The San Francisco call., 1909-01-01


TT mas the spirit of mutual calan-
itp that dreD together the mer-
a chants of the dopntoDn district
and made possible the celebration
last night back at LOtia's fountain.
The fight began just after the fire.
w. d. FenninlOre conceived the idea
of an association of merchants workmg
heart and hand for the rebuilding Of
San Francisco and the Downiopn asso-
citation mas born. At first the fight
mas a hard one.
San Francisco merchants. their senses
dulled By the terrible catastrophe which
had overtaken them. hesiiated and mere
doubtful. but FennimOre persisted.
Soon others joined him. The spirit Of
dependence on each other grew. The
organization began 10 gain support.
Meetings. small at FIRST, vere held, bul
soon thep mere larger. Today the
Downtown association Of San Fran
cisco has 100 members. each member
merchant of prominence and importance.
Since the organization OF the Down
town association it has made history.
San Francisco would not be back to-
day where she was before the fire.
bigger and grander. were it not for
these working. energetic pioneers.
The first move of the infant asso-
citation was 10 point the way for the
merchants to return down town. Not
much argument was needed on this
score. for San Francisco sentiment and
the homing instinct were strong. But
some one must needs blaze the trail.
and so the stronger merchants threw
their dollars and lent their voices 10
the movement. The weaker ones, en-
couraged. followed suit.
When the Downtown association be-
gan it's work the district it had to
work in was mass of tumbled brick
and ruins. Today il is a city the peer
of any in the world.
Better paved streets. better lighted
streets. more populous streets, was the
cry. The board of supervisors was be-
sieged and Improvement and help from
the city was demanded. The board was
responsive and made adequate appro-
priations.
But the Downtown association went
farther Contracts. when let were
watched by committees from the or
ganizatiOn and full value for the price
paid by the city was forced.
Next in order were lamp posts. Orna-
mental poles were erected in all the
downtown streets and they were built
according to the highest standards of
artistic beauty. regardless of expense.
To draw the shopping trade of the great
metropolis back to it's paths of yOrc
was big problem, but the Downtown
committee surmounted all obstacles.
Beautiful buildings were encouraged
Well dressed windows were urged, and
results soon showed. The shopping
trade came down town
Sidewalks cleared at last OF their
burden of mortar and brick knew again
the touch of milady's slipper All the
debris of rebuilding has vanished be-
fore the sweep of silken skirts as the
shifting crowd of shoppers flows once
more in the old channels
Market street has come again iEto
its own. From the ashes Of its old
time glory it has risen brighter and
more superb than the most rOseate
dreams of it's rebuilders.
In the east population is contracting.
The big cities are crowded and the
country is poor from overdevelOpment
The land is worn out In California we
could hoist a high board fence around
the commonwealth. throw open the
gates. welcome in a fifth of the Dopu-
lation Of the United States-20. .0O0. 600
or more-and all would live in comfort
they had never known in their old
homes. wherever they might have
been.
In California is everything to be
found in any spot on the globe And
more. Climate ranging from tropical
to frigid, products OF higher quail
ity and more endless variety than
in all other states of the union
or nations of the world. The oil
better oil and more OF it here. The
earth boarded precious metals of
Alaska and OF other states-there is
more of it here. The agricultural re- &
sources of the great middle west. the
horticultural possibilities OF the south.
the live stock development Of the vast
northwest, the industrial growth of the
east-it is all here, in boundless guam
tity, waiting the hand Of the men with
the pick and plow and skill Of the
artisan to make in few more gener-
ations a land the like of which the
world has never dreamed.
The beginning OF the new year shows
the full dawn Of the new san francisco