The San Francisco call., 1909-10-23
C|TYS COURAGE
STIRS THEM TO
CORDIAL PRAISE
interstate Commerce COmmis-
siOners Enthusiastic Over
the pOrtOIa Eete
Deeply Impressed by Splendid
Industrial Pageant in the
Streets Thursday

No higher praise has been bestowed
upon the city OF san Francisco and its
people than was given yesterday by
The members Of the interstate COM
merce commission. They have been
here through the Portola celebration
and have been afforded fun oppor-
tunity to view and study the result Of
three years Of toll. They were unani-
nous in the statement that the pageant
of last Thursday surpassed anything
Of the sort they had ever beheid. They
are men who have travelled widely,
whose business II has been TO study
olosely al sections OF the country, and
words OF commendatiOn from them
carry an unusual significance.
AS watched that marvellous parade
on Thursday" said Commissioners T.
F. Clark, Il was Impressed first by the
magnifcence Of the city at that mo-
ment. and then ] began to wonder that
such thing could be; that IN three
years you could have brought your city
10 this point. I looked up and down
the streets. saw them walled by beau
tiful buildings. q great spectacle en-
gaRinz the attention OF hundreds OF
thousands, and then ] pictured TO my
self the desolation that followed the
disaster. One can barely express what
he feels without fear Of eNaggeratlon.
But in truth it needs no eNaggeratlon-
Il was stupendous task, and II has
been splendidly carried out.
JUSTIFIEs HIS PATH
Il have always had an abiding faith
in this western country. have seen
il grow In my opinion, II has only
commenced. i remember when l was
ms n cV
were ample for the whole trsnsconti-
rental business. This trade has only
begun TO develop. The future viii
certainly bring great things for San
Francisco and the Pacific coast.
Commissioner Judson c. Clements
was struck by the spirit that had made
possible the progress Of the last three
years.
You in San Francisco he said,
have given an exhibition of the best
nzhting traditions Of the country;
fighting traditions OF peace or war.
have been an Interested spectator al
the Portola fete and will carry away
with me the most pleasant recollec-
tions of This city 7 have witnessed
many z parade and many q celebration,
bat ] have yet to see one finer than the
pageant Of Thursday morning.
But it is not alone your carnival
YOU have done since the disaster. Il
is an accomplishment so vast that II
may well be a source Of national pride
] have been afforded tae opportunity
of observing the beauties of your cit.
and il has been a rare pleasure. Espe
cislIy was 1 impressed by a trip OF
the bay and tour through your ma g.
nifcent parks
APPBAUDs CITY's COURAGE
1t was the courage of the community
that drew kind words from Commits.
sioner James S Harlan
Probably a thousand persons have
remarked before on the wonder thai
has been wrought in San Francisco.
would not only repeat it, but j must
add that to me there is something espe-
cislly fine in the courage and the spirii
that prompted the people TO undertake
10 construct anew. II appeals more x
me the longer / contemplate the beau
tjful city. Your loss was as great as II
suffered in many big wars. Whole ma
tions have been crippled by such Z
blow But here you have overcome i
in the short space OF three years.
The festival surpasses any celebra
tion ] have ever witnessed. II is a bis
statement, but the fete was unique il
so many ways that my words need NJ
qualification. I am only sorry that l cal
not remain TO see il 8 IT."
Commissioners Harlan and Knapp
left last night for Reno. Their fellow
members VIII join them there on Mon
cay.
COMMISSIONERS on BAY
The members of the interstate com
merce commission were entertained b.
the chamber of commerce at an outin,
on the government tug Golden Cat
yesterday afternoon The commission
was given plenty Of time to study tn
water front Of the city, as the tug lef
the Washington street wharf at noon
luncheon being served on board. Thos
In attendance We're:
Mr. and Mrs. Martin A. Mr.. and Mrs Rolia 7
Knapp and secretary Watt
Mr. and Mrs. James T. \. Hibberd
Harlan julius Kahn
franklin 4 Lane William l.. Gerstle
Judson G. Clements J. r. Morgan
Mr.. and Mrs. Nathan " g. Stafford
BLUR William Mafson
Mr. aud Mrs WfiIism'C. ". Burks
A. MsRee a +. Anderson
Mr. and Mrs. William James TYSON
r. Wheeler Henry Rasenfeld
ar and Mrs. C. He. F. Michaeis
Bentley A F. Casrle
Mr. and Mrs. J. Barne Robert Dollar
son