The New San Fransisco

New Zealand Tablet, 4 November 1909, Page 1744

The New San Fransisco

(From Our Christchurch Correspondent.) Writing from San Francisco to a friend in Christchurch, the Very Eev. Father Price sfcites the following interesting facts relating' to the new San Francisco, which in an incredibly short space of time has risen upon the ruins of' the y <ml ecked by the S reat earthquake- and fire:— Ihe growth of San Francisco from- the ruins of three years ago is nothing short of marvellous. It is the newest city of- its size m the world, and the class of buildings erected is unexcelled. All the latest improvements are-in-stalled for ventilation, sanitation, and safety. No money has been spared to make these edifices attractive within and without. When it is noted that there are at least 200,000 more feet of office space in the business section than there were before the great calamity, and all the vacanb offices are bemg ( applied for before the buildings are ready for occupancy, it is positive proof that the seekers after such places have great confidence in the', future of this beautiful city The streets are better made and better lighted. The system of tramways has been extended, and, while the locality formerly known as the -residential quarter is marked by many vacant lots and blocks, the prices of these properties are still maintained at high figures, for the owners know that in a tew years the land values will- increase and -they will profit S & » Francisco is a' city of hotels and apartment houses. No other city can compare with it. The number of houses erected, especially for the accommodation of the travelling public, is astounding. These buildings are beautiful in design and the marble-lined halls, elegant lobbies, and magnificent dining-rooms are a revelation to 4 visitors, who stand in awe as they gaze upon these palaces of art, and the this respect has onl y Oust commenced.' When the fire drove the people to the outskirts of this hn a ma £ V ± I mm M d t0 bu * P ro Perty there and erect homes For twenty miles down the Peninsula one can drive through a succession of beautifully-laid-out blocks of residences, most of them surrounded by flower gardens and extensive lawns. Thousands of carpenters, stonemasons, and bricklayers have been employed in this work, and among the imSSf % T •£• AmeriCa ? a « U Francisco ™nks fifth i£ tht amount of building operations undertaken even as late as passing II Y ° rk ' Br ° Oklyn ' and Chta|o 'San Francisco has the second finest harbour in the world, that of Eio -de Janeiro occupying the position of honour, but the docking facilities of ?the gg f ornie/cSy have not been all that they should be, -and this fact beinj made S°£ n (Mo<£}? StatG 1 1 ature »t its last session, t L sum of £1,000,000 was set- aside to remedy the defect. New wharves are being built and the sea wall extended for mile! and when completed it will accommodate more shippi ? ng7h2 any other American city. The future of this city is a&ured HrlT «$ - 66 • ggre - tt + GSt ricult « ral a *d mineral State in tff Union sustaining it and the commerce of the whole Pacific Coast waiting to enter the portals ofits Golden GatefSe people who have made this city their own home have every SeTwm 1 V LXe^o a \l^ d ™ *™ a »* *&. sldii Th )f n / er^ ReV ' Pat^ er Prlce ' under tlle bes * medical skill has quite recovered from the throat affection from which he was suffering when he left Christchurch, and i* tends being back m the city on November 13 ' Q d i + ?e? c Cathedra ] on Sunday his Lordship- the Bishop asked the prayers of the faithful for the safe voyage of Father Price, and a cordial welcome to him on his arrilal