The San Francisco call., 1906-05-12
CHINESE
MINISTER
IS COMING
Matter OF Locating New
ASidtiC Quarter Is
Postponed.
Committee Decides to
Await Arrival OF
Diplomat.
Opposes OrientdIS' Plan to
Rebuild on the
Old Sites.

The matter Of finding suitable site
for the Chinese, whose district was
wiped out by the fire, will remain in
allegiance until the Chinese Minister
at Washington arrives in the city and
looks over the situation. This was
decided yesterday at a meeting OF the
reconstruction committees sub-com-
mittee on the permanent location Of
Chinatown. His Imperial Majesty's
highest representative in this country
will reach the city on the 18th inst,
and will be enlightened Immediately
as to what steps are being taken to
satisfactorily locate his countrymen in
this city.
The subcommittee, Of which A.
Ruef is chairman, met yesterday morn
ing. Mr. Ruef informed the other
members of the committee that the
Chinese property owners, merchants
and others had held a, meeting. at
which they had determined to rebuild
on the old Chinatown site and that
they were resolutely opposed to Hunt
ers Point or any other proposed place
for new Chinese district.
1.-The Hunters Point SITE" said Mr..
Ruef, ''is ideal for the Asiatics. 1t Is
close to the water and easily acces-
sible from Market street. An Orien-
tai city, unsurpassed by anything like
it in the United States, could be built
there. 1t could be most picturesque
and as attractive and interesting to
tourists as was the old quarter But
the Chinese don't want 1t. Their lead
ing merchants are anxious to be in
close touch with the white merchants
and seem determined to get back to the
former district. It is now the sense of
this committee, however, as it has been
since the beginning, that the Chinese
must be located elsewhere. They must
not go back to Chinatown"
The other members of the committee
stated their approval of the views ex-
pressed by the chairman.
After a brief discussion it was de-
cided to recommend the following new
site to the general committee: East of
Sansome street to Front and north
from Pacific to the bay. Chairman
Ruef said this was one Of the very
best locations that could be offered
to the Chinese. and that it possessed
all the advantages that the Orientals
could desire for carrying on their va
rious business enterprises. Ruefs
motion to make this recommendation
was carried unanimously.
After Ruef had made his report
to the general committee former
Mayor Phelan, who is one Of the mem
bers of the sub-committee, announced
that he could not attach his signature
to the report in view Of the fact that
there had been a misunderstanding
as to when and where the committee
was holding its meetings. and he had
not been present when it was decided
to make the foregoing recommendation.
The Mayor thsreupon suggested that
the committee meet again after the
adjournment OF the general committee,
when all the members could attend.
The Mayors suggestion was accepted
by the subcommittee, which met later
with Phelan, Benjamin Ide Wheeler
and all the other members in attend
ance. 1t was at this meeting that the
coming Of the Chinese Minister was
announced, and the decision reached
to postpone the matter Of a new loca-
ton for the Chinese until after the
arrival of that diplomat In the city.
n.