SAN FRANCISCO.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 12483, 20 April 1906, Page 8

SAN FRANCISCO.

A DESCRIPTION OF THE CITY. San Francisco ranks eighth among tho great cities of the United Statcc. It is tho largest city of tho Pacific coast, and the commercial emporium of California. It is situated in 37 deg. 47min 22sec N. latitude, and 122 dcg. 2omin 40.7Gscc. W. longitude. Tho city occupies tho end of a peninsula, having the ocean on one side and the Bay of San Francisco on the other. Its site is) uneven, two hills within the city rising to 300 fept and 2U4 feet respectively, and from these heights and other smaller elevations tho (and inclines gently towards the oay. In this rospeot, therefore, it is not unlike Wellington. Built on the .side of hills it slopes towards the sea. The entrance to this land-locked bay in through tho Golden Gate, a worn waterway, about five milee long and a mile wide, with a depth ot water averaging 100 feet, but only 30 feet on tho bar at the entrance. The Jlay of San Francisco gives the city mucii of its commercial importance, and extends from Eaet Point past tho city in a southerly direction fpr alwut forty miles, varying in width from «ix to twelve mil<*. -Northwards th:e !>ay connects by a stroet with San Pablo Bay, 10 milo-s in length, having «t its northerly end Mere Island and the Navy Yard. Nearly in front of the city are throe important islands— Alcatraz, Angel Island, and Yorba. Bnena, or Goat Island, the two firfctnaiucd being fortified. SAN FRANCISCO HARBOUR. ■ San Francisco harbour is as open and simple in its configuration as Sydney harbour i< intricate. It is a great stretch of -water completely shut in from the «?a save through the ihiti-ow channel of the Golden Gato. with hills and mountains surrounding it, lost in a purple haze as we look afar, with islands to break the monotony and with, the busy shipping passing to and fro. It is ever changing and ever beautiful, whether the atmosphere bo washed by the winter rains to a flaw lews' purity, disclosing every ecratch and prominence on the distant- hills, or .-oftenpd with a, film of mi-.t so that water- hills and sky blend sit; th?y recede from view. "The harbour ot San Francisco," toys

one writer, "is a wilder among harbours, the bay and its connections extending north and eouih for about forty miles, affording anchorage; for the merchant fleets cf tie worid. It is entered through the Golden Gate, a strait Jive miles long, and one mile in width at its Marrowfat, portion. These straits wiihin rpcect yej»re,..iß9o to 1904, have been fortified -with tlic most approved modern ordnance, and the fortifications; are recognised by military experts ( ac among the beet defences of any city of the nation. Wirhm the bay, several islands arc ocr.ilxolled by the Government, and fortified., while at the Government Navy Yard -at Mere Islanu, north of the city, and at i3ie Union Ircn Works, on the. peninsula, are docks capable of receiving modern warships. Here at the Union Iron Works have been built some, of the crack fillips of the navy, including the cruisers Charleston. San Francisco and Olympia, the ba'.tlEttihips Oregon. Ohio, and South Dakota, and n number cf smaller craft. At. certain seasons the wheat carrying ships cf the world centre here to secure thoir cargoes." THE START OF THE CITY. Tho original eitc. of the city was a (jrant make by tho King ot cpain of lour square leagues of Joiid. whach was afterwards confirmed by Congress, and 5s now within the limits of the municipality, which extends its jurisdiction also over tho islands in the bay. Tho first hou«o was buik in 1835, ajid up to 1848 the population Jiad iiicrearsed to alnv.it 1000. The discovery of gold in 1848 saw the groat influx of people from all parts of the world, each nationality bringing its own peculiar customs and manners. THE GOLD DISCOVERY. Tidings of that gold discovery travelled over tho globe with wondrous speed, and within two years over 100,000 adventurous men came to the state, and many remained to help upbuild San Francisco and California. The city of to-day is tho result, with its parks, and ite gaJlcries. and buildings th'svfc rank with these of any city of tho country. Between April and. December, 184'J, 549 vessels brought .into tiie harbour 3d,000 passengers ; and during the &ame period, over 42,000 came overland. Tiie gold dust canio pouring in. During 18-18 after the diiscoverv, tiie monthly yield was. about 300,000 dollars. In 1649 thk had increased to 1,500,000 dollars, and in 1850 to 3,000,000 dollars. In 1852 there were, official shipments of 46.5nU.044 dollars in dui<t. and in 1853 this grow to 54,906,659 dollars. THE HEART OF , THE STATE'S LIFE. "No city in the country is to-day moro wide-awake than San Francisco,' , Rays Mr Charles Set!|gwick Aiken, an American writer. "None offers greater opportunities for residence, for business, for investment. Tho Pacifio Ocean is the present stage of the world's progressive drama. San Francisco is in her place on tha world's highway. Before and behind and all around, the demands of trade and of modern civilisation are crowding. The city is the metropolis cf a State that is an. empire in its resources. In its liarbour, the ships of war of all'tho nations of the world could float and bo scarcely within hailing distance of one another. The climate , of Stat© and city welcomes the ho-alth-seeker and the man. who would livo out of doors all tho year' round. Ten millions instead of barely two millions of people as at present could livo in California in comfort. The trend of population, is steadily westward. San Francisco has grown from 342,780, census of 1900, to 485,000. according to census estimate from figures of the. city directory, 1904. Every new resident cf California helps San Francisco. It is the heart which, flows tho life of the State. . . . Hero is a city of; destiny." The asseesed valuation or real and personal property in 1903 was 0i5,#0G,41G dollars. Property is assessed at 60 to 80 per cent.yf iis value, Tho city's tax rate, ja 1 dollar 12 cents on the hundred dollars. The city has practically no debt, and its administration is meet enterprising, progressive and efficient.

UNIQUE AMONG CITIES

"Sac Francisco is unique among cities," tho earn© writer observes, 'c study among the municipalities of tho world. Here arc many characters of older places, adjusted to cosmopolitan demand*, Oα.this panansula has grown up a city, eighth in size among the cities of the nation. Qualities of \Vest and Baet, and North and South, ere here mingled and developed. Practical and poetical sides of lifo here meet in equal "and harmonious growtih-. Painter and musioian," stockbroker amd. merchant, are shoulder to shoulder. Progress iii commerce and literature has beeu conspicuous. Critics remark to see such lines of endeavour; of parallel growth in the tame community.. Here is the fioft air and blue eky of Italy, the marine outlook of 'Naples, with Mount Tamalpais personating Vesuvius; the hills of Rome, the winter climate of tho Riviera, and people who possess the attributes of Nevr England energy and Oriental luxury. And then there's the sea—over tli» sea. Tho open-air lifo that is possible the year through, coupledi with the coming hither, in .the search either of riohes or for health, of the world's best brain and braw.ii, have formed here, on tihe nations western shore, a community that stands for untrammeled individuality."

A FALSE SENSE OF SECxUTY.

In the early part of lo*J the population of 'Frisco was about 2000; at tie close of that year it had increased to 20,000. A large part of tho mining immigration of 'those roving days made it a point for supplies and departure for tho mines in the interior. The city was originally built of wood, the first houses and stores being constructed in the Atlantic States, taken round Gape Horn, and get up as required. "In the early days," saye one authority— alas! hon- little did he forsee tho future—" tho number of wooden buildings was considerable, but builders are no longer hampered by tJie fear of earthquake*!" Three great fires in 1850 swept the greater part of these wooden structures away.