The San Francisco call., 1896-04-24
isiting the southern part of the State for

visiting the southern part of the State for
some two weeks past arrived here yester-
day afternoon. Among them are some of
the leading hotel men of the country.
They are known all over the world. With
the hotel men are about 200 ladies and
children, ,as many of the gentlemen brought
their families along.
The visitors arrived by three special
trains of five cars each. There was one
train from New England, another from
New York and another from Chicago.
These brought many people hundreds of
miles away from the starting point. The
trains carried the best chefs the country
affords, so that there was no stint in the
supplies while en- route. Each train also
carried skilled physician.
No one has been sick during the trip,
however, and there has not been mishap
or accident of any kind. Every station,
on the trip, moreover, has been reached on
time.
All the hotel m en- are united in their
praises of Caiifo rnia and their hospitable
reception. They say they never dreamed
there was such fair land, nor that their
trip would be SO pleasant.
Among the visitors are such eminent
hotel men as Tilley Haynes, proprietor OF
the Broadway Central Hotel, New York,
and the United States Hotel, Boston
Alvin Hubert, proprietor of the fremont
and Great Northern, Chicago; W. H. La
Poin tie, one of the proprietors of Youngs
Hotel. Boston; Simeon Ford of the Grand
Union Hotel. New York, and Jewell
Wilcox of Chicago, superintendent of all
the hotels of the Illinois Central Railroad.
The latter gentleman is an eX-president of
the association. The hotels and eating
houses over which he has charge extend
from Chicago and Sioux City to New Or
leans, or along 2600 miles of road.
"Our reception and what we have seen
has been a continual SURPRISE" said Mr..
Wilcox. From the time we reached Bar
stow we have had continual ovation.
Words won't express 1t. There is no other
country that could do it. And think of it !
No hitch, no accident and right on time
for over three weeks.
with us are delegates from as far east
as Maine, from the north as far as St. Paul
and south to Tampa, Fla, and from ali
between. The entire trip requires thirty
days. We pay ST. a mile for each of our
trains, and raised the money by subscrip-
ton. Some subscribed as much as $3.50
each. Each train has dining-car and a
doctor.
ClilCe leaving bdrStOW the S0QClern
California Hotel Mems Association has
kept all the diners stocked with everything
we desired. The association is keeping it
stocked now. Such generosity is almost
unheard offs
Alvin Hubert, the veteran proprietor of
the old fremont and new Great Northern
hotels at Chicago, had a similar compli-
ment to pay to the Californians. He has
been in Chicago since 1859. He has been
in California before, the last time being in
March. The Great Northern has about
700 rooms. The fremont, though old and
famous, is comparatively small, having
but $50 rooms. The Democratic Conven-
ton is expected to make things very lively
in Chicago for the hotel men, so Mr.. HUI
bert said incidentally.
about this trip and reception" con-
tlnued the long-experienced boniface.
There is nothing like it-an ovation from
first to last. ] wouldn't know how to
describe it, and the weather has been
superb all the way. This is the first rain.
Our people are rather glad it has come.
for we need little rest. The courtesy ex-
tended US, the kindly consideration every
where, has made US marvel"
BENJAMIN II. Yard, the president of the
Mems Mutual Benefit Association of the
United States and Canada, spoke briefly
in the same vein. He is proprietor of the
Monmouth House, Spring Lake Beach, N.
j., a little over an hour and halls ride
from Philadelphia.
I'VE have been deIuged with courtesies
said. "Then committee Of ladies met US