The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1913-10-18
BUILDERS Of
HOMES GET
WELCOME
"Coast Metropolis, Entering
New Era, Halls Newcomers
of OId"-RobbinS
By M. H. ROBBINS JR.

Much has been said about the
physical attractions of San Francisco
as a city to live in, and as these
features are recognized not only by
those who have been here. but by
those who have only heard of them,
will but briefly touch thereon
The man doing business in San
Francisco has all the advantages OF
New York, and still is not overcrowd-
ed as in the great eastern metropolis.
even though our political boundary
lines only contain Ash square miles
of hill and vale.
It is too often considered that San
Francisco is q city of half million
people, while in fact 1t has 100000 or
j 100000 Part of this number, 1t Is
true, do not live within its political
confines, but all are in its commercial
and business limits, and the business
man can travel to his home to the
west and south by rail and trolley or
TO the northern or eastern part Of
San Francisco by water.
ssDEAR OLD SAN FRANCISCO"
But II is worth while to look for the
reason why there exists regret in
the mind of every one at leaving
our city, which finds expression In
the thoughtless sigh. Dear old San
Franciscog'
John Wanamaker once said: when
a customer enters my store he is king;
forget me-" This seems to be the
motto of San Francisco as hosts In
scores of cities people make strangers
feel that they are intruders, that
favor is being conferred on them by
allowing them admittance, instead OF
making them feel that 1t is real
pleasure to have them there. There
IS in our city certain cordially and
helpfulness which is in sharp contrast
with the cold, repelling atmosphere of
some cities, and there Is psyche
logical reason for all this. We radi-
ate our mental attitude and our feel
ings.
II we feel kindly and obliging and
there is good cheer in our hearts we
radiate these qualities and others feel
as we feel This finally permeates
the whole atmosphere of association
with others. People go where they
feel most comfortable. where they
receive the most kindly and courteous
treatment, just as we try to get into
the most comfortable positions and
most attractive situations in life, and
here we have the best Of every phase
of life.
OII1 DF GOOO WILL
So il is in San Francisco Our city
was born with a golden spoon in its
mouth and there has ever existed a
feeling of good will toward men"
which, please God, will never die.
Now, to attempt a glimpse into the
future is like leap in the dark, but
nobody fears such a leap when he
has had a daylight view of the sur
roundings, and we of San Francisco
feel that the light of the past and
the color of the present give us an
assurance as to the future.
First, we may well be sanguine, as
we know ii to be a fact that the
attention of all the east is directed
toward the Pacific coast of our coun-
try for the next steps in advancement
and development. There must be a
cause for this, and, while many rea-
sons are given. one alone is sufficient.
and that is that here it is considered
as the land of opportunity" Here it
IS that a man may make a home and
rear his family. the two things dear
est to a mans desire. and have
broader chance than anywhere else
under the stars and stripes.
Some have said. Don't expect too
much" Development will be slow"
etc. Even If it is slow. SO much the
better. No one have l heard prophesy
that such development will not come,
and If 1t comes to us slowly 1t Will
be all the stronger and more certain
The influx of people to our state
must Inevitably take some time to get
under way. The best and most per-
rnanent benefits from the homeseeker
and the additional commerce expected
must of necessity take time, but such
will give us time to adjust ourselves
10 the change and thus be secure In
treatment of new business and new
men, so that the greatest benefit VIII
result to them and to ourselves.
We are in a position to offer the
newcomer honest administration Of
our laws, so he may feel secure In
receiving justice, and the "oppor-
tunity," with the realization that we
must prepare ourselves for new,
broader and more enlightened condi-
tions, and, above all, our active steps
to accomplish such purposes, can lead
but to one goal, namely, that the rec
ornixed greater things will be met
and digested in a greater and better
way.
CITY BOUND TO BE GREAT
IT behooves US to look into ques-
lions of supplies and demands. of
incoming ships and dockage, of means
of trade exchange. of equitable re-
turn for honest labor, of pointing the
way to the immigrant where his expe-
rience and training VIII net the great
est results, and hundreds of other
practical and fundamental questions
involving the future of our business
and society. In the main there can be
only one goal. and that is a greater
and better future for our city must
come.