Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1849-02-21
The City Of San Francisco.

4 by its inhabitants by the name of Yerba
Buena, is copied from the California Star, 2
a paper now discontinued, because its com
ductors have found more profitable EN- ploy-
ment than the income of their publication
afforded 1t is apparently the descriptions
OF careful observer, drawn upon the spot, q
and therefore may be regarded as an origi-
nal authority q '.i ~ - -
! Yerba Buena. (San Franciseo,) Che name
'fof uhr t6Hn, wfiei means ssoolf hefb -
situated on the south west side Of the prir,-
tcipal arm of San Francisco bay, about FIVE
miles from the ocean, on narrow neck Of
land, varying from four to ten miles in
width-the narrowest place being sixteen a
miles southwest Of the town. 1t is In lat.
81 45 N. This narrow strip Of land is about
sixty miles in length. extending from the
point formed by the bay and the ocean, to
the valley of San jose The site of the
town is handsome and commanding-be being .
an inclined plane Of about mile in extent
from the waters edge, to the hills in the
rear. The points of land-e on each side
extending into the bay, in front which bears
the name of the town. These points afford !
a fine view of the surrounding country
the snow-capped mountains in the distance =
the green valleys beneath them--the
beautiful smooth and unruffied bay in front
and on either side, at once burst upon the I.
eye. There is in front of the town, a 8 nall >
island, rising high above the surface of
the bay, about two miles long, and one
wide which is covered the greater part ef
the year with the most exuberant berbase
of untrodden freshness This little island
is about three miles from the principal an
chorage. Here vessels Of all nations rest
in safety and peace, and their flags are dis
played by the aromatic breeze. -
Two hundred yards from the shore;
there is twenty-four feet Of water, and d
short distance beyond that as many faith
oms. The beach Immediately in trent Of
the now business part of the town is shelly
ing, but it will no doubt in sht rt time be
filed up and become the most valuable part
of the place. @ -e vs5 81
The climate here is in the winter, which
is the rainy season damp and chilly. Du-
ring the balance of the year it is dry, but :
chilly in consequence of the continual strong
winds from the North and, North West
There is but little variation in the atmespkered
: tthrougheut the yeaE.sthe fhermemsts rangs
IluX HUM HlCy-uFE tu oCpCHSy A1i-rg
renheit. Yerba Buena is one Of de most !
healthy places on the whole coast ofths Ra-
cifc. Sickness of any kind is rarely know1n.
among US. The salubrity of the climate
beauty of the site of the town, its contigui-
ty to the mouth of the bay, the finest har- !
Dor ON the whole coast in front, the .richsi
and beautiful country around it, all corspirs
to render it one of the best commercial q
points in the world. The town il new, hav-.
4 ing been laid off in 1889, by Capt John q
Viegel; and notwithstanding all the troubles
in the country, has gradually increased in
size and Importance. 1t contains a pepula-a
ton of about five hundred permanent citi.
zens. Two years ago there were about two I.
hundred. Three miles South on the Mis-
sirn creek surrounded by small valley Of &
rich and beautiful land. The waters from;
this creek can easily be brought by means
of aqueducts to any point to supply vessels. q
For the supply OF the citizens the best of
well water is obtained in every prrt of the
town, by boring the di,tance of forty feet
In going South from Yerba Buena, the tfav-
eller passes over this narrow neck Of land; D
most delightful region, interspefsed with 8
hills, valleys and mountains-the valleys
rich and beautiful-the hills covered with
tall pines, redwood and cedar, that have
withstood the tempests and whirlwinds of
century, and the mountains rising in MAJ
je tic grandeur to the clouds. In passing
out, the valley of San Jose opens to the
view in all the loveiness Of the climate of
Italy and beauty of the tropics. 2a,tss 3
The valley is about sixty miles in length
and ten in width. The Pueblo, which
means an incorporated town is the principal
place of business for the. valley, and is
about FIVE miles from Santa Clara, the land
ing, on the bay, as it termed here, "the
embarcadaro." Passing on from here north lV
east, the travellers in few hours ride,
reaches the Straits, which separate the Susi- u
un bay, formed by the confluence of the
Sacramento and San Josquin rivers from
that of San Pablo. Here it seems that the
accumulated waters of thousand years
had suddenly rent the opposing mountains
asunder, and flowed with tremendous force
to the great bosom of the deep. On the
north side of the bay, from the straits to
Sousilito, is one of the finest districts of
of country in all Upper California. Next to
Yerba Buena. Sousilith is the best point n'
on the whole bay for commercial town.
1t is seven miles little east Of north from j.
this place, on the opposite side of the tay,#a
& has long been watering point for yessels.lai
An attempt has recently been made 10 al
lay off and build up a town at the straits,
to supersede the two last mentioned places..ii
1t will, no doubt, however be an entireJe
failure. San Francisco bay being iheia
safest and most commodious harbor on thei3.i
entire coast of the Pacific, some point onptt
it must be the great mart of the western
world. We believe Yerba Buena is the 8
point, commanding as it does now, all the %
trade ofthe surrounding country, and there 50
being already large amount Of capital
concentrated here. The town of Yerbal ri
Buena is called in some of the old maps OF "
the country, San Francisco. 1t is not
known by that name here however. he '
town takes its name from an herb to Do q
found all around it, which is said TO make
good tea, and possessing excellent medical
qualities it is called good herb, or feroy
Buena.