The San Francisco call., 1909-12-15
GOVERNOR WILL
PRESIDE OVER
GREAT BANQUET
Palace Hotel Will Welcome the
Local Commercial Bodies and
Leaders in City Affairs
Mayor Taylor Will Join in the
Celebration of Rebuilding
of Famous HOstelry

After three wears Of planning, every
dav Of which hes been devoced to the
task OF building hotel that would ex-
eel everything in tNe United States. the
management OF the kalace hotel VIII
tonight open wide its portals and bid
welcome 10 the large focal commercial
bodies. TO 763 men big i'm finance, in
politics. in business 2chie Femen6 in ART
and social prestige.
Ii will be q big nighz DOR San Fran
cisco something like tiNe night when.
in 1875. the old Palace. then the Won
der Of hotels in the world, hrst opened
lis doors under the magic spell of Will
liam Ralston. Tonight will ne a greater
night than that Of "a years ago, inse-
much as the new hotel is greater
hotel than the old, more artistic more
enduring. built al greater expGnse and
with greater possibilities for the futuree
LAST TOUCH on STRUCTURE
During the last three years, from
the day that the brick walls Of the
ruins of The Palace were pulled down
until today tie day Of rejoicing, the
magnificent executive Skill of Colonel
John C. Kirkpatrick. the managing
director. has everywhere been appar-
ent lie has been ably assisted by
George Kelhan. the New York archi-
builder, Of course, but it was the Kirk
patrick idea that predominated
throughout Obadiah Rich. the as
sistant mana ger. because OF his long
hotel experience, also gave uable
information and the management has
been fortunate in retaining its old
force practically intact.
For even as the name Palace hotel
has been one TO consure with, even so
has been the loyalty of the attaches
Of the hotel
Tonight the hotel viii appear fin
ished product. Thousands OF men have
worked n.ght and day to make the
revelry possible. Colonel kirkpatrick
said the house would open on December
Is, and his word was good. For days
every man connected with the Fair
mont and Palace hotels has been busy
making ali things ready There will
BE- no damp walls" Colonel kirkpat-
rick said ysar ago, when we open
up~ and it is true. The Last touch has
been added.
HUNDRED COOKS ENGAGED
For days. while the busy throngs in
Market street have passed by the
ioc,1ed Coors TO take z peek at the in
tcr.or. 100 cooks and as many other
assistants fave been pre- pairing the
feaS-. chef Ernest AbTog lst, for Il
years with the Palace. formerly the
chez TO King Leopold OF Belgium and
non who has served dinners to five
presi dents Of the United states, has
promised that the menu shall eclipse
all Of his former efforts.
The assembly viii include a number
OF nOtables. Governor James n. Gil
lett viii preside. He viii be introduced
by Msyor Edward r Taylor. Colonel
John g Kirkpatrick win speak, well
as George Knight. Joseph Redding and
Mnr-ar 1rerr Mc(.arfhN
At the speakers table the consuls of
foreign nations. teh army and the
navy viii be represented. as well as
the supreme bench. the newspaper
publishers and the managers of down
town hotels.
MAYOR NEXT TO GOVERNOR
on Governor GiIeltt's right side
Mayor Taylor viii sit and on the other
Colonel kirkpatrick. General Thomas
f. Barry viii represent the army and
Admiral Thomas Phelps the navy. VIII
liam & Rslston, whose father built
the original Palace. will occupy
prominent position. In fact 1t has al
most been decided that. because of his
intimate relations with the old hotel.
Ralston viii be asked to open the
register. placing his name first on a
book that is destined TO record a new
city's history.
The hotel will be opened for the pub
lie at noon tomorrow. 1t will remain
open, for Colonel kirkpatrick has an
nounced that the doors will never be
closed. golden key has been made
for ceremonial purposes and after the
formal opening this key is to be at
tached TO a small balloon which is to
be let loose from the roof Of the hotel.
Whittier it goes Kirkpatrick cares not.
There will be no further need of it,