The San Francisco call., 1909-03-30

a
~ Francis. the Fairmont and the
( u Palace hotels into one company
has occupied a great deal of the
attention of the directors of the two
hotel companies at their recent meet
ings
At conference held last week at the
St Francis by the stock holders Attor-
ney William Thomas, director of the
st. Francis hotel company. warmly ad-
EGcated the combination of the three
leading hotels of the city. Later in the
evening Thomas had dinner with Colo
the Fairmont hotel and Fred Sharon.
chief stock holder OF the Palace hotel
company, which is also the lessee OF
the Fairmont hotel. The consolidation
scheme was topic of conversation
during the dinner and so sure were
some of the interested parties that the
deal was about to be put through that
Thomas received several congratulatory
telephone messages late in the evening
Plan Long Discussed
Directors in the two hotel companies
said yesterday that the consolidation
idea had been discussed for more than
year. At recent meetings of the sep
arate corporations the argument in
favor of a Capitalization OF capital has
waxed stronger. until now it has be-
come almost a topic of regular bust
ness.
The combination as proposed has
grown out of the idea that centraliza-
tion will not only mean a more eco
nomic means of conducting the large
hostelries. but will be a great conven-
tition. if the plan was adopted, would
not enter into or thwart hospitality. If
one of the hotels in the combination
was crowded the officers of that cara
vansary could see to it that the traveller
was properly taken care of in another
hotel in the consolidation.
CrockerS Seek Extension
1t has been whispered that the
Crockers. satisfied with their invest
ment in the St Francis hotel and its
anxious to extend their field of hotel
proprietorship. During the last three
months the ST. Francis has been run
ming to full capacity. In fact, had the
proposed new wing been actually COM
pleted, giving the hotel 1000 rooms,
there is little doubt that the same
condition would have prevailed. The
~.
same. What with large bodies of tour
lists and transient visitors, the Fair
mont has enjoyed an unusually sue
cessful season, being forced on numer-
Gus occasions to recommend to the in
conner another hotel.
1t is said that the Sharons and the
Crockers, the biggest factors in hotel
proprietorship in the city, have dis
cussed- the consolidation of their inter-
ests until the excellence of the idea
has been strongly impressed on all.
Director Favors Plan
William Thomas, director OF the
st. Francis hotel company, replying to
a question last night as to whether the
consolidation scheme had been dis
cussed at recent meetings, said:
Yes, we have been discussing the
matter or nearly year. Personally, I
think it is a very good idea, which
ought to be carried into active fulfill
ment.ss had dinner recently with Mr.
Fred Sharon and Colonel John c. Kirk
patrick and we spoke on this topic. No
definite action leading TO consolida-
ton has been begun
The board of directors OF the st.
Francis consists of Henry T. Scott,
president; william Thomas. S. L. Gold
stein, William Gerstle, F. w. Dohr-
mann, C. E. Green. ]. ]. Mahoney, A. B.
c. Dohrmann and Charles Templeton
Crocker.