The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-05-22
WILL RE-ESTABLISH
CITYS OLD CENTER
Every Promise That the Palace
Hotel Is to Maintain
Traditions
Businessmen Would Also Reap
Benefit by Attracting PeO=
pie From interior

Ii was there where all manner of men
gathered. and you could learn more
about what was going on all over the
country than in any other dozen places
in the city. Il was the center Of civic
chat"
There is every promise that the new
Palace viii maintain ancient traditions,
and that the same crowds which gath
cred in the courtyard before the fire
viii come back again and revive the
memories Of the best gosslplng place
in the state.
Ii matters little what may be said
of the volatile character of san Fran
ciscans. which however. has been dis
proved. for theE have shown certainly
a spirit Of loyalty 10 the past that was
rot expected OF them Naturally IL
could not be thought that the city
would be abandoned, but loyalty 10 the
past has been shown in . variety OF
ways and not the least by the manner
OF rebuilding the city. Old stores have
gone hack into their old locations. and
II the White House IS not where ii
used TO be il was not the fault of
Raphael Well, who tried 10 OuiN IN
the same place. but could not buy the
small lot which gave him access TO
the rear street, so he had 10 seek an
other place.
The same rule applies TO other stores
and our businessmen have shown an
unpar "a lieled devotion To old traditions
which is supposed to be a rare virtue
ia com paratiYely new communities.
There is of course. change in the
physical aspect Of the city. but the
great landmarks are the same, and
when the Palace hotel is opened and
the same crowds begin TO drift through
hos al "a old
come hack aEain 10 as stronger and
handsomer than before.
4 VAST EXCHANGE
The courtyard Of the old Palace was
a vast exchange where men met and
transacted the most important bust
ness. 1t would be interesting to know
II one could even guess at the mil
lions that have changed hands sub
sequent TO the deeds that were talked
over in that courtyard. 1t was the
common meeting place of all classes
of the community VIXEN a man wanted
d place 10 discuss matter he said,
we may as well meet at the Palace
as If il We're the forum for the DELHI
Grafton Of the worlds affairs.
san Francisco has needed for three
years 4 place where men could meet.
for there is nothing better to the COM
munity than a common stamping
and discussion of plans for the future.
Our merchants, il is true. have period
cal banQuets where there is much
sound sense shown in the speeches. but
what tends to bring men closer to each
other and aids the city is inst what
Howell said was wanting nova cen
Ter Of civic chat.
MEETING PLACE NEEDED
Perhaps never before in the history
OF san Francisco was q meeting place.
as outlined, needed more than now.
The events Of the last three years have
separated people who at one time We're
closer 10 each other. owing TO their
having TO live across the bay or having
their business in widely scattered To-
calities
As Yet there are many men doing
business far from their old locations.
aid because Of this they are more or
less out Of touch with their old asso-
GATES II is easy for the gulf to grow
wider, but once supply place where
q man may expect TO meet his old
friends. and DE VIII make il a point
10 90 there at least once or twice
week. once started in this habit he
VIII not find il difficult to make il
his daily practice. There is need Of
good team work in the city. and men
who haze come from the north assert
liArL IL - Al-E 1AtaEltAti team WI X lidl
is being done and has been done in
Seattle which viii make the Ala ska
Yukon Pacific exposition success
II is asserted that when the Palace
IS opened Tie opportunity will be af- /
forded again 10 revive the fellowship
Of the past which met with temporary
estrangement through the misfortunes
the city has passed through
CITSrs GREATEST NEED
When the merchants begin to gather
oa common ground it is to be hoped
that the first matter TO come up for
discussion win be the best way to
attract people to come and spend a
few days in the city. Festivities do
much 10 bring people from the in
terror but that is an extraordinary
occasion. and what San Francisco de-
sires IS no extraordinary occasion" to
have people come f1ocking into town.
This city should be a continual at
traction TO our friends in the interior
and should become the great coast re-
sort OF the state and of Arizona New
Mexico and Texas The merchants can
take hint from what the Erie rail
road has done. which is a Hartman
organization That road has filed re-
Gently with the interstate commerce
commission a cheap rate from Chica go
10 New York in the endeavor to make
new IL - TIC Eftal dltEaCLOn 10 All
living in the interior This rate is
to be effective from June. l to Sep
TENDER 30
This is A matter which should be
pon6ercd over. No one can compare
New York with San Francisco from a
climatic point Of view. and yet one of
the Hartman roads in its endeavor to
build Up q big summer business for
New York pu5s in a cheap rate all
through the months OF Sune July. Au-
gust and September. the months when
people desert the interior for the
cooler regions Of the coast
This action Of the Erie had to be fol-
lowed by other roads. and the crusade
Tor chcaD per transportation to New York
net with no opposition.
The hotelmen Of New York city sup
ported the Erie and their action COM
PEELED the lines that first looked
askance at this innovation to arrange
lower rates.
The Southern Pacific and the Santa /
F'e. II approached with a similar propo- I
sition, undoubtedly would give it their I
approval. II has been shown that San
Francisco Is able to take care of a /
large visiting list. and with the COM
pletion Of the Palace hotel within
few months, another hotel in Powell