The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1870-06-04
San Francisco Correspondence.
PER sTEAMER ssAJAx.'
SAN FRANcIsco, May 10th, 1870.
The Grand Hotel.

Inns III eulICe, U II N1aThel SlFSet, AIOhlLnS NNOh1-
gomery, is now ready for the accommodation of
guests, although not yet entirely finished. The most
eligible rooms have been permanently engaged by
regular boarders, the Grand succeeding the Lick as
the principal family hotel of the city, partly because
Mr.. johnson, late of the Lick, is now principal pro-
prietOr and Mr.. W. p. Ridgeway, superintendent, of
the Grand. The rooms in the new house are not
large nor particularly well arranged but from the
entire freedom of this building from connection with
others, the ventilation is excellent. The dining hall
is q moderately attractive room-as a business VEN
ture it seems plausible that a room equalling to if
not excelling the famous Lick House dining-room,
(Which, report says, is to be further beautified by a
fountain, and Canary birds suspended in cages,)
would have been a judicious investment. The car
riages imported for the use of guests are models Of
elegance. The entire cost of the hotel is $45O,O00.
The BuHetia has the following about this new hotel
A more favorable site for a hotel could not have
been selected within the corporate limits. 1t is CEN
trail, convenient to all the steamer and ferry land
ings. The cars of three street railroad companies
pass its doors it has a frontage on three Of the
principal streets the Market street side, i'll par
ticular, has a splendid exposure, n space equivalent
in size to q respectable park, formed by the inter-
section of Montgomery, Post, Market and Second
streets, and it is bounded on each side by a main
street ; the corner of Jessie and Second being the
only part of the entire block which it does not
occupy. Ine DOnulnS IL SO Happiy OCdtcu tndt III
sun shines on every part of 1t Mt some hour OF the
day, an advantage which cannot be too highly priced
in a climate like ours, where shade is scarcely ever
desirable and the warming, drying rays of the sun
are always welcome. The prOprietors Of the hotel,
not satisfied with the advantage in this respect which
the situation of the house afforded, determines to
increase it by an arrangement of spacious bay win
dows on three sides, in every story, and of which
there are about 40. These serve to admit still more
sunlight into the rooms than could be obtained by
an arrangement Of windows set back deep in the
walls.
From the lofty cupola Mt the Montgomery and
NAV be had of the harbor from Vallejo street wharf
to RincOn Point of Goat Island, Rlncon Point,
Mission Bay, Hunters Point and the sheet OF blue
waves beyond the Mission Dolores, MISSION ana
San Bruno mountains, Hayes Valley and Lone
Mountain. A similar fine view is afforded the occu-
pants of most of the rooms in the upper story, ana
cannot be obtained at any other hotel In the city.
This advantage will be highly priced by strangers
coming TO San Francisco from the East and from the
interior of the State. 1t is seldom that hotels are
built in localities which are not circumscribed by
lofty, dingy, dull and forbidding brick walls, but
the guests of the "Grand . are not shut up in such
a place-On every side are light, warmth, space and
free air.
Speaking of hotels, elevators are being introduced
into the Occidental and Cosmopolitan buildings, by
which guests may be whirled to upper flights. The
former hotel, now enlarged and occupying the entire
block fronting ON Montgomery street, between Bush
and Suffer, will probably have the larger share of
the transient trade, finding principal opposition in
the Lick, to be devoted, under Mr.. John a. Lawlor's
experienced management, to the travelling public,
while the Grand and Cosmopolitan will bekspecially
family hotels.
The Mercantile Library Gamble.
A serious cause for anxiety among all interested
in the Mercantile Library, has been the heavy debt
in curred by the erection of the present handsome
l,;I1;,r doUo+o6 10 Sic Tho tructanc blamed
for their lavish Disbursements, now propose a lottery
or series of them, by which the debt may be paid.
A concert is to take place on the lst of September,
and gifts are to be distributed among the people,
prizes to the amount of $500, 600 being offere d.
Two hundred thousand tickets at five dollars are to
be sold, either entire, or in ffths at one dollar, eac b
ticket being eligible to one of the 625 prizes, which
range in value from 800, 900 to 800. The reliable
names attached to the enterprise justify the pre-
sumption that the offers are made in good faith, a
special enactment by the Legislature permits this
scheme, otherwise in direct conflict with the laws o
! the State.
The Lecture Room.
Our people have been much g~ratifed by oppor
tunities to hear MIR. Henry Vincent, the famous
English lecturer, whose earnest demonstrative style
seemed more American than English and whose
e%loquence was truly remarkable. He lectured u nder
the auspices of the Mercantile Library Association.
Mr.. S. NJ. Hewlett, a character delineator followed,
but without success. Now the library puts forth the
Rev. W.. II. Milburn, a blind man, whose reputation
is worldwide. The first lecture, "Wbat a blind
man saw in England, - was delivered last night to n
delighted audience, who thoroughly appreciated it.
Mr.. Milburn's success here is assured.
Brief Mention.
John Savage, the big Fenian, is here.
During last week we had a touch of very warm
weather.
Rev. DIR. Scott has been duly installed pastor Of
st. Johns Presbyterian Church.
The working men, because of no work, are fight
Ing among themselves.
A new bank, called the Merchants Exchange, is
about to be started. The discounts to be divided by
q Board of Directors.
The negroes new voters-are quarreling slightly.
Their accession to the democracy is now only a ques-
ton of time.
Strong-minded women are clamorous. Meetings
every week. Give them rope enough and they will
hang themselves!
Camilla Urso has departed East. We part with
the little lady with a keen sense of obligation for her
well disposed efforts for deserving institutions.
The Pullman Hotel Trains, now despatched twice
a week, are crowded to ~repletion. But the entire
travels not overland, for the Panama steamers con-
tinue to have large passenger lists. at low fares.
The theatres are duh. Stock company at the
California. Mayo, an old favorite, at Maguire's.
SpanIeS ,onera at -bstrppdlltan-not fashionable,
hence poor attendance. .Zaoistowska Sisters, consist
ing of q mother and two d~auEhtela. very popular
being originators here Of g Shoe fly "-FsTy enlven-
ing when well done.
Our billiard community enjoys q moderate excite
ment Of q tournament to decide the championship Of
the STATE. Nh Deery does not contest being superior
as a matter of course - Ill lie aspirants.
A large convention of Distinguish Episcopalians
from all parts of the country, is now in session here.
Excuse me for not having the most remote idea of
what it is all about.
Two hundred Bostonians, in their own Pullman
cars, right from the L" hub,'' and everything "high
toned, > are coming to this city. Inasmuch as we
have adjourned our Legislature and are trying to be
good, why this visitation? What a demand there
will be for small change.
Important movements towards improving our city.
Montgomery street to be extended north, and thus
greatly enhance the value of that part of the town.
A new city hall, on Market street near Seventh,
once a burying ground, will be a nice plum for con-
tractors. And a park will be arranged, located far
beyond Lone Mountain, On the g place beyond the
grave" principle. Taxes will follow. no doubt.