The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1882-04-22

though in March, summer sun Frightened
the sky, and the crystal clearness of the at
mosphere smiled u spring.llke greeting, az
though ushering in that tender time that love
waits long to see. But this IS one of the pc
culiarities of San Francisco morning, which
continues the greater part of the early day and
by noon changes, when the ocean zephyrs
meet the mountain breeZes, and from that time
| till shutdown both dust and wind hold high
carnival, and this over, the evenings are just
heavenly.
From the summit of Russian Hill away to
the left we get faint view of the Golden
Gate the entrance 70 this charming bay; ana
before us the circular form of Mount Tamal'
pals standing sentry over the northern side OF
the Golden Gate Following the lIne to the
right we come to the mouth of the two great
rivers of Calfornla-the Sacramento and san
Joaquin; and then the range of Contra Costa
Hills, o'ertopped by Mount Diablo's graceful
peak while nesting at their base are OAK
land, Alameda and many other flourshng
towns. Then we see the steamers OF the Cen.
trail Pacific Ferry blowing their way across
the four mile stretch of water that separates
San Francisco from the opposite shore In
the middle of the bay before us Goat Island
rises over three hundred feet above the waters
of the bay; and east of 1t stands the Island OF
Alcatraz 1t commands the entrance to the
Golden Gate and the key to the harbor FORTH
cations. 1t Is heavily fortified on all sides and
on top In tact, perfect belt of batteries sur
rounds it, mounting several Of the heaviest
guns ever cast in America. On the bay crafts
OF every kind are visible, from the tiny Skin
to the four.masted monster that brings the
heathens from the tlowery kingdom of farof
China. White sailed scows and steamers
bound for the inner and upper waters fit IN
every direction; the propeller, the paddle and
the stern wheel steamer are all here in busy
activity. Fringing the waterfront is forest
of masts and In every direction lying peace.
fully at anchor are vessels just arrived or
about to depart with their valuable cargoes.
THE STREETS
of the city are surprise to people from the
east; first on account of their cleanliness, and
secondly, because of their steepness in ira
versing the hills. They cross each other at
right angles; and the cable street cars that
climb the dizzy heights and descend steep in.
clines are wonders in modern inventions Of
travel Those of your readers who have seen
the cable cars on level street like State in
Chicago no doubt think it great improve
ment, and il is, but rather tame compared to
their working In San Francisco. Perhaps mol
clearer explanation or unique description or
the modus operandi of the whole business could
be given than that expressed by Monaghan
from the flowery kingdom to his fellow hea.
then. In words more expressive than Chris.
tan like, he said, "No pushee, no pullee; up
hille all samee, like helleen' There are many
MAGNIFICENT BUILDINGS,
private residences and costly houses IN the
city, the yards and grounds of which are laid
out very tastefully aud ornamented with ever
greens, creeping vines and beautiful flowers;
and many with graveled walks, mounds,
statues and sparkling fountains. But there is
peculiarly about the houses of San Francis
co that is something novel, and that Is, ma
MIA for bay windows! Few houses are with.
out them, and most OF the private buildings
and hotels have bay window to every room.
1t seems to be mania with the people, rich
and poor alike, and from general observa-
A. - hat hau unn1d not think
of building q hen coop or dog house without
putting in bay window. And the most sur
prising part of it is, that all these bay windows
are "To LETT" 1t Is estimated that two.thirds
of the people of San Francisco are what are
called "Roomers," and eat in restaurants. And
as to the truth OF this fact one is forcibly re-
minded by the almost continuous and unlnter-
rupted appearance Of cards neatly framed and
stuck up in windows, bearing the inscription,
Furnished rooms to let," suggesting the par
ody: "Of all sad things that's been written
yet, the saddest OF these is room to let"
There Is no city on the American continent
so well provided with fine
HOTELS
as San Francisco; not eveA the great Chicago
for instead of two or three pretentious ones, 1t
has the magnificent Baldwin" the elegant
Lick House." the aristocratic Occidental"
the home.like Russ" and dozen others, but
the boss" of them all is the palace" 1t Is
the largest hotel IN the world. 1t occupies an
entire square, or two and aquarter acres OF
ground 1t is eight stories high, or one hun
dred and twenty feet from cellar to carrot. 1t
is two hundred and fifty feet front, and three
hundred and seventy-fv feet long. Bat To
convey better idea of the immense magni-
tude of this colossal monarch it will not be
it too much TO say that you might
hang the Clifton Hotel from one of the balco.
MES Of its grand court, inside, where, IN com
r;o To ntnh ln a bird