The Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1846-1852, 1849-02-02
From Me califerria Star.
The city OF San Francisco.

hdHhe Ol our lOWD, WhlCn means good
herb," is situated on the southwest side
of the principal arm Of San Francisco
bay, about FIVE miles from the ocean. on
a narrow neck Of land. varying from four
totem nrilesin width-the narrowest place
being sixteen miles southwest of the
town. It's in lat 81 as N. This mar.
row 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 hand.
some and commanding-being an incIn-
ed plane ofabout mile in extent from
the waters edge, to the hills in the rear
Two points of land-one on each side,
extending into the bay, for a crescent, or
small bay, in the shape Of a crescent, in
front, which bears the name of the town.
These points afford fine view of the sur.
rounding Countrywide sn0w-capped
mountains in the distance-the green
valleys beneath them-the beautiful
smooth and unrufled bay in front and on
either side, at once burst upon the eye.
There is in front ofthe town small island
rising high above the surface ofthe bay,
about two miles long, and one wide, which
is covered the greater part of the year
with the most exuberent herbage of un-
trodden freshness. This little island is
about three miles from the shore. Be-
tween it and the town is the principal an
chorage. Here vessels Of all nations rest
in safety and peace, and their flags are
displayed by the aromatic breeze. Two
hundred yards from the shore, there is
twenty four feet of water, and a short dis
lance beyond that as many fathoms,
The beach i. mcdiateIy in front of the
now business part Orthe town is shelving;
but it will no doubt in a short time be
filled up and become the most valuable
part Of the place.
The climate here is, in the winter,
which is the rainy season, damp and chill
Ily. During the balance of the year it is
dry, but chilly, in consequence of the
continual strong winds from the north
and northwest. There is but little va.
ration in the atmosphere Throughout, the
year; the thermometer ranging from fifty.
five TO seventy degrees Fahrenheit. Yer.
ba Buena is one of the most healthy pla
cas- on the whole coast of the Pacific
Sickness of any kind is rarely known a
mong US. The salubrity of the climate
beauty of the site of the town-its cont
guilty to the mouth of the bay-the fines
harbor on the whole coast in front-thf
rich and beautiful country around it, al
conspire to render it one of the best com
, mercial points in the world. The tow
/ is new, having been laid off in 1889 b,
Capt. John Vioget; and notwithstandin.
all the troubles in the country, has grad
ually increased in size and Importance
ltnow contains population of about fv,
= hundred permanent citizens. Twoyear
ago there were but about two hundred
-, Three miles south is the Mission Dolore
on Mission creek, surrounded by smal
> valley ofrich and beautiful land. Tn,
water from this creek can easily b.
brought by means of aqueducts to an
point to supply vessels. For the suppl
! ofthe citizens the best of well water i
, obtained in every part of the town, b
y boring the distance of forty feet.
}. In going south from Yerba Buena, tn
: traveller passes over this narrow neck {
IS land; most delightful region, intersper
o ed with hills, valleys and mountains-th
valleys rich and beautiful-the hills co,
II cred with tall pines, redwood and &C
Il dar, that have withstoOd the tempests an
4 whirlwinds Of century, and the mour
is tans rising in majestic grandeur to tn
clouds. In passing out, the valley ofSa
n Jose opens to the view in all the Lowell
@ ness of the climate of Italy and beauty
% the tropics. This valley is about sxl
). miles long and ten wide. The Pueblo
is which means an incorporated town.
= the principal place of business for tn
Is valley, and is about five miles from Sanr
, Clara, the landing, on the bay, or as
= termed here, "the embarcadaro." Pas
= ing on from here northeast, the travellt
in few hours reaches the Straits, whC
r. seper ates the Susisun bay, formed by til
h confluence of the Sacramento, and Ss
Ia Joaquin rivers, from that of San Pabl
A. Here it seems that the accumulated w
n. ters of thousand years had sudden
rent the opposing mountains asunde
III and flowed with tremendous force to Il
is great bosom ofthe deep. On the nor
a. side of the bay, from the straits to So
re slito, is one fthe finest districts of cou
sr try in aIIupper California. Next to Ye
ba Buena, Sousilito is the best point
is the whole bay for a commercial tow
8, 1t is seven miles little asst of north fro
to this place, on the opposite side ofthe ba
n. and has long been watering point
vessels. An attempt has recently bee
made to lay off and build up town
" the straits, to supercede the two la
to mentioned places. 1t will no doubt, ,ho,
q. ever be an entire failure. San Franci
e. CO bay being the safest and most comm
le dious harbor on the entire coast of Il
ry Pa cifc, some point on it must be Il
re- great mart of the western world.-W
er believe Yerbo Buena is the point, col
manding as it does now, all the trade
the surrounding country, and there bel
he already large amount ofcapital conco
d. trated here. The town ofYerba Bue
st is called in some of the old maps of 1
he country San Francisco 1t is not kno,
n by that name here, however.-The to,
#. takes its name from an herb to be fou
ng all round it, which is said to make go