The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-08-04

~ LANS for the reception OF the
- homecoming California volun-
teers are under full Roadway.
In addition to the labors already
undertaken to that end by the Native
Sons and Native Daughters and rela
tives of the Fighting First, the Citi-
zens' Executive Committee is to make
things more in the direction of gen
eraI public decoration.
Invitations were sent out yester-
day by the executive committee to
about three hundred of the leading
merchants and professional men of
the city, requesting them to meet
with the committee and help it form
a general citizens committee to
finance the welcome. This meeting
will be held at o'clock this after
noon in Judge Carroll Cooks cham
bers at the City Hall, when, it is ex-
pected. the way will be pointed out
to raise the $4,000 deemed necessary
for a proper reception to the soldier
sons of the city and State.
The committee on decoration, of
which w. J. Martin is chairman, held
a meeting yesterday afternoon at
which it was decided to report to the
executive committee a general plan
for the illumination of the city on the
night of the volunteers return. This
plan is a striking and original one
and contemplates the employment of
electric lights by the tens of thou
sands. It is proposed to outline the
ferry depot and tower with number
less incandescent lamps, to do like
wise with the dome and south front
of the City Hall facing Market street:
to span that great. thoroughfare with
festoons of many colored incandes-
cents, so numerously strung as to
make a continuous archway of light
from the ferries to Van Ness avenue.
In addition, a dome of light to cover
the open space at the junction of
Geary, Kearny, Market and Third
streets is contemplated. It will have
all the significance, none of the trite-
ness and ten times the attractiveness
of the stereotyped triumphal arch.
The committee decided also to call
upon the residents and business men
ination by displays of lights in their
windows, candles and lanterns or in
candescent lamps. It may also de-
termine upon red fire Examinations
on Telegraph Hill and Twin Peaks, in
addition to displays of fireworks.
What daytime display the decora-
ton committee may agree upon has
not been settled, but one thing is GER
tain and that is it is opposed to the
indiscriminate stringing of any old
kind of bunting along or across the
streets, and will request the mer-
chants and householders of the city
to conform as far as possible with its
idea, which is that any decorations
other. than flags will obscure the cleo
trical display.
While the decoration committee
was in session it received a cable
gram from Colonel Duboce, at Maya
saki, Japan, announcing that the
boys were all well and sightseeing in
that vicinity. He said they would
arrange matters so as to reach the
Farallones at noon of whatever day
it might happen to be.
The theatrical managers commit
tee also met yesterday and decided
that their energies would best be bent
in the direction of one grand benefit
in which all the theaters could take
part. It will be given Thursday. Au-
gust II, from 1890 p. m. to p. M,
at the Orpheum. The best talent in
the city-and there is enough and to
Ocean Water Tub Baths.