The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-03-21
4. G. Leeds Seeing the Beauti-
full Frisco Today MarveIs at
It's Wonderful Recovery
From Tragedy.
IS BETTER CITY NOW
THAN FORMERLY WAS
Pays Visit to Berkley and Is
Shown About University Of
California by Dudley Gates
Of Richmond.

San Francisco. March Sit seems
Sst yesterday that We Of the Palla-
dfum were posting bulletins. as fast
a we received them from the wire.
OF the dreadful conflagration raging In
Ut. Francisco and answering anxious
inquiries from the telephone. AS bull
letin after bulletin was received even
W, calloused newspapermen though
We were, turned heartsick at the
thought OF hundreds of thousands OF
our fellow countrymen seeking refuge
in the parks and open country. while
their homes and places of business
became fuel to the flames After 1t
was al over. after We Of Richmond
had answered the call of our stricken
brothers In San Francisco with money.
clothing and provisions. publications
all over the land began to predict that
the city would never be rebuilt on
the same scale that existed previous
to the fire. Capital, they said, would
be afraid to 90 into city 20 liable to
earthquakes and subsequent conflag-
rations.
Piucky Population.
That was three years ago, however.
and California and San Francisco are
populated by Just the same kind OF
plucky and resourceful yankees az the
rest Of the country.
Today, San Francisco is bigger and
better In every respect than 1t was
before the fire. Large numbers of
modern concrete structures cover the
area that was fire-swept but three
years ago, though there are still few
sections where blackened ruins still
remain. mute witnesses to the ruth
leasness OF the fire demon. The city
government has been purged of its
lecherous and grating Reuf's and
SMITHS and tar more capable and
honest men are now directing its af-
fairs. Business houses and merchants
are in new homes and everything
bears the imprint Of prosperity. The
recent panic coming SO closely on
the heels Of the fire has. OF course.
had It's retarding effect and workmen
are rather more plentiful than work
With the tariff question soon settled,
however, this doubtless will all be
changed and there should be nothing
TO prevent every efficient workman
obtaining position.
Places Are Filled.
Thousands OF people left San Fran
cisco during the fire and never re-
turned. Bnt their places have been
filled by more thousands coming In
since. The city today is believed to
have an estimated population in ex-
cess Of five hundred thousand. Many
At those who left have located in SUR
rounding suburbs and Oakland, just
across the bay. has now an estimated
population of ever two hundred and
fifty thousand.
At the same time that San Francis
cans arc rebuilding their beautiful
city they still have time to devote to
another and equally important prob
lem. That IL the Japanese question
There are thousands of the little
brown men out here and they give
1ise to form Of competition that
Americans have been fighting shy Of
10r . century or more. The competi-
ton OF cheap labor. American work.
Inen cannot exist In competition with
the Japanese. That II, At the same
wage the latter Is willing to work for.
Our protective tariff was drawn with
the view OF protecting American work
men from the competition of Euro
pean products. manufactured BY the
cheap labor of that continent. There
fore AZ the Californians very pertin-
emily ask, what are you going to do
when the cheap labor Of another con-
tinent invades your very shores? In
Asmuch rs this question 10 undoubt-
eddy very serious one. and as its
qualifications extend even to the
Hawaiian Islands. 1 shall study the
subject thoroughly while on my trip
and submit the result Of my obserya-
ttons to the Palladium In another let.
ter, later on.
interesting Places
There are several very attractive
drives about San Francisco. Possibly
the most interesting OF these 10 one
that takes in the Presidio and Golden
Gate Park. The Presidio is large
reservation on the bay, belonging to
the government. Here are located
some Of the batteries that are sup.
posed to protect San Francisco in
case Of war. Quite large number
Of United States troops are Quartered
On the Presidio and their presence in
their oervicable uniforms. adds to the
natural attractiyeness of the place
The drives through the grounds are
ENCHANTING. extending through groves
Of the fast-srowing Eucalyptus and
fragrant bay trees. up and around the
edCe Of the gigantic cliffs that skirt
the bay and ocean. with roads branch
ing off NOW and then and aiGn post
I'd c0n6picuously ordering .Civilians
Keep Out" and N armed sentry near
by to add impresslveness to the man.