Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1877-04-06

has been built, must have presented a des
olate and discouraging aspect to our pio
neers. 1t was treeless, barren desert o
rocky hills and great sand dunes, and onl,
a struggling hamlet of dozen or two un
pretentious houses skirted its northern
shores in 1S40. The broad Pacific ocean
with its long swells and white surf, bounds
the peninsula on the west. To its sandy
beach and vigorous summer trade winds
we are indebted for our numerous sane
hills. The entrance TO the harbor is some
what narrow, and rocky headlands rise or
either side. 1t is called the Golden Gate
and bounds the peninsula on the north
Beyond the straits rise irregular hills which
culminate ten miles distant in a rugged
mountain called Tamalpias. The straits
soon widen out into bay which forms oul
eastern boundary.
The bay of San Francisco is a beautiful
sheet OF water about half as large as Long
Island Sound. II connects with San Pablo
and Suisur bays upon the north and
through them receives the waters Of the
Sacramento aud several smaller rivers.
Three of the Islands of the bay lie near the
city namely, Yerba Buena or Goat Island,
Angel Island, and Alcatraz; the latter ID
wholly United States fortress. The bay
affords an excel ent harbor for the largest
ships, and am told that II is The only good
harbor on the Pacific coast of North Amer
lea from Panama to Puget Sound. This
fact determined the selection of this penin-
sula, notwithstanding its primitive unpre-
possessing aspect, as the site of the future
| metropolis, and insUres its continued
growth and greatness, forever, without a
rival upon this coast.
The growth of many American cities has
been wonderful, notably Chicago. / have
not at this moment in my memory her da-
ia for comparison, but Chicago was built
upon level ground, easy of access from the
centres of population. Her founders were
not obliged TO traverse vast mountains, or
transport their supplies half around the
world. The Californians laboring under all
Of these disadvantages, but with the assist
ance Of their aforementioned Sovereign,
have transformed this hamlet of 1919 into
great city of 27O,000 Inhabitants, and filled
it 10 repletion with all the necessities, con-
veniences and luxuries of civilization. The
rocky and precipitous hills have been ter
raced into fashionable residence streets.
The sand dunes have been leveled and cast
into the bay. Spacious docks aud substan.
tial warehouses have sprung from the wa
ters. Tasteful mansions, elegant stores,
magnificent hotels aud imposing churches
with 'gilded domes and turrets proud"
and splendid palaces, have arisen. Such a
m metamorphosis in so short a time was new
er heard of outside of the stories of the
Arabian Nights. The business part of the
city is substantially built, mostly Of brick,
and the streets well paved There are, how
ever, many iron, granite and marble fronts
in short, the effect is much the same as O b.
served in any well built eastern city. But
outside OF these limits nearly everythingis
built OF wood, even the sidewalks and
streets being planked.
Since the great Improvements IN wood
working machinery, fancy mouldings,
scroll and carved work can be rapidly and
cheaply produced and duplicated. Our
numerous planning mills aud wood W orking
establishments employ large percentage
of their force upon the ornamental. Our
architects display excellent taste /; bay win
dows and ornamental porches are the rule;
in fact, profusion Of ornamental work up
on the fronts of houses is universal, and as
1t is gotten up in great variety Of styles,
the effect is very pleasing. The houses are
mostly painted in light iints, as French
gray, pearl, corn color, cream, &c, with an
occasional attempt at an imitation of brown
stone. Many Of the dwellings have pretty
front yards, with grass and flowers which
seem to blossom in perennity. The more
pretentious mansions have large side court
yards with fountains, statuary and pro-
fusion Of shrubbery, including numerous
carefully trimmed cone-shaped evergreens.
species of palm tree, cactus and century
plants also flourish. They lend sope-
what foreign, semi-tropical air to the ap.
pearance of things.
American cities run to expensive cara
vansaries. Some of the wealthiest citizens
thereof at q certain period of their lives
seem 10 be seized with passion for erect
ing great hotels. In respect to the size and
aud elegance of its hotels, San Francisco
beats the world. Our Commercial, Co.'S
mopolitan, Occidental, Russ House, Lick
House and Grand Hotel were large and
handsome enough for city of this magu-
tude, but the addition of the gigantic Pal
ace aud the elegant Baldwin Hotels would
seem to anticipate the needs of San Fran
cisco in this line for years TO come. Their
builders must be firm in the faith that this
is The future great city, and have shown
their faith by their works. Every one,
presume, has read descriptions of the Pal
ace Hotel. Its Interior arrangements are all
that could be desired, and a sense OF its
yastness grows upon one as he gazes upon
its exterior. The uniformity OF its design
in its seven stories of bay windows does
not give as imposing an effect as we could
wish. It's exterior has been pronounced
by many great architectural failure, but
its immense size will always make IL
famous. The Baldwin Hotel is superior 10
the Palace in everything except the amount
of ground 1t covers. Its French roof,
dome and towers, and its general exterior
finish are highly ornamental, and its inte-
rlor finish, decorations and furniture am
told will eclipse anything yet attempted in
hotels.
Our new City Hall, which is approaching
completion, will be the largest public build
In the country. 1t is TO cost only eight
millions of dollars 1t Is decided that it
shall be paid for as fast as it is built. No
bonds will be issued for future generations
to pay. 1t will be a magnificent present
from the large-minded citizens of this dec
ade to the children of the future metropo-
lis. By their works, in the erection of this
costly edifce, the citizens at large also show
their faith in the future prosperity of San
Francisco. 1 have been informed by an
intelligent and reliable pioneer, that for
several wears during early times plastered