Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1863-05-23
The City of san Francisco.
BY JAY WHIPPLE.

speak OF Tie Guy OF Sau FrdHCIoCo, anu
as punctuality begets confidence" am
ut YOUR service for the next hour.
She has an estimated population of
ninety thousand, which entities her, with
her continual increase, to rank as one of
the important cities of the Union. Com
mcrcialy, financially and politically, She
stands in the same light and position as
n great city to tho y estern slope of the
Rocky Mountains that New York city
ices to the Atlantic sea board. To sum
t all up in nutshell, San Francisco is
rae New York of the Pacific Coast
and with her influ ence, wealth Of power,
7rhich she has already acquired, she viii
naturally retain her supremacy as the
metropolitan city Of that vast territory
living West of the Rocky Mountains
San Francisco is situated upon the IVES
tern bank of the Bay, and stands upon
the billy ridge which forms the barrier
that separates the Pacific from the Bay,
having the ocean four miles on the West.
The CITY is on the No"th-westerly cor
ner of the promontorY a series OF lofty
hills'and sandy valleys originally marked
its site. The march of improvement
las, however, to q considerable extent,
leveled the one aud filled in the other.
Probably the finest view of San Fran
cisco is that which IS enjoyed bv the
spectator. who eazes upon the city and
surrounding country from the top of
Telegraph Hill, au eminencs which rises
TO a height of 29U feet. From this en-
inence the landscape extends over por-
tons of the countries combining the gran
deur of the ocean, with the peaceful evil
dences of agricultural industry-a hlen
ding of the wild picturesque-w 18th the
extended proofs of advanced civilization
at your feet,
Thirty miles South west is San Josas
pronounced San Gu "a situated at the
head Of the Bay The Bay of San
Francisco is fine sheet of water, and
always a safe and secure harbor for the
largest class of steamers and vessels.
Upon the opposite side Of the Bay,
aud seven miles distant, is Oakland and
San Antoine; being two small towns
containing n population of twelve hun
drad each.
Directly opposite the city, and one
mile from the main shore, is situated up
on high, but small island, Fort Alca
traz, a spot where political prisoners have
felt the stern risors Of Martial law-and
its walls are as familiar to certain few
lover hero" as are the walls of Fort
Lafayette and Fort Warren are familiar
to certain few "over there" This and
Fort Point are the only Notifications of
the harbor and city. of which will
speak moro in detail in some future let
ter.
Lines Of steamers connect the East,
and incidentally, with Europe, China
with South America and Australie, with
the parts of the Gulf of California, with
Oregon, with Washington Territory and
British Columbia. By means of mag
49, s~ica."rl. "lo "ietfu SPeahng dia-
lance of almost every portion of the
State, and within the past year have
been placed in telegraphic communica-
ton with the cities of the Atlantic.
San Francisco has many fine and
costly public buildings, including the
Post Office, U. S. Mint, City Hall, and
Custom House, besides many others too
numerous to mention.
The three principal hotels of the city
were erected during the last year, and
can vie with style and beauty combined,
with all the modern improvements, with
any of the first class hotels in the At
lantic cities. Previous to 1862 the ORR
entail and the American Exchange were
the favorte resorts of transient fashiona-
Die people, but now they have been
thrown into the second rank by the
larger and more magnificent and more
fashionably situated Lick House, Russ
House, and Occidental Hotel. The Russ
House was opened in April, 1862. 1t
is one of the largest hotels in the world
that IS, upon the ground, but in height
is only three stories. For it must be
remembered that fluctuations of Mother
Earth WAS felt.in this country, that some
times disturb the equanimity of upper
stories.