The morning call., 1893-03-18
THEY WILL MOVE.
The Merchants Club New
Headquarters.
WILL OCCUPY THREE FLOORS
Upper Stories of the New Mutual Life
Building on California Street
Leased.

Within few months another one OF San
Franchises clubs VIII leave its old quarters
and move into more capacl0us and elegant
new apartments.
The Merchants Club, a unique associa-
ton, differing IN many respects from all the
other clubs, has leased the three upper
floors of the Mutual Life Insurance build
ing, now being constructed Cd the southeast
corner of Sansome and California streets,
and expects to occupy them early in June.
The Merchants CLUB was organized In
1887. as an Institution for the association Of
gentlemen Of business pursuits.
Arthur R. Briggs was the first president,
with F. 5. johnson as yice-president, 3. f.
Stone as trg asurer. and E. Z. Potter as sec
rotary. William Haas and w. +, Beck were
the directors.
Headquarters were fitted up on the south
west corner of Battery and California
streets. and there the club has been located
ever since, being. however, only lunch
rendezvous for downtown business men
who. tired of restaurant cuisine, wanted
resort OF their own 10 eat their noon repaSt
No expense was spared in securing the
best caterers and chefs, and Tor the six
years the club has been in existence lis
of perfection in that line.
The membership, which originally was
less than 100, has since increased to three
times that number, and during the midday
hours all the merchant princes from the
commercial district assemble daily in the
clubs dining-room.
On rare occasions distinguished visitors
were entertained at luncheon by the club
Warner Miller being the last one of its
guests, but at no time has the organization
~, oil 70 ha in .foI,
The recent ten dency of the uptown clubs
to move still further away from the bust
ness quarters has started the movement
among the members of the Merchants
Club, which resulted in their decision to
branch out and to improve their downtown
institution.
There are a large number of Insurance
men, bankers, merchants and bOokkeepers
who are quite frequently compelled TO pore
many night hours over their ledgers, and
they find il very inconvenient 10 have their
clubs far uptown and their homes still fur
Their distant. While they gladly would rest
an hour or two from their lab0rs and eat
their dinners near by. there is only the hotel
or the restaurant for them to 20 to-, and
they do not like to frequent any Of these
places.
So they made up their mind TO have e
great, fine elegant home all 10 themselves
and the leasing of the seventh. eighth and
ninth floors OF the Mutual Lille building Is
the result.
On the seventh floor there viii be
bliiard-rOOm, cardrOOms, reading-room,
buffet. private dlning-rO0m and pantry.
The biiliard-ToOm will have a polished
oak floor, the halls will be marble-tiled the
msntels of polished marble, and the Wains-
cOting of the same material.
The eighth floor Will contain a perfect
dream OF an ideal diDing-rOOm, designed
and fitted up after many consultations and
deliberations of the members with the
architect, Clinton Day.
1t viii undoubtedly be the most perfect
room Of that kind in the city.
Its dimensions are 4lX60 feet, and IL will
easily accommodate $50 people at one time
1t is surrounded on three sides with large
windows, from which views of FIVE counties
and the Pacific Ocean can be had.
Large O.d-fashiuDed replaces, ready TO
receive logs six feet long, and an elegant
sidebOard of carved oak 50 feet long, reach
ing from floor to ceiling, will be attractive
features If this room.
The members of the club are already
engaged in friendly contest for what each
considers the choicest location for his table
in the new dining-ro0m.
On Inc same floor there are smaller rooms,
used as Waltng-roOms, hatrooms, pantrles,
iayatories, etc.
The upper or ninth floor, which is called
blind floor, because its existence Is not sus-
pected when the building is viewed from
the outside, is entirely devoted to the work
ing department.
There The kitchen, storage-rooms. Iaun-
dry, bathrooms and bedrooms for employees
are located.
In its new quarters the Merchants Club
VIII serve breakfasts and dinners as well
as lunches TO Its members, ana even late
suppers fof the tired late workers will be at
their service.
a large number Of attorneys, whose Of
mes are located 10 the vicinity, have already
declared their Intention To ioin the orgauiza
IOn as soon as the club Will have Quarters
large enough to accommodate an increased
memoeTshlp, and there are great times
ahead Tor the modest institution one has
heard so little about in the past
Inc chief executive officer of the club is
me secretary, who has permanent Office
III tne building now occupied and will have
much inner one in the new home
II Is lie who handles all the business of
the club. attends to all collections and paw
mems and Is the head and center of the
concern.
For several years after E. E. Potter re-
SBDeu 1nOmaS j. Haynes, who is now the
secretary Of the Traffic Association and of
the Chamber Of Commerce. flled that i'm
poTtant position In the Merchants Club.
BUT ABOUT year ago, his other duties re-
curing too much Of his time, he resigned,
ana w; T. EFzgraber, who mas been MIR.
Haynes assistant succeeded him,
Under Mr.. Erzgraber's guidance the me-
EQUATIONS for The fitting uD of the new
rooms are now being carried on and for
several months he viii be an extremely
busy man.
The cuisine of the club is under the man.
the Bohemian Club
Inc present officers Of the club are: w.
b. harrington, president; c. o. Alexander
Ylce-president; Mendel Esberg. trpasnrer.
olrectors-H ID. Laidlaw and C. w. COburn'