IMPRESSIONS OF CALIFORNIA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 9943, 5 October 1895, Page 1 (Supplement)

IMPRESSIONS OF CALIFORNIA.

[by henry varley.] No. I. It is always interesting to visib new scenes. When in February last I came from Melbourne to Sydney, ib was in ordor to take passage by the b.s. Arawa to Honolulu and San Francisco. After a very pleasant voyage we reached the port of the latter city on March 14. I had never visited tho Pacific

be employed, with the back-grounds of semi-troDical foliage, are a sighb to behold. To find 'all this magnificent space thrown open freely to all comers 1 To mark the elaborate stabuary, the conservatories, and ornamental buildings ! the overspreading trees, gracefully arched and intertwined, beneath which hundreds of seats and chairs are provided, delighted me greatly. I could bub say, as an Englishman, if those who have wealth would show as Mr. Sutro does his desire that his fellow - citizens should have a generous share in the enjoyment which his large means has so readily provided, we would have far less complaints of the doings of wealthy men than we have. THE "BATH PALACE."

The Tambras Old Cliff House," which was built upon the rocks, was burned down about eighteen months ago. A new and commodious house is in course of construction, and promises, for situation, outlook, and convenience, a splendid addition to San Francisco's famous seaside resorts. Near to this remarkable building, rapidly approaching completion, stands the Sutro Bath House or " Bath Palace." Wibhoub question, this is the most magnificent building of its kind in the world. Roughly pacing ib, I made the extreme length of the bath about 600 feeb, its width from 200 to 220 feet. Ib is enclosed as a huge palace with vast dome and side transparencies overlooking the sea. On the land aide, and ab either end are balconies and almost interminable terraces, bier upon tier of seats rising higher and higher, yielding accommodation for more than 20,000 people to view this mammoth exhibition of sea bathing. There are from 12 to 1500 separate boxes for the bathers' uses. The stairways are astonishing to behold, and the corridors, balconies, and. promenade terraces a marvel, shall I call ib, of "naval" architecture. I found myself and friends saying " wonderful," " extraordinary," " astonishing," and in truth ib is so. This combination of attractions ab the Sutro Heights represents as a whole the indomibable energy and enterprise of one gentleman who nob only deserves well of his fellow-citizens, bub who has their confidence. Like all men of his typo, Mayor Sutro transcends little things. He cannot away with the mean, the petty, and the paltry. For some reason or other, when he was asked to become tho Mayor of San Francisco, the principal, or perhaps I should have said the " sensational," daily journals wrote and acted against Mr. Sutro with combined persistency. Of course the people returned him, despite the opposition, with an overwhelming majority.

COMPANY V. STATE RAILWAYS. Taking advantage of the Mayor's extraordinary outlays at " Sutro Heights," the Southern Pacific Railway doubled the car fare to this popular resort. It is said that this great railway company ara as grasping in their policy as Mayor Sutro is generous in his. Anyhow, the man came out, and Mayor Sutro secured powers enabling him to construct a railway to the Sutro Heights, which route is now nearly complete. No sooner was this step taken than the Southern Pacific Company " caved in," harking back to the original fare?. Something will need to be done with these railway combinations, All along the line

San Francisco's ideal of experience. Life a joke, and a good time, is not a bad translation of social conditions in the Bay Cities. .lusb now the bicycle craze is rampant —the young men and women fairly "gone" on the latest fad. Sundays specially are she chief days for this labesb " wheel mania."