The state herald., 1906-04-27
Large Buildings Destroyed.

San Francisco-Most of the old land
marks, made famous by association
with the early history of California as
well as the new monuments to the
commercial prosperity of the Califor-
mia metropolis. have been wiped out
of existence by the dreadful conflagra-
tioi One Of the first to fall a prey to
the flames after the destruction of the
business district was the Palace ho-
tel, known the world over to travellers.
1t was built in the '7Os by James Rails.
ton at cost of sG,OOO,O00 and was
owned by the Sharon estate, Many OF
San Ffancisco's wealthy residents
made their home at the Palace and per.
sonal property losses in art treasures
and other effects have been great.
The Hopkins Art Institute. located
on Mob hill" owned by the Uni
yCrsity of California and built by
Mark Hopkins, was destroyed, with its
priceless contents.
Close by were the Stanford mansion,
the Huntington, the Flood and the two
Crocker mansions. All were swept
away. These were the handsomest pri-
vate residences in San Francisco and
were built by the men whose names
they bear in the early days Of the city's
greatness and who played such impor-
tant roles In the development of the
Pacific coast.
The great new Flood building. built
by James Flood at a cost of si,000.00O
and occupied about year ago: the
new Merchants Exchange building on
California street, erected at a cost of
s2,5O0,000; the Crocker building at
Montgomery and Market streets, mil.
lion-dollar structure; the Mills build.
ing at Bush and Montgomery. costing
the same! the new Shreve building at
Post street and Grant avenue, costing
81, 900. 600, and occupied April.lst by the
largest Jewolry store on the coast. are
some of the new structures destroyed
by the flames. The Shreve JGwiiry
C-wpauy carried q stock worth 81 600.
0OO.
On Market street the Phelan build
ing, one OF the earliest attempts at n
pretontious form Of architecture in the
business district, and covering the
most valuable piece OF real estate In
San Francisco, Is gone. The great
group Of buildings standing on piece
Of ground bounded by l.arkin. Meal.
lister and Grove streets, erected by the
city Of San Francisco at cost OF 81
0O0.0O0 and known as the city and
county buildings. are now mass of
smoking. smolderinE ruins. With the
buildings were probably destroyed the
city and county records.
The beautiful ST. Francis hotel. fac.
ing Union square. erected at cost OF
81 500, ,0OO, and the Fairmount hotel at
California and Powell streets. the most
conspicuous location In the city. are
In ruins from the flames. The Fair
mount was built By Mrs. Herman Del
richs at cost of 100000 and named
In honor of her father, the late Senator
James ]. Fair.
Tue magnificent group OF buildings
at Van Ness avenue and Hayes street
of the St lgnatlus College and Cnthe-
dral. probably worth 10000 600. and St
Domlnicks church on Steiner street
near California, and the Emanuel syn.
agogue. handsome structure of the
Oriental type on Suttcg street, Were
wiped out.
The Hall Of Justice, facing Ports
mouth square and just east of China
town. was early prey OF the ilames.
Sweeping mp the hillside the unrc'
strained element lcaped from block 10
block through Chinatiwn, the combus'
tiblc material Of the ilimsy structures
feeding the flames like powder.
Up and on and over the hills to the
westward the conilagrntion gained
hcadway when Il reached the resi-
dcncc section. From Golden Gate ave.
niue norihward To Pacific street the
buildings were dynamitcd to stay the
progress Of tho flames. hut without