New-York tribune., 1906-07-29
ON THE PACIFIC SLOPE.
Tooo Notable Dinners in Celebration
of Greater San Francisco.

San Francisco July 27-In the dining room
of the st. Francis Hotel two noteworthy din
ners were held this week. One was a gathering
Of the San Francisco Promotion Committee to
celebrate moving into it's quarters in Union
Square. The other an annual dinner of
the San Francisco Merchants Association. at
which Of the notable speakers was Mayor
Schmitz. Only one year ago the Mayor was ig-
nored by the Merchants Association because
some of his municipal acts were regarded by
prominent members of the association as detri-
mental to the city. Since the fire, however, the
Mayor has won golden opinions even from his
old enemies in the Merchants Association. and
cordial invitation was sent to him to be pres
ent. He responded in the spirit of the invita-
ton. and declared that history began with him
with April 49, and he willing to let bygones
be bygOnes. The keynote of all the speeches
was greater San Francisco, which must be
built on the ashes of the old city and built mas
sively and we'll for all time. The speeches in
their optimism and confidence reflect the spirit
that prevails among men of all classes over the
speedy rehabilitation of the city. Even now,
only three months after the calamity, the gem
eraI trade shows only a trifling decrease from
that before the scare. while in many localities
merchants report increased trade. Most of the
wholesale jobbing houses have now obtained
good quarters, and these firms able to re-
The same may be said of large manufacturing
concerns which were put out of business by
the burning Of their plants. Most of these fac
tories have started up again. and the de-
mand is so great for goods that in many cases
an increase Of plant has been found necessary.
The freight congestion in the Southern Pacific
Company's yards became so serious recently
that Julius Kruttschnitt, director of operation
and maintenance of way OF the Hartman roads.
freight be brought to this city until some Of
the 1000 loaded cars were emptied. This order
and the threat that prohibitive storage charges
would be assessed have had no appreciable ef-
feet About LOCO cars are loaded with lumber
and structural steel which has been left in the
yards because the consignees are not ready to
build. 1t is suggested that the Merchants Asso-
citation take up the matter and devise some
means of breaking the blockade, as these cars
now laid up in the freight yards of San Fran
cisco and Oakland will be needed in about two
weeks to ship fresh fruit to the East.
Many plans have been devised for housing
this winter the refugees who are now camped
in tents in the public squares Of the city. One
Of the most practicable plans is suggested by
Alexander MacI1ie, of Michigan, who agrees to
furnish permanent houses of four rooms that
can be laid down here at a cost of only $500
His houses are we'll arranged. and they are so
constructed that nails are not necessary. One
of these houses can be put together by a car
penter and his helper in a single day.
Professor Omaria, the Japanese earthquake
expert, after studying the effects of the great
shock of April is, says the greatest disturbance
was between Point Reys and Point Arena In
this district buildings were completely demol-
ished and great f1ssures in the earth were
opened. He inclines TO the belief that no great
SbO V1yin he felt in
of the present generation. his studies have
shown that after a severe shock the strata set
tie and conditions once more become stable
Tourists are coming to San Francisco from all
parts Of the country, and the United Railroad
Companies is having much trouble to accommo-
date those who desire trolley rides through the
burned district. Special sightseeing cars are
run and are crowded. Although clouds of dust
are blown up by the high winds in the after
noons the spectacle Of a great city rebuilding
on its ruins is which visitors find very in
terestng.
A syndicate this week purchased the Spring
Valley Water Conpany's building at the south
east corner of Geary and Stockton streets for
S5000OO The building be put in good condi-
ton for 100000. Real estate experts regard
this purchase as great bargain. The property
is one of the choicest IN the business district
About one-third of Suissina, in Soano County
one Of the greatest fruit shipping points in the
state, burned this week, causing a loss OF
fully 100000. The flames started In the big
fruit packing plant OF ]. K. Armsby & Co, and
it was only by the aid Of Vallejo and other
neighbOring fire departments that any of the
business district was saved The big packing
plant Of Lieutenant Governor Alden Anderson
narrowly escaped destruction
Adolph Weber. the degenerate youth who
murdered his parents. brother and sister at
Auburn. resentenced this week to be hanged
on September 12 The Weber case resembles
Thaw's. in that his lawyers wished TO plead in
sanity, but Weber would not countenance such
plea and declared he would rather hang than
escape by such false plea.
The Seattle authorities are trying to rid the
city OF a prize fighting gang that has been at
tracted by several ring contests recently held at
Pleasant Beach. near that city. The chief OF
police declares that fights attract thieves and
low women and that the last one. on Tuesday
night, between Cans and Holly, was marked
by disgraceful Incidents crowd OF rufflans
tore down a side Of the pavilion, and in the
confusion many persons were robbed
Captain Head Of the German ship Marie
Chen, who was recently written up as marine
hero because no compelled the crew 20 man the
pumps for whole month and brought his yes
sci 70 land. has now been dismissed by the
owners. The captain brought the vessel TO
False Bay, Alaska, where she went ashore. He
heiped the underwriters float her. and worked
SO successfully that she is now being repaired
put as the vessel was insured only against total
loss his very efforts proved costly 20 the own
eFs' and they discharged him because 81. thexy
saids he was "unlucky.''