Revised Estimates Put Jewish Property Losses in Detroit at $50 Million

Revised estimates today of Jewish property losses in the rioting that devastated this city during the past three days put the total at $50,000,000 out of overall losses in the city that may range as high as one billion dollars.

A survey today indicated that many stores and shops in outlying areas of the city had been looted and burned and that damage had been suffered in wider areas than had been known yesterday.

A wholesaler serving the 12th Street downtown area, once the Jewish ghetto, said today that 30 Jewish merchants in the area whom he supplied had been completely wiped out, their stores gutted and their stocks looted. None of their loss was covered by insurance since the underwriters have refused for some time to offer coverage in that area.

Victims of the disturbances included a number of aged Jews who had continued to reside in the formerly Jewish Dexter district. This section was heavily damaged in the rioting and these elderly Jews were left without food or the means of getting it. Employes of the Jewish Community Center, the Jewish Family and Children’s Service and Yeshiva Beth Yahuda prepared packages of groceries today — a three-day food supply — for distribution to these people.

A drop-off station for clothing, non-perishable foods and other supplies for victims of the disorders was set up at the Jewish Center at Curtis and Myers. Staff members of the Jewish agencies did volunteer service again today at the downtown interfaith emergency center set up by the Jewish Community Council, the Archdiocese of Detroit and the Protestant Council of Churches to advise and assist the riot victims.

None of the Jewish community buildings was damaged in the conflagrations or by mob action and all Jewish community offices were open and functioning today. Programs in the Jewish community centers, suspended for two days, were resumed today.