The San Francisco call., 1908-04-25
SEDATE OLD CITY
IS TRANSFORMED
Blossoms and Greenery Make
Santa Barbara Beautiful
for the Fleet
Population Doubled by Coming
of Thousands to Welcome
the Battieships
BY w. Russell Cole
SPECIAL DISPATCH TO THE CALL

SPECIAL DISPATCH TO THE CALL
SANTA BARBARA, April 24.-It is
good many years since Santa Barbara
attained the age OF discretion, and yet
Santa Barbara is tonight forgetful OF
being sedate and shows no sigas OF the
weight of decades As full of pulsing
life and youthful friskiness as the
most immature frontier town, the old
city is basking in the joy of anticipa-
tion and is ready for the real time
OF its life. For tomorrow the fleet ar
rives
When the tiny specks that will
emerge tomorrow afternoon from the
line of the horizon under a eanner OF
bflioving smoke have grown in the
sight OF the watchers TO the white
ships of the greatest feet the Pacific
ocean has ever known, all Santa Bar
bara will be out to give them welcome,
From every town and village within a
radius of so miles, crowds of visitors
are pouring into the city, and the
population has doubled within the last
"A hours. From even farther away
from the cities OF the east and the
middle west--have come hundreds more.
sightseers and tourists. taking this op-
portunity OF witnessing the arrival OF
the fleet while enjoying at the same
J
fornia coast.
ACCOMMODATIONS EXHAUSTED
For days past visitors have been
swarming into the city on every train.
but today witnessed the greatest in
ffux. Accommodations at the larger
hotels are already exhausted and the
committee in charge OF arrangements
for caring for the oity's guests are
listing every available rooming place
in anticipation OF the demand that is
sure 10 come tomorrow
The city Is gay with decorations, and
a holiday spirit is manifest IN the very
atmosphere. State street, the bouIe-
ward. the Plaza del Mar, the grounds
of the Potter hotel and the other fa-
nous show spots OF the city are bright
with flags and banners and sweet with
the scent OF flower. that are already
being gathered I'm preparation for the
flower parade and festival OF Monday
afternoon At the intersection OF State
street and the boulevard a net has
been hung that will tomorrow be con-
verted into canopy OF flowers; another
net stretches along the boulevard in
front of the tribune seats as the back
ground for parapet of blossoms; the
poles along the way have been trans
formed from unsightliness into things
OF beauty by the profuse use Of palm
leaves. and flags and bunting COM
plete the general scheme of decoration.
PLAN TRANSFORMATION
The early hours tomorrow will be
the busiest time, however, for those
having the decorations in charge have
asked that the tons OF flowers to be
used in the festival on Monday be de-
livered during the morning at the head
Of the plaza Workmen will be in
waiting to rush the plans to COM
AE
sighted at 4 o'clock in the afternoon
the whole shore line of the city will
be a glowing. brilliant hover of flowers
and verdure. The business houses in
the principal streets OF the city have
been lavishly decorated. and private
homes are bright with flags and bunt-
| ing.
Aside from the official welcome to
the feet by city officials and members
of the executive committee on enter
tainment there will be no formal pro-
gram tomorrow afternoon or evening
As soon as the ships have dropped
anchor in the channel the members of
the reception committee will walt upon
Admiral Thomas on the flagship Con-
necticut and Mayor Elmer J. Boeseke
will convey to him and the officers and
men Of his command the greetings OF
Santa Barbara Shore leave for q large
number Of men will probably be grant
ed tomorrow evening and the hospf-
talfty OF the Santa Barbara club and
the Santa Barbara country club has
been extended to the officers of the
feet. Informal receptions In their
honor will be held ct both these clubs
and at the Hotel Potter during the
evening.
For the general public there win be
s band concert IN the plaza and an illu-
mination of the feet and searchlixhts
display.