eady here prefer to live on the generosity of others. Chief Dinan has
determined that those who apply for relief and refuse work when it
is offered them shall leave the city or be arrested for vagrancy. The
police judges have suggested establishing a chain gang and putting all
vagrants and petty offenders at work clearing up the ruins.

Perhaps never in the history of the city has there been so little crime
in San Francisco. With the saloons closed, Chinatown, the Barbary Coast,
and other haunts of criminals wiped out, and soldiers and marines on
almost every block in the residence districts, there have been few
crimes of any kind. It is the opinion of the police that most of the
criminal element has left the city. The saloons, in all probability will
remain closed for two more months.

THE PROBLEM OF THE CHINESE.

In conclusion of this chapter it is advisable to refer to the situation
of one of the elements of San Francisco's population, the people of
Chinatown. One of the problems facing the relief committees on both
sides of the bay is the sheltering of the Chinese. Many of them are
destitute. It has long been a question in San Francisco what should be
done with Chinatown, and moving the Chinese in the direction of Colma
has been agitated. Now they are without homes and without prospects of
procuring any. They can get no land. The limits of Oakland's Chinatown
have already been extended, and the strictest police regulations are in
force to prevent further enlargement. On this side of the bay they are
camping in open lots. Unless the government undertakes their relief,
they are in grave danger. Those who have money cannot purchase property,
as no one will sell to them. Few, however, even of the wealthiest
merchants in Chinatown, saved anything of value, for their wealth was
invested in the Oriental village which had sprung up in the heart of the
area burned.

Yet it is the desire of the municipality not to harass this portion of
its foreign population, and the vexatious problem of placing the new
Chinatown will probably be settled to the satisfaction of the Chinese
colony. This colony diverts an important part of the trade of San
Francisco to that city, and if its members are dealt with unjustly there
is danger of losing this trade. The question is one that must be left
for the future to decide, but no doubt care will be taken that a new
Chinatown with the unsavory conditions of the old shall not arise.