A A f- -^ ■XI 1 1 5 4 z 2 33 2 1 ^ -■^ San Francisco, of Coimnerce . Annals. ROBERT ERNEST COWAN ■ 4 V \ Annals OF The Chamber of Commerce of San Francisco San Francisco: Neal PrBiJSHiNG Company 1909 r \ oA N N A L S OF The Chamber of Commerce of San Francisco BY CHESTER W. BURKS. Secretary The Chamber of Commerce of San Francisco, the senior connnercial body of the Pacific Coast, is okler than the State. It was born of necessity. It made and execnted commercial rnlings in the feverish period anterior to State organization and those rnlings decided commercial issnes. At first it was an arbiter. In a short time its scope and field were widened and it dominated the activities of the entire Pacific Coast. San Francisco snpplied the funds for coast enter- prises and the Chamber helped safeguard the enterprises and promote favorable legislation. It was to the Chamber B that every section turned for advice and assistance. It 2 was to the Chamber that the Federal Government looked -T for guiding facts about Coast conditions. Then, as now, « its views were properly valued in Washington. ° As the years rolled along and the commercial commun- E ities of the Coast grew greater and richer and the necessities S of commerce multiplied the platform of the Chamber ex- ■^ panded. Every live topic requiring the concerted action of the commercial communities of the Coast, or the individual action of San Francisco, was ])rought into the Chamber for discussion and treatment. Movements started hy the Cham- ber contributed largely to the splendid California today. In a sense the prosperity of the State rests on foundations laid by the Chamber of Commerce. The detailed history of the Chamber would require volumes; imagination can easily fill this outline. When the Chamber was formed by the pioneers there was not an American court in the city, there was no fixed water front, there were no harbor defenses, no steamers 293467 2 ANXALS OF THK CHAMBER OF COMMERCE i-iiiiiiinn' t(» the Oi'iciit niu\ wo i';iili'(iaorarily to the number until they fiocked off to Sac- ramento. Stockton and the mines. Society was in a state of utter disorganization, wdiich became worse and more terrible as the autumn and winter months brought more thousands to the place. There was neither a proper gov- ernment for the State, nor recognized municipal authori- ties who could have protected the citizens and established order and made provisions for the systematic extension of the town and the reception of the coming crow'ds. "There was a ^Military Governor, indeed, and martial law could have been adopted, but the Governor had not sufficient force at his command to curb the wild elements of the population. Every immigrant upon landing in San Francisco became a new man in his ow^n estimation and was prepared to undertake anything or any piece of busi- ANNALS OF THE ("HAMBEE OF COMMERCE 3 ness whatsoever. He did. but it was with a deal of l)U8tle. noise and unnecessary confusion. "The great recognized orders of society were tumbled topsy-turvy. Doctors and Dentists l)ecame draymen, or barbers, or shoe blacks. Lawyers, brokers and clerks turned into waiters and auctioneers and. perhaps, butchers. Mer- chants became laborers and lumpers, while laborers and lumpers turned to merchants, lawyers, clerks and mechanics and every class in turn kept lodging houses, eating and drinking houses, billiard rooms or gambling saloons. The people dabbled in beach and water lots, fifty-vara blocks and new town allotments over the whole country ; speculated in beef, tlour, pork, and potatoes ; in dry goods and soft goods and wet and hard ; bought and sold at wholesale and were ready to change their minds and embark in some new and nondescript undertaking after two minutes consider- ation."' Soon after California entered the THE CHAMBER Union and while the citv was vet DEMANDS COM- ^, ^„ , ', ,,.„„„^,., verv vounii- the ( ham her beuan aui- MEECIAL ... . „ FACILITIES tating for a light-house service for the harl)or, for harbor fortifications, for steamer connection with China and for various other improvements bearing on commercial advancement. From the first the Chamber made creative fights. It reflected the spirit of its moml)(^rs. ANNALS OF TUK CHAMBER OF ('O:\IMKR0E AN ECHO OF THE CIVIL WAR. In the archives of the Chanilu'r is this speaking announcement : IN MEMORY OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN UR Nation Mourns. While all the instincts of humanity recoil with horror from the tragedy of blood, we are yet forced to con- IV }r ^"yV y\ template its terrible realities, in ^^^^J~^^^Sj ^^^ ^^^ fullness of their enormity, and to perform with beseeming dignity, those duties which we owe to the memory of our murdered President, Abraham Lincoln. Resolved, That the members of this Chamber do participate as a body in the public obsequies of our late honorable and beloved Chief Magistrate; and the Executive Committee be, and it hereby is, requested to make the necessary arrangements, in view thereof, and to invite the merchants at large to join us in the manifestations of respect. Resolved, That the members of this Chamber do wear a suitable badge of mourning for the ensuing thirty days. Redmond Gibbons, William Alvord, Oliver Eldridge, E. B. Benjamin, Abm. Seligman. San Francisco, April 17, 1865. ANXALS OF THE CIIAMBF^R OP" ( OMMEKCE RE-INCORPORATED IN 1868. In 1868 the C*haml)er re-ineorporated foi' the l)etter reti'uhition of trade, the futherance of commercial in- terests and the consequent general advantage to the citizens of California. The members of the corporation were : Joseph Aaron W. J. Adams L. 8. Adams G. W. Armes AV. F. Babcock AY. F. Badger Frank Baker C. H. Baldwin A. R. Baldwin T. C. Banks H. Barroihlet G. W. Beaver James Bell L. B. Benchley E. B. Benjamin John Bensley Francis Berton G. C. Bode Alfred Borel S. B. Boswell W. C. Bovee P. :\r. Bowen T. T. BradshaAV (4eo. F. Brags' J. G. Bray Henry Brickwell J. W.'Britten C. Wolcott Brooks ]Milton Bulkley "Washington Bartlett Geo. Campbell J. W. H. Campbell Henry Carlton. Jr. Geo. R. Carter F. L. Castle Thos. N. Cazneau H. N. Chauncey C. Christiansen Chas. Clayton James H. Coghill A. N. Coleman AVm. T. Coleman Walter B. Comstock J. Warren Cox Hiram C. Coye Henry A. Crane A. Crawford Chas. W. Crosby Eugene Crowell H. K. Cummings J. M. Curtis Benj. Davidson AVm. C. Gawley Horace Davis Jacob Deeth James de Fremery C. J. Dempster Alfred De AA^itt Albert Dibblee 0. Dickinson, Jr. H. L. Dodge L. C. Dodge AV. AV. Dodge Joseph A. Donohoe Maurice Dore L. Dinklespiel J. A. Drinkhouse C. A. C. Duisenberg Geo. H. Ego'ers K. C. Eldredge Oliver Eldredge Aloses Ellis John Everding G. F. Fargo James D. Fai'well N. C. Fassett Wm. Faulkner A. T. Fletcher Alexander Forbes Andrew B. Forbes R. B. Fordham Frederick Frank Isaac Friedlander C. K. Garrison C. Koopmanschap Edward Kruse Redmond Gibbons George Gordon Adam Grant AA^m. M. Greenwood D. C. M. Goodsell Edw. F. Hall. Ji-. S. H. Harmt)n David N. Hawley AValter X. Hawley Benj. Hynes A. Hayward H. Heyneman Geo. B. Hitchcock Joseph Ho])art R. Hochkofler Chas G. Hooker Geo. F. Hooper C. T. Hopkins Samuel Hort Charles Hosnier J,.Y. H. Howell Geo. Howes Henry Huf:'hes J. Arthur Hope J. G. Jackson E. H. Jones ^T. P. Jones G(M). H. Kellogof ANNALS OK Till-: (IIAMP.KK OF CO-MMKHCK John Kenttichl .1. (". Kinji" .1. H. Knapp (I. W. Me Near 1). C. :\IcRuer J. W. Ladcl AV. Frank Ladd Charles Langley Nicholas Larco ^Milton S. Latham S. P. Leeds ir. Levi James Linforth IL P. Livermore S. :\r. Locke C. Adolphe Low B. F. Lowe Jnliiis Lowenhelm Nicholas Luning F. E. Lynch F. W. ]\Iacondray Edward ]\IacConn A. W.^IcPherson R. H. Maoill Charles ]\Iain L. B. Mastick AYilliam ^McCoU A. B. ]\rcCrearv J. H. McCune David McKay John J. ^FcKinnon C. E. :\IcLane Lonis ]\[cLane F. P. :\rc:\rahon Geo. 0. :\re:\rnllen Ira P. Rankin I. W. Raymond Nicholas Revnolds T). W. C. Rice Philin ^Meauher Charles ^Mcincfke J. C. :\Ierrill William Meyer Albert Miller W. J. :\liller 1). O. Mills W. W. Moiitaiine J. L. Moody (I. 11. Moore J. ^lora ]\Ioss Charles Newhaus H. :\I. Newhall Wm. Norris Amos No\"Ps n. D. Oliphant James Otis D. J. Oliver James C. Patrick John A. Peck J. T. Pennell Nelson Pierce William Pierce A. J. Plate Ceo. Piatt r\ B. Polhemns John F. Pope Thos. J. Poulterer R. E. Raimond W. C. Ralston H. B. Tichenor W. H. Tilinuha.st Thomas To})in Gustave Tonchard John N. Risdon J. B. Roberts Frederick Roedina- J. IT. Redino'ton L. Sar-hs Geo. H. Sanderson Peter Sather rharles Schmidt Thos. II. Selbv A. Seligman Ernest Seyd Louis Sharp D. D. Shattuck Wm. Sherman Richard D. Sneath A. Philip Stanford D. J. Staples Seigmund Steinhai't David Stern Levi Stevens Edward F. Ston*; J. W. Stow Robert B. Swain Geo. H. Tav J. B. Thomas L. L. Treadwell A. L. Tubbs Hiram Tubbs Jacob Underbill P. Verplank Wm. R. Wads worth Philip L. Weaver John Wedderspoon Bela Wellman Alexander Weill F. S. Wensinyer John Wisi'htman H. R. AA'illiams J. C. WilmeVdiuii- Casimer Winter John Winter P. J. White John H. Wise S. A. Wood J. B. Wooster W. R. Wheaton W. II. Stowell W. C. Talbot C. L. Tavlor ANXALS OF THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE The first board of trustees under the reincorporation consisted of: W. F. Babcock Isaac Friedlander Ira P. Rankin James de Fremery James Linforth F. L. Castle Henry B. Williams James Otis Geo. W. Beaver L. Sachs Thomas H. Selby Redmond Gibbons J. W. H. Camp])ell Robert B. Swain Oliver Eldredge WHEN COIN WAS ABUNDANT AND GOODS WERE DEAR. Tnnnigration was active in 1S50. There was no lack of money then. Coin was so easy to get that thou- sands of dollars frequently changed liands on the throw of a dice. Eight dollars a day was the usual price for board. Wheat, tlour and salt were sold at $40 a barrel. The price of brown sugar was S1}A cents. People cheerfully paid fifty cents for a small loaf of bread or a pound of cheese. The port was full of ships. Sailors deserted as soon as their vessels came to anchor and, at one time, between three and four hundred square-rigged vessels were unable to leave anchor- age because the sailors had gone to the gold mines. Others were making money so fast that there was no inducement for a man to work for sailors' wages. ]\Iany ships never left the bay. Some rotted and tum- bled to pieces ; others were pictures(iuely absorbed by the growing city. The circulation of money, which was in part gold dust and gold nuggets, was very large. Between the end of 1849 and the middle of 1850, according to a re- port made by J. Neely Johnson, sixty thousand innnigrants had started overland by either the northern or southern pass routes. More than 36,000 immigrants arrived in San Fran- cisco in 1850. One-half of the sea passengers were for- eigners. At the end of 1850 the population of San Fran- cisco was aliout 25,000. 8 AXXAI.s OF Till-: CHAMBKR OF COMMP^RCE In 1852 leading' merchants askinl A MERCHANDISE ||j.,^ ^^^ ^j^^ Conunittee on Arbitra- APPRAISER ,. , , , ,, 11,, APPOINTED ^"*" '"^^^ Ai)i)eals there should be added a IMerchandise Appraiser to The Chaiaber of Coninieree. I. Friedlander, G. B. Post. l);uiiel (iihbs & Son, Ilussey, Bond & Hale, P. B. Thomas and W. Meyer & Co. were among the movers in this di- rection. "The Chamber of Commerce," so they set forth in a document still in the archives of the Chamber, "being uow estal)lished ou a solid basis, its utility is apparent hy the daily services rendered by it to the commerce of this port. It t)ccurs frequently that, in many cases, where the ser- vices of the Committee on Arbitration and Appeals are called for. a special knowledge of merchandise in general, as to its value, or partial damage, etc., is required. It is suggested that a person having the necessary qualifications, combined with a commercial position and honorable standing might, with advantage, be added to the committee as permanent ajipraiser. " Emile Grisan had the honor of being the first ai)praiser. In May, 1852 a method for the pay- LADING ISSUE meuts of freights on foreign bills of lading became necessary. The ne- cessitN' was thus presented in a Committee report submitted to the Chamber in 1852: "The Committee appointed by the Chamber of Com- merce at the annual meeting. May 4, 1852, to take into con- sideration the difficulty existing in the payment of freight on foreign bills of lading, and to suggest some method whereliy these difticulties may in the future be avoided, resnectfully reconnuend the adoption of the following reso- lution, viz : RESOLVED, That where foreign bills of lading do not expressly stipulate the payment of freight in a specific coin, foreign currency shall be reckoned according to the liiitcd States Value thereof and payment may be made in an\- legal tender of the United States. "KESOLVI]D. That Avhere foreign bills of lading ex- pressly stipulate that the freight shall be paid in a special ANXALS OF THE CHAMBER OF COMMVAiCE S) coin, then the same must be procured, if required, or its equivalent given, the rate to be determined by the current value at the time in San Francisco." GEORGE LEWIS COOKE. J. J. CHANVITEAU. THE FAMOUS BULKHEAD BILL FIGHT. The fiu'ht of the Chamber against the Bulkhead Bill is thus described in excerpts from a report of Daniel Gibb. President in 1859. "In my last report I had occasion to allude to the per- servering attempts of scheming individuals to obtain from the Legislature of California the exclusive right of erecting a bulkhead on the water front of this city (San Francisco) upon terms onerous to commerce, offering no tangible guar- antee for the completion of the M-ork, regardless of the city's right to the franchise, and in short, upon terms alike re- pugnant to common sense and adverse to public interest. These attempts were renewed this year and carried on with a zeal worthy of a better cause and were so nearly success- ful as to create a little alarm in your minds. "Your unanimous action on this subject and the strong expression of the views of the Chamber conveyed to the Legislature, strengthened by similar action on the part of other public bodies, opened the eyes of many members from the interior to the demerits of the bulkhead bill, showed them the actual state of public feeling here regarding it and, beyond question, was the means of defeating the obnoxious measure. As similar attempts will in all probability be resumed next session, your standing committee should be continued, with instructions to bring under your notice any fresh moves in the direction of creating any such mo- nopoly, whether emenating from the State or City Govern- ment." The Chamber accepted the suggestion of President rjibb and the fight to keep open the port of San Francisco under the control of and for the benefit of all the public was carried to a successful termination. Perhaps the Chamber earned the gratitude of the State as fully for its earnest agency in this matter of great public concern, as in any of its many early labors for the common good. The vast importance for evil of the bulkhead bill in its appli- 10 AN\.\r,S OF THI>; CHAMBKR OF COMMKRCE cation to the future of San Fi'aueisco, fiiul of the vahie of the services of tlie ("hamber in this connection are revealed, infei-entially. in terms of a memorial in which the Chamber illuminated the situation as follows, in pai't: "The Chand)er of Commerce has, by the conrtesy of the Common Council of the City of San Francisco, been invited to express its views and opinions reoardin •« n ^ • -i i SIBERIAN MISSION. ^^^.^^ '^^ ^^^ ^^^^^^ ^^^^^ ^^^^^^ ''''^'^^y disturbed over reports that the Trans-Siberian Railway, then nearing completion, would pro- vide cheap transportation for European merchants, manu- facturers and producers and, by creating a new current of trade, would also curtail the Asiatic market for American flour and other products. Learning that William jM. Bunker, a Trustee of the Chamber was about touring the world via India route, the Chamlier requested liim to cross Asia hy way of Siberia and stud^■ and describe the resources and trade of 18 ANNALS OF TH K CHAMBER OF COMMKRCE that region and report on the trade iiitiuencc of tlu' Trans- Siberian Railwa/. Mr. Bunker consented to make the detour and in 1899 he crossed the Russian Empire from Vladivostoek to Cronstadt. a distance of over 6,000 miles, and officially re- I)orted on the Trans-Siberian Railway and the trade and re- sources of estern Siberia. The unbuilt spaces in the railway line were covered by 1.600 miles of river travel and over 1.000 miles of post road ridin"'. jNIr. Hunker gave the Chamber a detailed re|)ort of the activities of eastern Siberia and showed the Trans-Siberian Railway could not curtail the Asiatic market for American products and that the wheat of east- ern Siberia, about which so many favorable reports had been <^iven, was an inferior article, the climatic conditions in east- ern Siberia preventing the growth of even a fair wheat, and the general conditions necessarily limiting the crop. ^Ir. Bunker traveled at his own expense and in Asia and Europe his work for the Chamber was wholly complimentary. While in London ]\Ir. Bunker, as the representative of the Chamber of Commerce of San Francisco, accepted an invitation to ad- dress the London Chamber of Commerce on the resources of eastern Siberia. lie was in Europe two years and during that time studied the leading ports with respect to their trade relations with San Francisco. In December, 1901, at the suygestion THE WASHINGTON i . n \ xi in ^v BUREAU * President Geo. A. NeAvhall. the Chamber appointed Mr. Bunker its representative in Washington, D. C. In the succeeding five years he promoted the Chamber policies at Congressional hearings and in the departments, advocating such measures as were specially approved by the Chamber and oi)posing those that conflicted with the commercial interests of the city and State. The Chamber was conspicuously active in the great light for a national irrigation law, in the agitation for an Isthmian Canal and initiated the inquiry into Army affairs that led to tlu^ legislation for a military depot and transport docks an Black Point. While the California Con- ANNALS OF THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 19 gressional delegation invariably respected the retiuests of the Chamber and usually advocated its approved measures it is none the less a fact that the organization was peculiarly fortunate in the Hon. George C. Perkins, the senior Senator from California, having been President of the Chamber, was in a position to appreciate the needs of the Pacific Coast and properly impress his colleagues. In 1885 the Chamber favored the MISCELLANEOUS ^-n ^- ^ . , -.v x-- «-„T,-„ » m-r^-KTc. ratiucation of a treatv with Aicara- OPERATIONS. gua and the construction of a canal across Nicaragua and insisted that a ship canal to connect the great oceans of the globe Avas a commercial and naval necessity. That year was marked by the entrance into San Francisco of the first competing overland railway, the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad. In the same year Henry L. Dodge, then President of the Chamber of Com- merce, showed the care the Chamber had always maintained for the public advancement. An extract from his annual report follows : "By the construction of the sea wall around the city front a large number of gores have been formed, which amount in the aggregate to about ninety 50-vara lots. This property, which belongs to the State, and is under the con- trol of the State Harbor Commissioners, should be utilized for various public purposes, such as union depots and pul)lic nuu'kets and should not be sold or otherwise alienated for private or speculative purposes." The wisdom of this advice has been shown in the ex- istence of the present Ferry Building at the foot of ]Market Street. In 1885 the Chamber followed up the idea of having the harbor property fortified and adopted the following res(<- lution : RESOLVED. That our Senators and Representatives be respectfully requested to use their influence in securing Government appropriations for the defense of San Francisco on plans in accordance with modern requirements and on a scale commensurate with the important interests involved." 20 ANNALS OF TH H (HAMBKR OF COMMERCE So. in the next year, the annual report of the President of the Chamber preserved the record of the beginning of iron ship-building on a large scale at San Francisco, in the fol- lowing words : "I refer with ])ride and pleasure to the establishment in this city by the Tnion Iron Works of a plant capable of constructing iron ships of the largest capacity; and I am pleased to know that they have recently secured a contract from the United States Government for the construction of an iron Avar-vessel of the largest class." At various times the Chamber in- THE CHAMBER IN- terested itself especiallv in the bet- VITES THE CO-OPERA- ^ 4^ * t> .e /^ ' i. • i. vixi^o Axixi v.vv/xxixvr». |,,,.jjj(.,^|^ ()f Pacmc Coast niterests TION OF COAST . ^ r- ^, , . p COMMERCIAL outside ot California, it memorial- ORGANIZATIONS. ized Congress for improvements at the mouth of the Colum1)ia River; and. in recognition of the common interests of the Coast. adopted the following as its avowed policy (in 1889) to wliich it has always steadfastly adhered: "RESOLVED. That the Chamber of Commerce of San Francisco, recognizing the mutual interests of the compara- tively few first-class seaports on the Pacific Coast of the I'liited States, invites friendly co-operation of commercial organizations thereof in securing the necessary expenditure liy the Federal Government, to facilitate the maritime com- merce Avhich Avill in so great a degree contribute to their yirosperity." Tlie improvement of the Sacramento SAFEGUARDING River, the survev of the coast of TRADE AND COM- ,, , ,, t ' • • .• • ^ MERCE INTERESTS. ■^'•'"^^''^- *^^^ discrimination against San Francisco in the matter of tea freights, sulisidics to American ships, the establishment of a National Bureau of Navigation, the "urgent necessit.v for cable communication between the Pacific Coast and the United States, the Hawaiian Islands, the islands of the Pacific, the Australian Colonies. Xew^ Zealand and the Orient." the improvement of the form of government in Alaska, the foster- ing of the beet sugar industry of the United States by appro- ANNALS OF THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 21 priate measures, the extension of the San Francisco sea wall, the construction of a cable connecting Tatoosh Island and Cape Flattery, commercial reciprocity, the establishment of a naval training service in the Bay of San Francisco — these were a few of the characteristic topics and enterprises with which the Chamber was identified. When the Traffic Association of California was organized in San Francisco, in the early nineties, for the purpose of united action on the part of the commercial community to secure better transportation conditions, the Chamber for- mally endorsed the movement in the following preamble and resolution : "WHEREAS. The Chamber of Commerce of San Fran- cisco recognizes the necessity of some organization of our merchants, manufacturers and producers to unite for the general purpose of doing all in their power to build up the commercial prosperity of San Francisco and the State of California, by encouraging the building of canals, competi- tive systems of railroads and steamships, and for such other purposes as may tend to develop the interests and trade of our State ; therefore be it "RESOLVED. That this Chamber of Commerce hereby endorses the Traffic Association of California, just formed with the aforesaid objects in view; and that an organization of the mercantile element, united in this great and momen- tous question will prove of vast and lasting benefit to our industries, interests and trade." The Chamber ardently advocated the annexation of the Hawaiian Islands to the United States. This resolution was adopted in 1893: "RESOLVED. That the Chamber of Commerce of San Francisco is of the opinion that the speedy annexation of the Hawaiian Islands to the Lmited States is of vital importance to the general interests of the Pacific Coast, and will be to the political and commercial advantage of this Avhole coun- try, citizens of which, or their descendants in Hawaii, own or control the great bulk of its property and commerce; that this Association, believing that it speaks the opinion of the majority of the inhabitants of this Coast, hereby expresses its convictions that it is the duty of the LTnited 22 ANNALS OF THE CIIAMBKK OF COMMKHCK States to lieed. without fnrtlier delay, the ai)peal of the Hawaiian Islands for annexation, and to extend to our colony the enlij^htened protection of the (tovernnient and institu- tions of this country by incorporating Hawaii as an integral part of the United States." 'J'he vear l!)()i was very busy, so A BUSY YEAR. ,• ,, , . . . ' * . much so tliat extracts rrom report or the President. George A. Newhall. are of special interest : "Your Chamber." so reported Pi'esident Newhall, "took an active interest in the merchant marine conunission and. on January 12th. jiassed resolutions in favor of having Con- gress create a commission to investigate American shipping. We are pleased to say that our action in behalf of the ship- ping eommissiiHi Avas successful as Congress subse(|uently appointed the iMerchaut Marine Conmiission. "Early in January your Board took action in favor of having the harbor at Honolulu improved so that deep-water vessels could enter readily ; also action in the same line at Hilo. Congress has measures before it looking to these im- provements. The matter is now before a S])ecial C^onnnittee of your Board Avho are giving it attention. A bill has been introduced in Congress providing for the removal of dere- licts. Action has been taken in this matter as your Trustees consider derelicts a great menace to navigation. "Late in January, upon the recommendation of oui" In- ternal Trade and Improvement Committee, action was taken in favor of introducing the postal tube system in San Fran- cisco for the purpose of transporting mail rapidly through- ont the city. This movement is still having our attention. Together with the various commercial organizations of your city your Boai'd took action in favor of a World's Fair to take place in San Francisco in 1918. or at the comj)letion of the Panama Canal. "Your Chamber took active interest in the San Fran- cisco sea wall act and appointed a .joint connnittee on Harbor and Ship])ing. with the other organizations, to impress noon the voters of this State the necessity of a favorable action at the election in November. 1904. We are pleased to state that at that election the Sea AVall Act was carried bv a very large vote. It provides for the issuance of State bonds for $2,000,000 for the improvement of the water front. "Your connnittee on Internal Trade and Improvements took UD the matter of tlie Indian Warehouse and so vigor- ously did tliey work, that Congress lias ^irovideil for a ware- ANNALS OF THE CHAMBER OP COMMERCE -J;? house in San Francisco for Indian supplies. This l)usiness had been lost to San Francisco bnt is now restored. San Francisco being a cosmopolitan city, we deemed it advisable to provide for an Immijiration Bureau in this city. This matter is now having our attention, and is being laid before the present Congress. We have petitioned Congress in favor of having a .station on the coast of California for investigat- ing marine fisheries. "Action has been taken in favor of having Congress provide a depot for Quartermaster's subsistence and Medical Stores in San Francisco. This is quite important as it largely effects our island possessions. A resolution has been adopted by your Board, and action taken, looking to the National Government taking proper action to set apart what are known as 'Vancouver Pinnacles,' San Benito County, as a National Park. "Many other matters have interested the Chamber and action has been taken in favor of various harbor improve- ments, such as lighthouse and fog signal on Red Rock, a lighted bony off Point Pinole: a light fog signal at Army Point; the dredging of San Rafael and Petaluma C-reeks ; removing rocks in the North Channel and near Pacific Mail dock; removing Mission Bay Rock, removing Packard Rock and various improvements to Oakland harbor." Each year between 1870 and April 18. 11)06 was similarly filled with w^ork on the part of the Chamber. The Chamber corresponds with HOW THE CHAMBER ('hanibers of Commerce of nearlv REACHES THE COM- „ ^, ^ . ^ ^, i i m, ' ■n^Tn-oz-iT A X TT7«-DTT> ' ' 1 1 thc countTies ot the world, the MERCIAL WORLD. list shows how far reaching are Chamber of Commerce communications: EUROPEAN COUNTRIES American Chamber of Commerce. Paris. Chamber of Commerce, Calais. France. Chamber of Commerce of Havre, France. Camera de Comercio, Oporto. Chamber of Commerce. London. Chamber of Commerce, Liverpool. Chamber of Commerce, Glasgow. Chamber of Commerce, Bristol, England. Chamber of Commerce, Southampton, England. Chamber of (yommerce, Genoa, Italy. 24 AXXALS OF THE ClIAMBKH OF (X).M.\[KRCE ('liainbin* of Commerce. Hamburg'. Germany. Bi'itish Chamber of Commere<'. Paris. Cliaml)er of Commerce, Amsterdam. Holland. Clunnber of Commerce, Edinburgh. Scotland. Chamber of Commerce, Bremen. Chamber of Commerce and Factory. Ghent. American Chamber of Commerce in Berlin. Deutsches Export Information Bnreaii, Coloofne. Chamber of Commerce. Bordeaux. France. CORRESPONDENTS IN OTHER FOREIGN LANDS Chaml)er of Commerce, Sydney, New South Wales. Chamber of Commerce, I\Ielbourne, Australia. Chamber of Commerce, Geeloug, Australia. Chamber of Commerce, Auckland, New Zealand. Hon£>koug Chamber of Commerce. Yokohama Foreign Chamber of Commerce. Chamber of Commerce, Adelaide, South Australia. Chamber of Commerce, Canterbury, New Zealand. Chamber of Commerce of Bengal. Calcutta. Vancouver Board of Trade. British Columbia Board of Trade. Victoria. B. C. Chamber of Commerce, NcAvcastle, Australia. Chamber of Commerce of Bulawayo, ]Matal>e- land. South Africa. Nagasaki Chamber of Commerce. Nagasalsi. Japan. Imperial University, Kyoto, Japan. American Chamber of Commerce. ^lanila. Yokohama Japanese Chamber of Commerce. Chamber of Commerce. Kobe. Japan. AVellington Harbor Board. AVellington. N. Z. ^Manila Chand)er of Commerce, ^Manila, P. I. Perth Chamber of Commerce. West Australia. Chamber of Commerce, Johannesberg. Africa. T'nited States, outside of California; and the Pacific Coast : Chamber of Commerce of the State of New York. New York City. Chamber of Commerce, Boston. Board of Trade and Transportation. New York City. Philadelphia ^Maritime Exchange. Philadelphia. Baltimore Board of Trade. Chamber of Commerce, New Orleans. AXNALS OF THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCF Chamber of Commerce, Cincinnati. NeAv York Produce Exchange. Chamber of Commerce, Savannah, Ga. Chamber of Commerce, Galveston, Texas. Chicago Board of Trade. Peoria Board of Trade, Peoria, 111. Pittsburg Chamber of Commerce. Chicago Chamber of Commerce. Bath Board of Trade, Bath, Me. Chamber of Commerce, Sault Ste iMarie, ]Mieh. ^Merchants Exchange, St. Louis. Omaha Board of Trade. Board of Trade, Newark, N. J. Chamber of Commerce, Cleveland, Ohio. Philadelphia Board of Trade. Chamber of Commerce. Richmond. Va. ^Milwaukee Chamber of Commerce. ^Merchants Exchange, ]Memphis, Tenn. New York State Library, Albany, N. Y. Chamber of Commerce, New Haven, Conn. Commercial and Industrial Association, ]\Iont- gomery, Ala. Interstate Commerce Commission, AVashington. D. C. ^Merchants' & ]\Ianufacturers' Association. Balti- more, INId. Board of Trade. Springfield, ]\Iass. Staten Island Chamber of Commerce, Staten Island, N. Y. State Historical Society of Wisconsin, Aladison, Wis. Business Men's Association, Pueblo, Colo. Philadelphia Commercial INIuseum. Vniversity of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia. Commercial Club of St. Paul, i\linn. Commercial Club, Cedar Rapids, la. National Board of Trade, Philadelphia. Boston ^Merchants' Association. Chamber of Commerce. Buffalo, N. Y. Netherland Chamber of Commerce in America, New York City. Commercial Club of Fargo, North Dakota. 2') AXX.\I>S OF TllK CIIAMP.KR OP COMMERCE •• o :c b £ (Q > ce r ^.s CJ -Is o ,o 3 C c o O ^ O H I g i - G ^ :^ O Si h r C-) ^ ^ H c O c C^ (D =3 X O^ M ^ ^^ r^^ -^^ (A ^ r- Ic— H u ^ 5 f^ .-• tij -< u ■^ X X «t- li ^ C_J v^ ■*? ^ _= ■- ^- 1 j I 3 c * 3 Albert Dibblee Geo. H. Kellogg C. J. iJt'iiipster W. K. Wadsworth... May 18G0— 93 i 2 5 * * X J, 2 s t a >jbc > llll 1 i * "a C IT. ■T ; * 1 X * « _x 1 i X * X is: X 1 I- X 5 * * X — * * X : — * 1^ J. X is ;. "5 X ■ "7 a. V m b si p s- ;: X X 'C £ ^ ^' Si S ^ £ ANXALS OF THE CilAMlMlR ol' ( ()MMh:H( K O m Eh O o H 0} ■ - ^ &•= ^ £ 2 S S"S S > OJ "o -S PH '^' r ■ Ci p ^ £ '^ . flH *-' a; lO III ill -^ T 5C ^r 5r f»s • =: ^ ^ o K* (DO 11 111 O 03 O; — p cZJ pq c/i r:;;; t; w ,K -^ > s m > :^ ;5 -■ 4 ^ K:; 33 1^- fvj Pi h,' ^ ^ > 03 (M >5— 2 aj ^ 2 t- ~ c pH-irl K 28 ANNALS OF THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE '■^r^ *f b 5 s" 5 c J : xJ l'- Kl^^l'-^i-^-^f^l:: 1 oc ^ s2 s'^^l i- 1 |===^'Pi "~ C^i-:!^So-^H'-5^«'^ ? S : tiC ■ fc- r ^ i : ^ 1 I— 1 00 ^ i-J-: ^ - £ 1 l^l 1 H| i X ; ^ 1 ^ 2 -^ 3 X "£ "I- X ^'^5=<'^^^^J?Hr='^- "" ;§ds=?=Q4-J^--^^ffi^^ ^J ^ § :^ — ^' ? ^ sr £^ i ^ : r" I- X o 1— 1 72 ^ — ^ Z^ — ." * ^ ^ M ■.1 -r cc :| < ^ = ^ J ~ T! ■> ^ '^>' 1 1 ? X r t PC X >> es ci ^ •< ^ ~ -^ — i:_^J-5;ji:ji ?: § :^' J- ;^ is -■ i >j : . "H o J. J||.5f 3| j ill 5 • ^> § .-r — — 5"'"=^^ C; C ^-^ 72 — c -^ 1 i cc X" — . -'.I * X — - • X ^ '"^ . ^ .z ■^ X 1 >5 l:2^.'3-''^-"^J^3""^s^i = ~ r ^ -t 2 "^ ""■ "5 '' oc GC 5 . '" ^^5?S^H;:dd^J^^^^feKc ^ ^ i : : ^ t- >• -^ ^ >i -2 - :>>:.- X X 1^ I X o'l or (M j X x 5 fi c" S 1^ c - ■:: ^ '>- ./ ./ "5 "" -^ H C3 ^ . .r > C r- — ; • -5 -; 73 73 -^ 1— ,^ ^.' ^ ^ ^— .—. ^* «— ' C"* ^— "^ •— ' "— ■ ■; *~^ f^ t-^ ■•' '^^ f^ s_ ^ i — ■- ' ! 3 w O : • 02 ' _ • , .'23 : • 33 :S : 1 Eg ; 1 ^ 1 i _J 2_i p^ ^.- - _z 1 ^ r' r' ^ ^ 5- r' r- S^ ?■ "r' •r' 9 ij 1^ i- " 5 i . " '"" ►"" .^.t!S.i!j.^.^.Jj.^ !^- t"^ i"'. .^ .^ "t^ « 1 '"- 1 'x ^ '^ X X •/. o. X x X •/. X X ■/: X j; C 1 r;.^- EEEcEEEccEnE ^ "" ^ — — t'i r- ^ — r- r- r- E- r - f- r- L- ^ X i 5% ANNALS OF THK CHAMBER o:^' COMMERCE 29 o O M :^ o o ^ i^ 33 C| ^ 'S ~ bi ai ^^ ^ it C 5 i - -^^i^ &,Ji.S :w O) 0^ ^ • - '^' :^ ^ ^ ^ ^' '^ ^ S;?;; s-s^o? w 3 e^ ^.5 '^3 •-sO S '/i 's- c^; ^ OJ cc 2 "S '-- ^ ^ = ^ r ,- O ^ Q ^ i_; 3j • s-i . L.- L- ^J >-M • l-;i;j:;l-5'<&L|t-;g--?-Z^l^Q t>5 Sd W -/. - i^ -^ t t;^^^b=2^^i2-^ ="•^3^' S ^- r'^ Q ' ■• '-5 > P^ _■ d ^ d ' ^ H-: H-; h-i ^ ^ K O i^' ^ pi 1 ffi fi^ o ffi T X ;j : ^ 7 t« r - ■ -i^i! 5^ -■■ ^^"H = Ps ^ X ^ K k. -X ^ -i s M ;^3 ■/ '/. '/- •/ -I. 1 -3. I. -J. J. h-^ ^ 30 AX.XALS Ol' TJIH (,'IIAMBKH OF CO-MMKRCH 1- ? ?; C y T *^-5 ■ >5 T g 1 i- 3 ?: OS ^ C -r 5 jr . ~ si;"^ '^ ^J "^ "^ 5 ►>• I- ^ « Wp->.^X p^'P * ' JZ f^ ►^<&:- 1 33 ■^ : >i 3 X -/ t. SL. - : i 7 ^ — ^S. 'i- P ^ 2 "x "k i? /- 5 >i ^- S 7 1 O X, Ci CO - fj- =: ^. i ^ ^ -^ ^^ '3 ■". S ^ 5 H 1 1 _x 'C 1- c >> =3 C ?^'i^'^^:i;-<:3^ ^ c3 -t i cJ x -r _2 -^ I. : bij?: = 1 o ,~ ^ X s ^— : ■A'^ X ;i "X 1 1 CO 5 ^ 2 •-B^^-S^'IdE^OoJ^otii^^ 1 3 I-: «j (M : ^ T* ^ fM -M ^ : ? 5 jj S S| ' b£^ ^ O X 2 1 "T _2; ^ — "x "^11 "^"^ t;^ 2 " T X 1^ 1 - X "3 X > 33 '^ ■ > '^ ^ +j i. J X ^ ?: S = • K (K'Or- .=-; . = 5'-' -S"^^ a 3 s ^^^Si^ -t^-'i^Z'/:^'C'ji.^. j;< • : • • T' -;;- i tn ; ? r 2 X ■ C ■ '^ ^ 33 3j : OJ Ih i ^ i ; 1-. 2 .Br t:"T'7 1 >i- - "£ ^%.%. 't 't t ft t t 't t t Z r* 7i i 1 "7 .-' -^ ■/. •/. X y. V. y. x y. y. x x x t L. s O iJ l.*p'~!-S_l-l.t.S-l.l.i.Ul.!_ y >«H — — T r- r- T" ~ r" ~ r" r- r" r-* r- rH X f^ ANNALS OF THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 31 >3 d , ; ' " •/) ^1 CI oc ^4=5 T-' j- .5 2^5 ^ >3 >3 1 fe ^ X ,J, t, g ^ II 1 5 1 -§ i § -^^ •A h-j 2 ^'^5d-?^^AKfa^c.^dK H h i ; a LO l^ *> C '■ i^ ;- '/j I i P ^B ==2 s^ c:^"5 ^-.^ 5 i.5f i: SO 00 ^ .-^-/:' c .- --"r •- 1- ^-, Lc .:i^ s 03 1—1 CC Henry L, William E. L. (;. i ,J. N. Kn Alfred P. W. H. I) A. E. He C. L. Ta> Albert M E. W. N Fred. L. ( Ir. J. INIc W. W. A L. L. Ba Hugh Cr Morris M 1-5 >j j ; ■ a. CC i Miry L. Dodfi illiam L. INIei L. (t. Steele.. N. Knowles. fred P. Elfelt . H. Dimund E. Hedit H "5 b X 1 K?SSh^^^- i oX -Got: o c ? X oc CC >J I. o3 |^:^-^^^^'.| &-S^y= 1^1 o aa-^-;i:d^^K-w61||^'|kj1 X^ ;^0-<-:-iS-<<2<^'-?2i2^^ S 03 ->^ -^^ J; _0 S'^ c4 cS *x "x Q^ S £& i H.-a .£" ^PhPh : -1— 1 "^ %. "^ '^ % ^ % t, \j ^ O I J .t 5^ O a, g C3 C i. :^ i i a ^ ■j_ -^ .-' I. -J^ r. J. i. I. J. J. 1. I. -1. J C flj ^-■tT'— S-i_l-l-S-l-l.!_!_S-S.i. o - - f 1 c- . c_ - 1. h <^ ^^ F- -^ H^ -^ h X <^ 1 32 ANNALS Ol 'III-: ( HA.MBKR OF COMMERCE o - -ii X.' ^ r 5 ^ i - ii = 1- ^"u ^ x 1 1 ZL'~' "^ ;>--5 — r" -5'-;'— r'" S 2 "" -^==i= ". ^ 5 . tn -:: ^ ■ -:r ^ 5 : J V : J 1^- ■ ■"■ — .. ^ .^ ^ 'l 1 CI 1 '- 1 r- ^ — "= -5 ^ --^ ^ = rS n >J X -? .= :^ ;:^ X £_^ j^ ^^15 "5 r § — ::: X ,-•>■ t> '^ w* t»- fc*- p^ J o '^ • 5 y ^1 ^ 5 r t / ^ -x.2.^ 3- = - ? 2 X >> T o ^ '^^'^^ '^- ^ '^' -5 i ::d • .'^ 11^ ■ X x t> , O »-- J w t- ' ^-' . ^ t- ^ C . -^ l-^. 3 ^ C;o-^;:SC:^-^<-;<-^«K-^?: H _^ ^* = ■/ •M ^ = 5 ; - ^ =:5 r Sj*^ tj ^ ^ = I >-i ^r ^ C ^ -• — -— - -* "7" -^ O — ^ vV ~ X 5: = .J ^ E IE § -J ^ X ^ ^ 3 1^1 ? - ^ ^' ^ ^. - -■ ^ >^ f : ^ ^' s =^ ^ - X ■""i^ ■' — '"^— ■C'^^'^^^tiJPi^ x 3 i:odcis:^£c5^s;d*^d 25 '^_ S fi- s"^ ^ ^ J? i-" s-'i iTi-^'=: i^'^'^ o 2 s: :i:^' 13 d :5 — i :5 £ ■? :: i: ~ ij i: H ^ ^-^ *- *- ' j2 S =3 ^ ^ -5'r i'i X. x^ li t. O w i-2 3 U U C^-r; *- — > ^^ t^^ "x ..iv2j'J'?^r'r'5'r'r'99r i ^1 ^ ^ ■fr; ^ 7. -^ .-' X jr. X y. X X /. X X X -J. ■/ £i t. 2 i^tr uCCCCCil^CCCCC o S> ^ — '- M r" r- r- H r- c- Hr^ ^ r- —^ ^ X <^ ANXALS OF THE CHAMBKK OW (OMIMERCE 33 X - _ ^ 173 in : : -ig : : : ■ ^ 'i- w & ^ O ^ & 5 S 1: - S : : X cS >i -rj-, s .i K t-i X • . -^ ::^ H 'c ^ =£ t-' ■ _ * '-f- ;: ^ i fe -' & ^.- = " S^-s, t, ?- -1^ t .S o .--H = -5 X 1 S J pC I ^ -2 -35 1 I . I ^'^ 2 E" t)[— ^ U c i:^'>-Z :c.S C-'.-£ >_; &L^ _^ . . .^, . ^ .2 ^- ^ -1 r~^r^.*^ 1 O 2 •-5 6 :H-'= 1- ^ 1> 1^ r-- ^ •/. X X X X X X X r 34 AXXAf.S Ol' TlIK CHA.MiUlK OF COMAIKRCI': O w O O o o H ;^ o w w P^ O O M Cm O tl M A ■1. u — '■^ if — ^ : ~ ,/ •iS £ i 6. 1 ^ ■ :c ^ "r— . -1 • l«^ ^ 1- % < '^ . . " rf t-' ^ • •/. >1 X . Q s ^ 6P^=S-=pdiid^SS§'^25 &5 "5 oj . ►■" . ^ ■ . .■" 5 K~ . r: > E O H ^ S= K ^ -< ?= ^ d ?= :5 ffi -■ -^^ -^ fe an E o 'j: S u- J a K *• iffi^s: tu. 1 fc. -> . £^ X . . I . iHq *J HM P^ : pA— SJlio/CiOiia ./ c .; a 5 / a J a; a ^ 'il i 'T;.ii_o_^CjOi;_oo a> ii o a; a ■7>-''^ x'x'x'x'x'x'x'x'x'x'x'x ?i / J'.^ — — — 'Z'Z'Z'Z'Z'Z'Z'ZT >-tr — — l.t.:_ut.t.!-l.S_t.U~"' p. ■< r-: - 1 r ■^ H r- r 1^ i r ^ c- ^ '^ -( ^ iHx AXXALS OF THK CHA^NIBKR OL^^ COMMEKCl-: a ac : s- 5 : .i^ : 'S ■^ C — CI X "75 S o r* :^ s-H sh X rH h-— 01 • ^ " i* c 1 — c C2 o o ^ ;:3 ^ y^ ;2: X r . c ;r ^ ^ --',K-KH^^^ ^^ c:i»JI^N-^^ ri ^~" '"^ 's^ ^ ,_^' K-* K^ P-^ ^ (^^ •— :: ■— i-i-H .-^ t— ^ t-— ^_^ ^ (M lO i^ d - ^' .^ : : j'. • "o -St .-H (M C7 t^ O r*^ *^ ir! : i^ - : : 6t CC. ^ 1 kH 1- > =« s^X' s-r'^-;t-'~^~ :: • X • ■ ■ : : bt : : : 1- : -^, "B ti c : s >- s 1 . ^ .t: I' • 1 X I— 71 % i ^^^p^-^.p; i s^2^;5w?^^ -^ . — ■ . ^ P ,y, »-i S • »: >-. X • O . >• ^'X,^^ -■ --.^-•S'^ '^ " - if^'^'^'^ e:;s:s:^'J^o'^KHlK|?:^£^ • X J s-^ '^ : s- ^ Ol C7 ift) SJ ti.i .^ '^ 5 i £ "S "-'^ — i "?8 S' o -r s a o " 1 '^ .s ^ T ,c -r _ ■ - . .;5 .5 ^ X . '"' . ':^ pp I— i ^ .^ < PL( h-^ KH ;i r^ I-* -J -M Geo. E. R. Fran AV. J J. A. AViii. Rufui H. D AVm. Thos, Jame Henr -• " • • ■ • I,' : : X : h^ ^ : : 6t c - • : 2 - s- r^; J r-J IM /.- -f I-.! ^- ;^'5^ s ^ ^ X io i 2 o ^ P j^ ^ H^^ r^ ^- ^ HH w >i X^ Geo. E. R AVm. C. H AV. J A. B. Will. Rufui Will. Geo. Jame Henr Jame F. L. Chas, ;e. Se : -i.i +j '■ '■ •_^- X : ^H ■ .£" i i :_S^ : ■ il -^ 03 e • "7. 'x • • s^ "^ pO o \f.% : : ^.3 - s s ^-N Z ^ r 9 ^ J a; o J 5i a; Qi 'Oi 0; Q^ 'T^;---iii^^i;^3ii3^i;i^ !- 0) o > '7 ^ ^ "' X X 7. X /. "x X "x "vT "T X -.^^ — ^^^ — — ^,— — — ^--p;nj c t:; s-iT^ — ^t.i.^t.:_!_s_t.-.-t,:_t-o^-^ ~ — 71 E- f- E- r- r- r— r- r- r-^H H I*- 1 K<; H 36 AXXALs oi' THI-: ( iia:mbi:r ok < oimmkuci-: o o o o O cq K O a: K O I— I fa C o H r. r^ :z ' ^ A ^ ^ g i = •^ 5 ^ ^^ t i -i > . • .=«;>i :<:xd*S-:z:^2i o 3J _ '* - ^ 75 r ?: r X i-^ K' 2i i i i i i — '^- "'- '•'- ''■ '^- C fc. z - --<1 H ANNALS OF THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 37 PART III. The third period of the Chamber of Commerce history dates from the fire of April, 1906. That fire practically swept away the business district of the city. The Chamber of Commerce then, as now, a tenant of the Merchants Ex- change Building, lost its furniture, its official books its pictures, its portraits and its library. The salvage was rep- resented by a list of the members and a box of old records. The administration was neither discouraged nor disheart- ened : a few days after the fire began, namely April 27th. the Chamber was doing business, not at the old stand, but in the Ferry Building at the foot of ^larket Street, accommo- dations acquired through the courtesy of the Board of Harbor Commissioners. For several weeks the Chamber had a desk in the office of the Harbor Board. In less than tAvo Aveeks after the damaging disaster President W. H. INIarston was in daily consultation with members of the Chamber, and the routine business of the institution was runninir along at the usual gait. The Aju-il disaster was verv natur- THE ROOTS OF ii -^ i • +i THE CITY INTACT. •' "^^^^''"ned in the reports sent from this city to the outer world. One report had the wharves and docks of the port destroyed. and denied the existence of facilities for loading and unload- ing ships. As this baseless report was of serious consequence and threatened a shortage of the sacks needed for the grow- ing grain, the Chamber of Commerce hurriedly issued a true statement of the situation. The world was informed that fire had destroyed a large portion of the business section of the city, bat had not injured the water-front to any appreeifil)le extent, and vessels were loading and unloading as usual. Through the co-operation of the Pacific ^Nlail Steamship Company the shipping interests in Australia and the Orient were notified that the San Francisco wharves were all available. After weeks of active endeavor the Chamber succeeded in promoting a movement of sacks to ^93467 38 ANNALS OK THK CHAMBER OF COMMERCE tills port rind the Ihi'catened loss of the grain crop was averted. Perhaps the most important work of the Chamber for the several months succeeding the fire was the dissemination thronghout the world of the real facts about San Francisco conditions, facts upon which the banks and business men of Europe and the East could absolutely rely, for in the face of facts to the contrary, damaging reports and rumors con- tinued to circulate in the East and abroad. It remained for the Chamber to convince outsiders that the roots of the city were vigorously flourishing and the work of rebuilding the burned section was rapidly progressing. The. animal report of President Mars- /lARSTON A RELIABLE PRESIDENT MARSTON ^^^^^ f,,^. ^,^^ ^,^,^^^ ^gQg -^ ^^ interesting PROPHET ^^*^ inspiring message. This report deals in detail with the exciting- events of the year and refers specifically to the important duties of 1906. The work of the Chamber in the months immediately following the disaster was temperately de- scribed, and again it was shoAvn that the fire loss of $800,- 000,000 was by no means irreparable. To (juote from Mr. Marston 's report : "Deprived suddenly of much that seemed indispensable to the progress of the community, we still retained the facilities by which foreign and inter-state commerce moved. The water-front was open for our use ; the transcontinental railways and the ocean, with its commercial fleets, were agencies by which the community was keeping commerce in motion. Our people gave proof of our staying (lualities. As soon as possible they resolutely began removing the debris and rebuilding. We shall rebuild this city and increase our com- merce. And this Cham1)er will promote the w^ork." Curiosity may impel some to ask A LUMINOUS RE- ^^.j^.,^ ^j^^ conditions were a vear VIEW BY PRESIDENT , ^ ^x 2. ^ ^-u r. ■ ■ ' i? H BENTLEY later, seeing that at the beginning 01 1907 the situation was met in such a brave spirit. The answer is taken from the annual report of ANNALS OF THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 39 President Charles II. Bentley, made earl\- in VMS for the year 1907 : "Our pessimists were in full flight during January of 1907. Some had said that it would take six months to clear the deliris from the streets before any building of importance could be done. They had also said that the large bank clear- ings of the summerand fall months of 1906 were caused by the heavy insurance payments and that they would surely decrease. They were amazed at the fact that the streets. Avhile sadly wrecked with the heavy teaming, were, in fact, cleared of debris before the end of the year; and were astonished that the bank clearings for 1906 were larger than any in our history. The situation today is eciually astonishing. Building has progressed to an incredible extent, approximately ninety millions of dollars having been expended since the fire. The bank clearings are the largest in the history of our city for the vear 1907, .$2,133,883,688.80, exceeding the record figures of 1906 by over $133.000,000— this in spite of the financial stringency and the heavy falling of¥ in the clearings of November and December. The banking institutions of San Francisco, Avith one exception, have weathered a most trying financial storm which has prevailed throughout the country. The great wealth and prosperity of the territory tributary to San Francisco make it the metropolis of the Pacific Coast, despite all adverse conditions." In discussinu' the products of Cali- SOME PRODUCTS ^^^^.^^-.^ -^^ ^^07. President Bentlev OF CALIFORNIA. .. wi •....•..• i i, jn-esented tins statistical showing: Gold $17,360.00 Silver 975,000 Oranges 24,300 carloads Lemons 4,200 Beet Snuar 163,800,000 pounds Wheat 6,500.000 centals Barlev 9,500,000 ' ' Corn" 1,000.000 Oats 4,200,000 " Honev 6,500,000 pounds Eaisins 140,000.000 " Almonds 1 ,800.000 ' ' Walnuts 1 4.000.000 ' ' Prunes 72.000.000 ' ' 40 ANX.\LS OK TH K ('HA:\ir^ER OF COMMERCE Deciduous Fruits (shipped fresh; 7.0-t8 carloads Canned Fruits 5.560,000 cases Dried Fruits 254,375,000 pounds Peaches 24.000,000 Apricots 3.000.000 Apples •... 3.()00,0()(» Pears 1.000.000 Plums 1.500,001 1 Dried (irapes 375.000 Fi^s 6,000,000 ' ' Butter 28,678.439 ' ' ( 'heese 6.514.200 ' ' Hops 82,000 l)ales Wool 15,000,000 ' ' The time that has elai)sed since THE RECORD OF . ., ^ „ ^^ , „ wi r-i i A BUSY YEAR Apru. l;)()b, has lound the ( hamber busy. Among the matters that have engaged its attention are the following : Having seventy-five per cent, of the Federal customs dues and internal revenues collections in Hawaii set aside for a period of twenty years for the construction of Federal public works and public educational buildings; the improvement of the San Francisco water-front; the deepening and Avidening of the channel of Oakland harbor; the condition of the public health; municipal government; head tax on aliens; an appeal for sufferers in the China famine ; correspondence with the Presi- dent of the United States in regard to Japanese immigration ; urging that torpedo boats shall be constructed on the Pacific coast ; urging the adoption of the bill to increase the efficiency of the United States Arm}- ; a bill to increase the pay of officers and men in the Army and Navy; in securing improved transportation via the Isthmian Canal ; in urging the adoption of the Ship Subsidy Bill; improved currency legislation ; and the defeat of the bill providing for a parcels post : to sus{)end action relating to the sulphuring of dried fruit until further investigation was made ; securing the business on Indian supplies; city water supply; securing improvements of the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers. ANNALS OF THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 41 INlany purely local affairs have been taken up, aiiionu' which Avere the followinu' : The charg-e made by transpoi'ta- tion companies for the loading' and unloading of freight; the extension of the Belt Line on p]ast street; the salt water auxiliary system for fire protection ; opposing the appropria- tion for purchase of the Geary street road ; the employment of Professor "William Carey Jones to pass on proposed Charter amendments ; sending delegates to the Peace Con- ference held in this city; securing indemnity bonds to protect members of the Board of Public Works from per- sonal liability under the provisions of the present Charter: securing a lower rate of insurance in public warehouses; securing improved railroad service to Tonopah ; protesting against proposed freight rates into the San Joaciuin Valley which discriminated against San Francisco ; seek- ing a reduction of fire insurance rates throughout Cali- fornia; the improvement of the barracks, officers' quarters and other buildings on the l^residio Reservation ; the build- ing of Avarehouses and transport docks as provided by Con- gressional appropriation ; the building of a State Building in San Francisco as provided in the Special Session of the Legislature held in June, 1906 ; endeavoring to secure a better class of construction of school and other pul)lic buildings in San Francisco; preparation of a San Francisco trade directory of members to be distributed in all territory reached by San Francisco merchants ; seeking an improved transportation and mail service to Alaska ; endeavoring to secure a proper improvement of vacant property by absentee owners. The fire of April, 1906, developed THE INSURANCE j^^^^, ^^^^-^j comi^lex issues in insur- ISSUE OF THE / f .i ^ • i GREAT FIRE ance. I he attention of the financial world was focused on an Fran- cisco. The need of definite and reliable information regard- iuii' insurance affairs became so apparent that the investiga- tion instituted by the Chamber was followed with consuming interest. In discussing the final report the Special Com- 42 ANNALS OF TI1I<: (llAMBKH OF ('OM]\IFH('K iiiittee of the Chamber, eonsistino- of Charles H. Bentley, Ceorge E. liutler and (icorge D. (irny, offered these pertinent comments : "We have kept in view the purpose as outlined in the original plan, to wit : "1. The moral effect upon tlu' insurance companies in- volved, once they knew^ that the Chamber of Commerce pro- posed to make a reliable report, giving fair credit to those companies that are fairly meeting their obligations. "2. Supplying information on application of our mem- bers relating to adjustment being made by companies with which said members might hold policies. "3. Sending general information to commercial organi- zations throughout the country relating to the insurance con- ditions in our city. "4. In the light of such information, venturing some suggestions that will tend to the betterment of the fire in- surance business both for the insurer and the insured." The report itself is a standard authority on the insur- ance conditions created by the fire, and has been declared l)y competent critics one of the most notable contributions to insurance literature. ANNALS OF THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 43 PART FOUR. The year 1908 was a period in itself. In the revival oi' business and the restoration of contidence sncceedinji' the depression of 1907 the Chamber a(lniii^:istration was efficient and potential. President Charles C. Moore accepted his office with a thorough knoAvledge of its responsibilities, and it must be admitted that he made a new presidential record. He inspired his associates in the Board of Trustees with con- fidence in his ability, his intelligence and his integrity of purpose, and as a result the Trustees responded as never before to calls on their time, their attention and their best endeavors. The rehabilitation activities of the city developed complex issues in the solution of which the in- tiuence of the Board w^as repeatedly requested. As a result of these and other demands the meetings of the Trustees were more frequent than in former years, and the committees were obliged to investigate and report on matters that had previously been ignored by the organization. The Citizens' Health Committee of SANITARY ,„„-, ., , 1 7,r TT CAMPAIGN 1908 W' as presided over by Mr. Homer King. The sanitation w- ork of the city in 1908 was in a sense and to a degree directed by the Presi- dent of The Chamber of Commerce of San Francisco, who was Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Citizens' Health Committee. While Doctor Rupert Blue of the United States Public Health and ^Marine Service was the pro- fessional head of the sanitation force and while it is true that Doctor Blue achieved international fame through his ability, energy and courage, the fact remains that the creation and direction of public sentiment and the financing of the great health crusade in San Francisco fell to ^Iv. Charles C. ^Nloore. President of The Chamber of Commerce of San Francisco, who organized the business interests of the city from the highest to the lowest and through his dominating personality raised the very large amount of money needed for sanitation pur- poses. ]\rr. ^Nloore standardized the financial wa^rk of the 44 ANNALS OF TIIK (UAMFiKR OF COMMERCE campaign, and by his personal ap}ieals impressed the people with the necessity for clcaiisinu- the city. If special stress is laid on the intinence of the Chamber through President INIoore in the sanitation campaign, it should be borne in mind that the campaign was conducted in the face of bitter opposi- tion from a portion of the press and a portion of the pul)lic. The necessity for the work was never admitted by some of the newspapers and a certain portion of the public. IMoral courage and persistence were inseparable froin the leader- ship of such a campaign. On the initiative of President Moore COMMERCIAL ,, ,,. , . ^, n . .■ ■ ., EXCURSIONS Chamber tor the nrst tune ni the 58 years of its history inaugurated commercial excursions to interior communities ; this with a view to illustrating the interdependence of city and country. The initial excursion, ^lay 22 to 24 inclusive, included a visit to Stockton, a trip down the San Joaquin river by steamer and up the Sacramento river to Sacramento, and thence to ]Marysville. Oroville and Chico. Another excursion, held October 31st. was along the water-front of San Francisco, thence along the bay shore to Vallejo and ]Mare Island Navy Yard. A third excursion, December 9th to 13th. compre- hended Los Angeles. San Bernardino, Redlands. Riverside. Brawley. Imperial. El Centro, Calexico, Holtville. in the Imperial Valley (the visitors crossing the waters into ^Mexico), and thence home by way of Santa ^laria oil fields. In September the Chamber sent a delegation of represen- tative members to Japan in response to an invitation from The Chambers of Connnerce of Tokyo. Yokohama. Osaka. Kobe and Kyoto. In company Avith other Chambers of Com- merce of the Pacific Coast, the party sailed for Japan on the 25th of Septeml)pr. The members of the San Francisco Chamber, under the leadership of ^Ir. F. A\^. Dohrmann, made a detailed report of their experiences in elapan. v.liicli was later ])uWished in the Chamber Annual. AXXALS OF THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 43 San Francisco merchants have ahvavs PANAMA CANAL SUPPLIES shown nuich interest in fnrnishinji- snpplies for the Panama Canal enter- prise. Upon the reqnest of the Chamber, Mr. William ]\I. Bnnker. a Trustee, visited the Canal Zone in October and made an elaborate report on the supplies nsed by the forty thousand people livin^;' in the Zone. He also reported upon the transportation conditions which have placed San Fran- cisco at a serious disadvantage in competing for Canal Zone patronage. Mr. Bunker clearly indicated the trade chances for San Francisco. He closed his report with these very pertinent remarks : "The crux of the situation is swift and regular steamer service, under proper refrigerating conditions, between San Francisco and La Boca. If there existed a weekly express steamer service of twelve days, with dry air refrigeration, between San Francisco and La Boca, practically over one- half of the food supplied the Commission, or cold storage food alone to the value of $120,000 per month, could be sent from San Francisco. Li the opinion of Commission officials familiar with the conditions in the Zone and those in Cali- fornia, all the beef consumed in the Zone, transportation conditions being right, should be shipped from San Fran- cisco." At the expense of the Chamber of Commerce, ]\Ir. Bunker directed the attention of the Canal Commission to the ([uarantine against San Francisco and asked that the em])argo be raised. The quarantine had lasted for many months and had proven a disturbing factor in the mercantile business of the city. The Chamber of Commerce at the request of the merchants investigated conditions and was able to equip Mr. Bunker with facts that induced Dr. Gogas of the Canal Com- mission to order the discontinuance of the quarantine against San Francisco. 4t; ANNALS OF THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE FORMATION OF ^^ order to exert the cohesive THE ASSOCIATED strength of the Pacific Coast in deal- COMMEECE OF ^"^ "^^^^^ ^^® Federal Government, THE PACIFIC the Trustees of the Chamber of Com- COAST merce of San Francisco invited the Chambers of Commerce of Los Angeles, Oakland, San Diego. Portland. Tacoma. Seattle and Spokane to meet in the rooms of the San Francisco Chamber October 5th. 1908 for the pur- pose of forming the Associated Chambers of Commerce of the Pacific Coast. The meeting was entirely successful. Ex- Governor John II. ]\IcGraw, President of the Seattle Cham- ber of Commerce, was elected President; Geo. H. Stewart. President Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce, Vice-Presi- dent ; and C. W. Burks, Secretary of the Chamber of Com- merce of San Francisco. Avas elected Secretary. The scope of the organization is indicated by the following quotation from its bylaws : "The object of this organization shall be to induce the Federal Government to recognize the commercial and strate- gic importance of the Pacific Coast, and to promote such Na- tional legislation as will hasten the development of Amei'i- can naval, military, merchant marine, river and harbor and general navigation interests along the Pacific Coast and on the Pacific Ocean; the immediate need being an expansion of American shipping, a large fleet in Pacific waters, and an adequate increase in the military and naval establishment on the Coast." The Chamber of Commerce endorsed MISCELLANEOUS. ^, td -^ t7 the Alaska-Yukon Pacmc Lxposi- tioii; endorsed the Golden West and American Industries Exposition at Earl's Court. London; energetically favored the improvement of the Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers: guaranteed the necessary funds for the Trans-^Iississippi Commercial Congress; opposed the proposed method of ac- quiring title to Tslais Creek lands; launched plans for in- creasing trade with Alaska. ^Mexico, Central and South America; took active part in entertaining the visit of the great round-the-world naval fleet; advocated a new svs- ANNALS OF THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 47 tern of collecting' funds for the purpose of sccui'ini;- Con- ventions and Congresses for San Francisco; co-operated with the ^Merchants' Exchange in the formation of a Ti-affic Bureau; promoted the interest of the National Irrigation Congress; arranged for closer connection Ix'tween the Chamber of Commerce of San Francisco and Interior Cham- bers; actively agitated for a larger American merchant marine; emphasized the importance of the Nevada trade; planned the entertainment of American Consuls to foreign countries during their passage through San Francisco; and worked in various ways for the improvement of the com- mercial conditions in the city and State. During the year the Chamber entertained among othei-s; His Excellency Wu Ting Fang. Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of the Chinese Empire, Hon. Paul ]Morton, Ex-Secretary of the Navy, President of the Equitable Life Assurance Society. Hon. Charles W. Tavlor, D. 0. :\Iills. Hon. AYilliam R. Wheeler, Representatives of Pacific Coast Chambers of Commerce, James A. Blair, Pres. of Blair & Co., Bankers for Western Pacific R .R., Japanese Commercial Commissioners from Portland, Taconui and Seattle, General Frederick Funston, U. S. A., E. H. Harriman, President Southern Pacific Company, Hon. Thomas J. O'Brien, U. S. Ambassador to Japan. Hon. J. Cameron Forbes, Vice-Governor of Philippine Isls.. Leon D. laizriaga. iNIember Philippine Commission. Hon. John Barrett. Director of the Bureau of Latin-Ameri- can Republics. An indication of the activity of the Chamber is found in the increase in the membership. During the year there was a gain of 33 per cent. By December, 1908, the mem- bership had reached 750 — the largest in its history, and this increase represented some of tlu^ oldest and largest houses in the community. UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AT LOS ANGELES THE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY This book is DUE on tlie last date stamped below ocn $!>•*' yii^ .!i; .UL 10 15179 oinvBBsrrY of caufmwia v^^ a-i , mcj-t;q ■» Annals. UCT t^im^ HP 296 S22a Cojo.] 3 llb8 00488 7. UC SOUTHERN REGIONAL LIBRARY AA 001 154 221