The San Francisco call., 1910-05-26
Hotel Costing Half Million Opens
With Banquet of City's
Best Boosters
Toast Speakers Tell of Prospects
of San Joaquin Valleys
Metropolis
rSeeoiaI Dispatch 10 The Call

the register, ana many guests are en-
Joying the privileges of the hotel.
The opening of the institution was
the occasion tonight for the stock hold
ers' banquet. the first banquet served in
the hotel. The men whose money and
whose civic enterprise made possible
the construction of the magnificent
structure at the head Of tidewater nav
igatiOn enjoyed the privilege of being
the first TO dine at The Stockton.
ELABORATE FEAST
The banquet was an elaborate affair
and Manager Porter gave his chef in
structiOns TO spare nothing in his prep
arations for the function. The white
dining room presented an imposing
sight with its scores of prominent citi-
ems.
There were but three speakers, all
Of whom were closely identihed with
the building Of the hotel John c.
Thompson, capitalist of Stockton was
assigned the toast. Building the
Hotel" Thompson is president of the
Stockton investment company. He told
OF the campaign for a new hotel and
how il had been successfully conducted
by the united efforts Of all the busi-
nessmen. Attorney c. L. Neumiller
spoke on The Stockton From the
Stock Holders Standpoint" He deliv-
cred an interesting address George W
Leistner, secretary of the association
and one OF the leading businessmen in
the movement, spoke on The Greater
Stockton" He said in part:
The throwing open OF the portals
OF the stockton initiates a new de-
Velopment and q greater Stockton.
Picture stranger coming to
stockton. He is a guest at hotel
magnlncent IN appearance and COM
plete in all that modern ingenuity
can suggest 10 make comfort He
finds the best Of streets and hears
the Jangle of the most modern
streetcars. Should he VISIT the
Yosemite club. the Elks' club or the
Young Mems Christian association
ne VIII md all new quarters splen-
didly equipped and when he learns
that the new hotel. the Elks' build
ing and the Young Mems Christian
association were built by popular
subscription he learns that we are a
united people. He sees a residen--
tial section that vies with any Cali =
fornla city In style and beauty of
architecture; he finds good streets
everywhere, often shaded as in no
other place in California. AS to
better courthouse, high school or
library. He learns that we are
building S2.000,000 good roads
system; that we have formed a
$500. 600 irrigation district: that
We are now constructing an inter
urban lire to Sacramento. and an
> q.
the mountain country; and that
two lines are now being promoted
down the San Joaquin valley. Ne
100000 for protection from food
waters and that the government
has completed the preliminary sur
xey looking toward giving US nine
Old timers and strangers alike
are awakening TO the knowledge
that Stockton has kicked off her
sWaddling clothes: that she is a
vigorous, lusty young city, putting
on metropolitan airs and taking
her rightful place as a great city in
one Of the great valleys OF the
world
HOTEL PROTECTED
Stockton had been without frs
class hotel for years and. although nu
merous attempts had been made to or
ganize a company for the purpose o
erecting and equipping a suitable
structure. they had never materialized
Lee A Phillips felt the need and calle,
70 his assistance Frank A. West an,
Samuel Frankenheimer. who were sooI
on the Job.
The first matter was the location of :
site, the Cowell property at the head O
the channel being the ideal place. Pre-
limtnary plans and specifications wer,
drawn up by z. B. Brown, and it wa
decided $500. 900 would be needed I,
The Stockton investment compan,
was organized, and an active campaign
for funds commenced. The young bust
nessmen OF the community organized ;
boosters club and took hold of th,
project from the standpoint of a mu
nictpsl enterprise. The money was Sc
cured in remarkably short time and, al
though II was during the panic period
less than $4,000 OF the sum subscribe,
will be lost
STRUCTURE is STRIKING
The contracts for the construction o
the hotel were next let The buildint
Is reinforced concrete structure GOV
ering an entire block, 100 by 800 feet
It IS OF Spanish renaissance style o
architecture, the main portion of tn,
building being five stories in height
II presents striking appearance. will
its long colonnade, overhanging bal
comics and red tiled roof.
The main entrance is on Weber ave
nue. and leads through long corridor
TO the lobby, one Of the striking fea
lures of which is an immense fireplace
said TO be the largest of any publ,
building in the state. II is built OF con
crete. with tile facing. Surrounding tn,
lobby is a mezzanine floor. The floor il
tiled and the finish is in light oak
DINING ROOM IN WHITE
Opening of the lobby is the dinini
room, which is finished In white witt
leather walls. Great plate glass win
dows make il a most cheerful dining
hall The grill is off the dining room
and also contains a large fireplace. The
lighting fixtures are uniquG being Sc
on antlers. Telephones are at the Ia.
bles
There are over zoo rooms in the hote
and every one is on outside room. TIL,
rooms are elegantly furnished, and eacf
is equipped with a telephone. On,
hundred and forty rooms have batf
Connections. The color scheme varies
many Of the suites being in white witt
green carpet.
The ballroom is in the dome on tn.
top or sixth floor
The roof garden covers an area o.
10000 square feet and presents beau
tiful view OF Stockton channel, with
Mount Diablo in the distance
OLD TIMER IN CHARGE
Don II. Porter, the manager and
lessee, is a well known hotelman OF
years Of experience. He also owns Tho
Kenyon. hotel IN Salt Lake. Manages
Porter and wife have moved to thu