Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1883-07-06
NOB HILL.
The Palaces of California MilliOnaires
Overlooking san Francisco.


The great advantage of the hill-tops for
residences is the commanding view they have
Of the country for tens of miles distant, anil
Of the beautiful bay of San Francisco. Cal
ifornia street aud Sacramento street both
begin at tho harbor and run through the
business portion of the city for half mile,
till they reach Mob lIill close TO kearncy
street. 1t should be borne in mind that the
city is laid out in squares, and the street run
in straight liaCs, at right angles, over hills and
valleys Here the cable road commences on
California street. The cars move up the hill
| one block, ill they come TO a cross street,
where it is level to the extent of It's width
and then ascend again till they come to
| another cross street, with the same level
space. After crossing half Il dozen streets,
| half dozcn level places, and passing half II
| dozen squares, the cable cars reach the top.
After proceeding au eight OF a mile the cars
| 90 down hill and encounter like number
| Of cross streets, and after reaching the val
| ley and crossing ii they will elm b another
| long hill with its series of crossings and
terraces.
| In this manner California street traverses
| up and down three or four hills each from
$50 TO 40 feet in height. Staining at the
base OF the hill and looking upward that
street appears like series OF terraces, which
| add much to its appearance. Owing 10 the
| easy facility of reaching the business portion
| OF the city by means OF their cable reads,
| California aud other streets climbing these
hills are occupied by the aristocracy of San
Francisco. The residences of this city are
all built Of wood in order to guard against be-
ing shaken down by earthquakes which visit
the city enthusiastically. 1t looks odd to
see the palaces on Mob Hill, costing h;indteGs
| nf RIM pI pf
but they are splendid specimens Of elabor-
ate architectural designs, aud vie with
pretentious mansions at the cast in magnd-
cence. 1t will naturally bc supposed that
fires would occur frequently in "a city built
almost entirely of wood, and 50 they would
if the houses were constructed of pine AS
Chicago mostly was at the time Of her great
fire. But the dwellings here are built of
redwood, which is the principal lumber OF
California, and docs not iguitc and burn
easily, co.'s quently a fire docs no,
get under much headway before the
arrival of the steamers of TIE fire
department. Redwood is similar in
color to the heart of beechwood AMI is equal
| y hard, and susceptible Of tine polish, re-
sembling that of fresh mahogany. have
seen uantelpieces made of this lumber which
were really artistic and beautiful.
The mansions of Governor Stanford Of
Mrs MARK hopkins, anI Mrs. Cqarles
Crocker are palatial, and present the IN ost
gorgeous architectural eifec,s although built
of wood. Mrs. Hopkins house occupi, the
highest point IN Mob Hill, and Can be seen
from all poiuts of San Francisco. From its
observatory, which is stated to be l40 feet
high, Il grand view is obtained in every
direction. The cost Of these three mansious
"itn their grounds, furniture, and works OF
art, Is said to be about $4,000 900. This
think, gr,ay exaggerated. .Still they are
mganltcient trlo.ut palaces, and are the larg-
est wooden dwelling houses in the world.
| There are numerous other tinc residences on
California, Sacramento, Bush and Clay
streets, on the hil!tops. noticed that the
railway maguates, the Iluntingtons, the
Crockers, Hopkins; and Stanford, have their
homes on top of these hills, while Flood.
o Brcn, who is deceased, Sharon and other
bonnizi kings have their homes in the lower
part OF the city. 1t looks as though the rail
way arlstocracy decline to associate with the
peban BONANZA fellows who made their i'm
mense wealth IN mining stock jobbing, al
til ugh they have the reputation of having
made it in legitimate mining, which is not
true. The houses Of these bonanza arsto-
Gratis are very costly, but do not compare
with those on Mob Hill.