The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1854-11-11

following interesting Sketcn OF Gan FRANCISCO,
which our readers will be pleased to SIC, it is
to be continued.
PHILADELPHIA, Nov. Oh, 1854.
NlR. EDITOR THINKING that some account
of the city of San Francisco and its cnvirons
will please your numerous readers have de-
tvrn,in,d to CLEAN from authentic papers |
have in my possession, all the principal in
cdcnS.
The same year which gave life to the Great
Republic of the glorious Union, also witnessed
the first permanent settlement Of Upper Cali
fprnia. In l776 two missionaries of the Ro-
man Catholic Church landed in the bay Of
San Francisco aud proceeded to establish
point for their operations III civilizing and
clriStianizng the natives. They were ma
tivcs of Spain: (ihcr names Francisco Palou
and Bcnito Camhou.) but come to this place
from Mexico. Finding fertile tract Of land
capable Of irrigation, nearly two miles south
of the present city, they chose it for their
home and founded 4 mission which they call
cd Dolores.
On the present site Of the city Of San Fran
t:iSco few houses were erected about the
same time. This settlement was called Yer
dn Baena. or good hclb) on account of an
herb resembling tea bling found on the sur
rounding hills. The town retained that name
until it was occupied by the Americans. All
the buildings were of sun dried bricks or
ol0LeS The first house built at tho mission
is still standing. The Preside three miles
west of the town, near the entrance to the
hay was constructed about the same time for
Government purposes. The mission flourish
cd rapidly from its completion, fully realizing
tic hopes of its founders. The Indians en-
braccd the religion of its founders and were
taught to cultivate the soil and many mcchan-
zeal arts. Often the Indians were provided
with means and sent to cultivate for them
selves but they soon returned TO the protcc-
ton Of their friends. At one time there be-
Jongcd to the mission twenty thousand head
of cattle, three thousand horses, and thirty
thousand sheep.
In the mean time the town was slowly in
rrcasing: some Importance being attached TO
it on account Of the hides and tallow which it
exported. In 1889 it was laid out as town
by Capt. John Noight; the few houses, before
being scattered without regularity. in 1916
the inhabitants (ncw comcIs,) numbered one
hundred and fifty, and in two years it had
reached five hundred. many adventurous
Americans having settled in it; so that in fact
it was an American settlement, before Upper
California became part of the United States.
The city of San Francisco is situated on
narrow neck of land between the bay of the
same name and the Pacific Ocean. fronting the
bay on the cast and having the Ocean five
miles on the west. The bay extends fifty
miles southwark and is separated from the
sea by narrow neck of land from five to
end of this promontory. The site is very
han rlo Of half
q mile from the water edge to the hill in the
rear. Two points of land Clark's on the
north and Rincon on the south, one mile
apart, extend into the bay, forming crescent
between them, which is the water front of
city, which has already been filled in and
covered with buildings to the extent Of nearly
mile. These two points and the lofty hills
on which the city is rapidly extending afford
a most extensive view Of the surrounding
country.
You can scarcely Imagine more diversified
view than is presented from these heights.
From Telegraph hill north ofthc city, looking
eastward the spacious bay spreads itself
before you eight miles IN width and covered
with ships from all parts of the world; and
the fertile coast of Contra Costa beyond, with
its new city of Oakland (which is destined to
lie the Brooklyn Of San Erancisco,) behind
which rise hill on Hill to the rod wood forests
on tic SUBMITS. Far above these is Mount
Diaholo distant about IS miles. Mount
Diabolo means the mountain of the Devil and
it is supposed was so called, because the In
dams imagined it to be the head quarters Of
that spirit and were accustomed to l,aye
propltatory offerings to appeasc his anger, at
It's base. North is the entrance to the bay
from the Ocean, almost beneath your feet, and