Early in June we made arrangements to vacate our quarters in Oakland in
the Blake and Moffitt Building, and on the 5th of that month the
California was moved to an office in San Francisco. This was a temporary
frame structure erected on identically the same site which the company
had occupied prior to the fire, and where the magnificent new skyscraper
known as the "Newhall" Building now stands. As things go now, it was not
much of an office either as to style or appearance, but it was roomy,
light, well ventilated and comfortable and in every respect preferable
to the two crowded rooms that had so hospitably housed us in Oakland.
The return to San Francisco heartened us. The daily trip from the city
to Oakland and return had been a hardship, in addition to the time lost
when every minute was too precious to be wasted. Less time was lost in
crossing the bay than in getting to and from the Ferry. The street cars
were not in operation and I was compelled daily to make the walk over
the hills and through the ruins threading my way through the ashes and
over brick piles a distance of quite two miles, from my home to the
water front. This twice a day for six days a week, and often seven, was
exhausting in the extreme, so the wear was not altogether mental. The
thought was very often in my mind that I had about the most trying job
of anyone in the business. Other managers seemed to me to be paying very
little attention, if any, to the detail of settling claims and, of
course, had nothing whatever to do with providing the sinews of war.
They were fortunate in being able to pursue the even tenor of their way,
their entire business and time being occupied with current routine, just
as if nothing of an extraordinary nature had happened. This condition
arose from the fact that the companies in the East hurried to San
Francisco and Oakland all the adjusters, both near and alleged, that
they could obtain from any portion of the United States and a few from
abroad, in order that the losses might be promptly taken care of. The
home offices saw to it that the funds were provided. The special agents
and field men of these offices were not disturbed in their usual work
and were rarely, if ever, made use of at headquarters to make
adjustments. With the California it was quite different. Our entire
field force was called in and promptly clothed with authority to adjust.
This left our agency plant entirely unprotected as to cultivation.
Financially, we were in such a crippled condition that we felt we could
not afford the expense of employing independent adjusters. These were a
luxury in any event and some of them, alas, would have been dear at any
price. The thought often comes that perhaps this policy was poor
economics. This was a golden opportunity for representatives of the
"dollar-for-dollar" companies to secure valuable agents, as carrying
capacity was in large demand to replace those companies that had either
failed or made unsatisfactory loss settlements. That there was an
abundance of the latter admits of no dispute. Possibly, we might not at
that time have been able to secure many of these valuable connections,
even if we had had the field force requisite for the required technical
work, for the reason that doubts were still expressed as to our ability
to fulfill our promises.