The herald., 1896-04-01
THE ADAMS STREET HOTEL
ITS ERECTION AN IMPETUS IN CON.
TlNUED CITY DEVELOPMENT
A Prominent Citizen Who Comes Prom San
Jose and Who Knows How Similar En-.
terprise Worked EIsewhere-Expsr iencc
Teaches Its Value to the City

DR.. J. S. Potts of this city, who recently
left San Jose after 21 years' residence
there, is a gentleman of wide acquaintance
with the interests of the Pacific coast and
OF particular experience in hotel erection.
The magnificent Vendome hotel of San
Jose stands as an evidence OF the pluck
and foresight of a handful of mon headed
by DR.. Potts, who supplied in 1885 the
large sum of money required for it's erec
ton. Speaking to representative Of The
HERALD regarding the proposed tourist
hotel on Adams street yesterday, he said:
"The erection of frst-class tourist hotel
in this city has been already too long de-
layed. 1t is matter of surprise to me
that so needful and profitable an access
sorry of this city's development has not
been supplied. My experience at San Jose
convinces me that tourist hotel in Los
Angeles upon plans and proportions equal
to the Ponce de Leon of st. Augustine,
Fla, would result in more lasting benefit
to the city than any other public enterprise
now contemplated"
Speaking Of the vendome, at San Jose,
DIR. Potts said: I'VE set on foot the accum-
ulation of a fund for the erection of that
hotel in 1888, just at a time when that
city was beginning to feel this damaging
effect of the collapse of the real estate
boom. The town then had population of
$4,000. and internal improvements, both
public and private, we're at o standstill.
The money was raised by popular SUBJ
scription, as you are endeavoring TO do in
this city, and the plan contemplated from
the first was the erection of q thoroughly
first-class tourist hotel. The site selected
was like the Adams-street tract particularly
advantageous, just enough removed from
the center OF commercial activity to
secure that rest and repose that
California tourists from the cast come
out here to get. The Vendome was
built by subscription from the ground
up, and with the beginning to erect it. ac.
tivities of all kinds in the city began to look
up. and the result was a rapid enhance
ment OF real estate values in every part of
the city, and, in particular, the part sur
rounding the site. Residence building, of
high order, followed at once, and the
mercantile establishments of the city real
lied an increase of business from the gen-
erous expenditures of wealthy tourists who
made tine Vendone their stopping place.
~ regard the urgency of the need of such
hotel in Los Angeles as being even
greater at this time than it was in San Jose
in 1886. This city is now and will con-
tInt!e to be the commercial and tourist CEN
ter of California. Thousands of merchants
and professional men, like myself, are
finding that the rigorous climate of the
north coast, the eastern and central states.
is too severe for safety or comfort. They
are finding that Los Angeles has climate
that is ideal and that it offers the best
promise of prolonged life and continued
enjoyment of any cline upon the conti-
nent. Naturally they turn to this city as
their objoctive point, and thus the obliga-
tions of hospitality and of self-preserva.
ton combine in demanding first-class
tourist hotel in this city. They are willing
to put up their money freely for the ac-
commodations offered.
! "Another consideration of importance in
this connection ia tine influence which such
an enterprise. would have in advancing the
price of real estate and In the continued
building up of fine residences adjacent to
the site. This result would follow from
that acquaintance with the social, financial
and climatic advantages which would be
gained by housing wealthy tourists in this
city as they are now accommodated at
Pasadena, st. Augustine and other points,
| AS it is now the tourist of the east passes
through Les Angeles without even stopping
| for meal, locates in one of our suburban
hostelries with his family, becomes enam-
cured of the genial climate and builds q
| palatial home. In this way score of small
towns, all competitors of this city, are being
| built up about us in Southern California.
| "Finally. it ia not creditable to this city
| that it must be said abroad that it COM
mands the greatest tourist region upon the
continent and yet has not q tourist hotel
worthy of the name. The enterprising
spirit of the city is challenged by the stua-
/ ton. The pride of the city is at stake, and
any failure to meet the present urgent de-
mand is both humilia ing and damaging"
| "Profits? Well, as to the probable
profit of the enterprise, | can only say that
opened and has been profitable invest
rnent from the first. I do not doubt SIM
liar enterprise in this city would have a
like experience