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EIGHTY-FIVE MILES
There were just 85 miles of streets obstructed by debris as a result of the tornado. All of the streets were cleaned up in 10 days. In St. Louis there are 480 miles of improved streets, so it can be seen to what extent the tornado interrupted traffic. The storm district, on its outside lines, extended from the river on the east to Tower Grove avenue on the west, and from Olive street on the north to Lynch street on the south. The extreme limits were three miles east and west and two miles north and south. An adequate idea of the damage can be formed when it is stated that if all the houses damaged and blown down were on both sides of one street, that street would just be 85 miles long. This figure is given by the Street Commissioner, who has been through the entire district, and from the reports of his general superintendent, who has cut a roadway through the 85 miles of streets. In addition to this, there were many more streets obstructed by wires and the like, which are not counted in the total as the obstruction was but slight. These streets were cleaned up roughly the first day. It took just threedays to cut out a passage through the debris so that traffic could be resumed. As 1, 000 men were employed at this work, the magnitude of the task can be realized. There are 90 alleys obstructed. These alleys represent about 20 miles. The street gangs are now engaged in cutting a passage way through these alleys. It is a very difficult task, as in some of them there are three and four feet of brick and other debris. The work of repairing and rebuilding in the wrecked district was pushed as rapidly as possible. The force of the Building Inspector's office worked with all its vim to see that unsafe buildings are properly and promptly repaired. No permit to reconstruct or repair demanded. The inspectors were simply seeing that the work is done substantially and safely. No one was asked to show a permit. Official red tape was tabooed.
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