The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-04-20

~ San francisco, April Jul Ianu-
marks, associated with the early his
tory of California, as well as the new
monuments to the commercial prosperi-
ty of the California metropolis, have
been destroyed by the dreadful conf1a-
grafton.
One Of the first to fall prey to the
flames was the Palace hotel, built in
the seventies by James Ralston at a
d: cost Of $4,000, 900. It was owned by
the Sharon estate. Many Of San Fran
~ciseo's wealthiest families lived
there, and personal property losses in
art treasures have been very great
The Hopkins Art institute, located
on Mob Hill, owned by the University
of California, and built by Mark
Hopkins, was destroyed, with its
priceless contents. Close by were the
Stanford, the Huntington, the Flood
and the two Croker mansions. All
were swept away. These residences
were built by men who played impor-:
tant roles in the development of the
Pacific coast.
Bohemian Clubs Loss. .
Down near the business district, at
the corner of Post street and Grant
avenue, stood the Bohemian club, the
antique social organization in the
world. It's membership list includes
many names famous in art, litera-
ture and the commercial world.
:, There were IN special exhibition
In the "iinks' room q dozen
paintings by the old masters, including
a Rembrandt, a Diaz, a Murillo and
Others, and probably worth 800, 900.
These were lost.
. Homes Of Millionaires Gone.
The district on California street from
Powell to Jones street, known as Mob
Hill, contained the most palatial homes
of San Francisco. The summit is per.
haps 500 feet above the. sea level and
; affords a magnificent view. just on
the brink is the residence of the late
Mrs. Stanford in Honolulu, the man
sion became the property of Leland
Stanford university. Tt contained many
4. art treasures Of great value.
- On the southeast corner Of the SAM
block stood the hcme of the late Mari
Hopkins, who amassed many million
9. along with Stanford, G. p. Huntington
*Stion Of the Central Pacific railroad. TIL
Hopkins home was presented to tn
EUniversity' Of California by his heir
and was known as the Hopkins Ar
Institute"
Loss of a Great Hotel.
r. Across California street from tn
stanford and Hopkins home was tn
F'airmont hotel, which had been ur
der construction for more than tw
wears and was almost ready for .Ot
eupancy.5t The land was owned by tn
late Senator James Fair, who was az
sociated with John W.. Mackay, Jane
1. Flood and James O'Brien, all of who1
amassed great fortunes in Nevad
mines early in the seventies.
One block west was the Flood home
a huge brownstone mansion, said t
have cost more than 81 900 900. Th
Huntington home, which is the leas
p]retentious residence of the Obi
Tour occupied the block on Californi
street Just west of the Flood hous
The Crocker residence, with its hug
lawns and magnificent stables, we
west of the Huntingdon home. Man
other beautiful and costly homes WEI
situated on the hill, but those me1
toned have been landmarks Sfc
twenty-five years. 800
The Olympic Club.
Further west stood the Olympic clu1
the Oldest regularly organized @athleti
association inatheH United States an
famous for its appointments land f
the athletes it has developed. TT
building was worth $500, 900 and il
- IL hlSlllhSo "SA0 VI IA LII Hoo1AO
There remains but a mass of steel an
stone.
The great new Flood building, bui
by James Flood at q cost of $4,00O,0t
and occupied about a year ago; tt
new Merchants Exchange building Q
California street, erected at a cost {
$500, 900; the Croker building, /
Montgomery and Market streets, a M
~lion-dollar structure; the Mott bull
ing, on Montgomery, costing the san
sum; the New Shreve building, at Pc
street and Grant avenue, costing ttv
million dollars. The Shreve Jewel,
company carried a stock. of 100000
worth of jewelry.
Municipal Buildings in Ruins.
On Market. street., the Phelan bull
Ing. one of the earlier attempts at
pretentious work Of architecture inst
business district, and covering the mo
valuable piece of real estate in SIS
Francisco, is gone. The great group
buildings standing. en a piece. Of ggroul
bounded by LarlIin, MeAllister al
Grove streets, erected by the city
San Francisco at a cost of 81, 000,0 o.
- and known as the city and county bull
eings. are NOW a mass5}Aof asia okip
sineuldering ruins. With the buildin
were probably destroyed the city al
county records.
The beautiful ST. Francis hot