierce heat of the atmosphere in that furnace of hell. Forty miles south of San Francisco the temperature became torrid as the fierce heat of the city augmented the balmy, mild temperature of the sun. No one knows how many bodies were utterly consumed by this fearful furnace.

Our Institutions in San Francisco

Our Institutions in San Francisco.—The Vegetarian Café, the Health Food Store, and the Branch Sanitarium were all burned, and the loss is estimated at $13,000. The first named had insurance to the amount of $3,500; the second, $2,000; the Branch Sanitarium was not insured. If the companies can pay, the loss will not be so heavy by several thousand. The loss of a good business is much. The Vegetarian stood the shock well, and served meals for two or three hours after the earthquake until driven out by the fire.

Views of the Earthquake.

By Editor

If any among the readers of this paper wish to procure views of the earthquake, with description of each illustration, printed on heavy coated paper, let them send twenty-five cents to the SIGNS OF THE TIMES, Mountain View, Cal. The book is now in preparation, delayed a little by this Special.

Price of This Number

By Editor

Price of This Number.—In less than thousand lots 3 cents a copy; to single names and addresses at the same rate; in lots of 1,000 or more to one name and address 2½ cents each. Address SIGNS OF THE TIMES, Mountain View, Cal.

Appeal for the Publishing House

By Editor

We are of good courage. Our publishing house has lost from $20,000 to $25,000 or more. It is serious, and if any wish to help this institution of the Lord's work it will be gratefully received and economically expended.

Our Departments.

By Editor

The SIGNS OF THE TIMES has each week excellent Home, Outlook, and Missions departments. These we have sacrificed ad libitum to tell our readers of the most absorbing topic of interest now before the people of this country.

Ames on Forgery

The book called "Ames on Forgery," advertised on page 13, is for lawyers and expert writers and more. It is of great interest to all readers.

San Francisco's Magnificent City Hall, which cost Six Million Dollars, as it appeared before the Earthquake. The lower picture shows it in ruins.

A view from the ferry-boat Berkeley on its way from Oakland to San Francisco, taken the morning of the earthquake when the fire had well started. The tall tower is the center of the Ferry Building, the fire tug at the right.

A view showing the power of the earthquake in front of the new Post Office Building, Seventh and Mission Streets. This street was previously level. The new Post Office Building was not greatly injured.