The hydraulic press., 1859-09-17

form 'the outposts of the fast advancing me
tropolis. I observed cottages chnging 10 the
rock, like bird nests, and accessible only by
flights of wooden steps. Others were al
most overwhelmed by drifts eff sand, and
seemed desolate enough externally, though
within merry children wereromping women
were fitting by the windows and the Whole
drama of life went on as elsewhere.
Less than eleven years ago the drifting
sand tumuli of Yerba Bueha Cove were dot
ted by the futtering tents of the first eager
gold seekers. The greatest portion of these
sailed up the Sacramento in quest of El
Dorado, a few sagacious men remaining be.
hind to reap the fruits of their discoveries
and hardships and to erect great CONNER
cial emporium Yet these too had thefr
hardships. Passing through one fiery ordeal
after another, and through the more unre-
lenting and destructive trials of political
corruption, partzan misrule and popular
fury, their progress to the goal they have
reached at last was not easy and delightful.
THERE'S now here acity whose limits embrace
about 2, ooe acres of land, trayersed by nearly
400 streets; inhabited by about go, 600 souls;
paying taxes on property assessed at about
$35,oOo,OoO; supporting % public schools,
for the benefit of which it pays tax of 35
cents on each 500 of property valuation,
besides maintaining many private schools
and colleges; dispensing its public charities
through the medium of nearly so benevolent
societies Of various kinds; containing up
wards of forty societies devoted to refigiods,
literary, commercial, protective, social and
musical objects, besides some SO incorpora-
ted companies; boasting of 3s church edifces
and congregations; protected by Fire De-
partment of nearly one thousand members
and system of public water works; issuing
SO different newspapers and periodical pub
lcations, some of which have no superiors
anywhere already manufacturing largely,
the number of foundries, machine shops
etc. alone amounting to 200 and employing
about 1000 persons having its public hos
pftals, its military organizations, its numer-
Gus insurance agencies, its artists, its ora-
tors, its eminent lawyers, its merchant prin>
ces, its elegant public and private buildings,
its lines of stages and steamboats, and ocean
steamers, and all the ten thousand things
that 60 to make up great metropolis.
Catch your breath, reader after that long
stats tical sentence, which cEysta1izes into
figures the vague sensations of the city's
magnitude that moved the writer's mind last
Sunday morning. It was relief to hear
the church bells tolling. l hurried down
to the now crowded streets, rejoiced that
the sun and blue sky were again visible, and
pleased with the appearance of the city des-
pite the monotony of its umber and slate
colored houses, which look as if they had
been built hundred years ago. On secular
days, when the stores and shops are all open,
this monotony of color is not observed. The
streets are snowy and brilliant, and remind
one at times of New York. Montgomery
street is the Broadway of San Francisco, and
exhibits many of the characteristics of
that famous thoroughfare. 1 was partict1a
ly struck with the great number of fine
looking men lounging along the side walks
tall elegant fellows, who would make your
Broadway exquisites die of envy. The COM
pafative plainness with which the ladies
dress also attracted attention, and is perhaps
occasioned by the regular daily winds that
here cover everything with dust.
Straying from the main thofohghfares I
was delighted with the appearance of the
private residences. Many Of these are ele-
giant cottages, almost hid by climbing. vines
whose odorous blossoms arrest the passer
by. Others are pretentious ediflces, ffown-
ing in all the unattraetiveness ofbrown sand
stone or its imitation, but surrounded by
gardens that would have delighted Downing
or old Bacon, so elaborate and tasteful are
they. Dwellings without gardens have their
fronts adorned with rare plants, which could
not bloom in any cline less mild. Boxes of
magnolia, and oleander and crysanthum
are to be seen at nearly every residence,
amid sweet scented migniunettes and the
aristocratic madeira vine. The Tehama
Hotel has rows of blooming plants, planted
in boxes, tier above tier for every story Of
its hight, which gives the house strange
yet pleasing appearance. This common de-
votion to flower culture is said to be char
acteri site of New Orleans, and to have been
inaugurated here by former residents of that
city. Be that as it may, it is very charm
ing and commendable.
The march of improvement still goes on
at San Francisco. Many Of the streets are
being paved with cobble stones-one con-
tribution at least for which the place should
thank the mountains-and there are num-
H.. - IL