Weekly graphic. [volume] (Kirksville, Adair Co., Missouri) 1880-1949, 1883-08-10
MOB HILL.
The Palaces Of California Millisnaires
Overlooking San Francisco. f5F

.
The great advantage of the hill-tops
for residences is the commanding view
they have of the country for tens Of
miles distant, and of the beautiful bay
of San Francisco. California street and
Sacramento street both commence al
the harbor and run through the bust.
ness portion of the city for half mile
till they reach Mob hill. close to Kear-
ney street. 1t should be borne in mind
that the city is laid out in squares, and
the streets run in straight lines, at right
angles, over hills and valleys. Here
the cable road commences on California
street. The cars move up the hill one
block, till they come to u cross street,
where it is level to the extent of its
width, and then ascends again till they
come to another street, with the same
level space. After crossing half doz-
en- streets. half y dozen level places, and
passing half dozen squares. the cable
cars reach the top. After procecdin.
an eighth of n mile the cars 90 down
hill and encounter like number OF
cross-strects, and after reaching the
valley and crossing it, they will climb
another long hill with its series ofcross-
ings and terraces. In this manner CAL
ifornia street traverses up and down
three or four hills each from $50 to 400
feet in height. Standing at the base OF
the hill and looking upward. that street
appears like series of terraces, which
add much to its appearance. Owing to
the easy facility of reaching the bust
ness portion of the city. by means OF
their cable roads. California and 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 being
shaken down by earthquakes, which
visit the city enthusiastically. This
reminds me that in addition to the many |
courtesies and acts OF hospitality ex-
tended to me by people whom l have !
met in this city. they have kindly got
ten up small shock of an earthquake
for my especial benefit. At least, we
had Il slight shock one morning since
my arrival, without doing any harm,
and it gave me IN inkling Of the pecu-
liar sensation quake" gives. There
by tender my thanks for this peculiar
entertainment. 1t looks odd to see the |
palaces on Mob hill. costing hundreds |
of thousands of dollars. constructed of
wood, but they are splendid speci-
mems of elaborate architectural designs,
and vie with pretentious mansions at
the east in magnificence. 1t will natur-
ally be supposed that fires would occur
frequently in city built almost entirely
of wood, and so they would if the hous-
es were constructed of pine as Chicago
mostly was ut the time of her great fire.
But the dwellings here are built of red
wood, which is tie principal lumber of
California and does not ignite and burn
easily, consequently 4 fire does not get
much headway before the arrival of the
steamers of the fire department. Red
wood is similar in color to the heart of
beach wood and is equally rs hard, and
is susceptible of a fine polish, resem-
bling that of fresh mahogany. l have
seen mantle-pieces made of this lumber
which are really artistic and beautiful.
The mansions of Gov. Stanford, of
Mrs. Mark Hopkins. and Mr.. Charles
Croker. are palatial and present the
most gorgeous architectural effect. al
luOugu Uuilt VI WOOu. Ahls. AIOphiuS |
house occupies the highest point on Mob
hill, and can be seen from all points of
San Francisco. From its observatory,
which is stated to be 140 feet high, Il
grand view is obtained in every direc-
ton. The cost of these three mansions,
with their grounds. furniture, and works
of art is about S6,000,000. This, l
think, is greatly exaggerated. Still,
they are magnificent trio of palaces,
and are the largest wooden dwelling
houses in the world. There are numer-
erous other fine residences on Califor-
MIA, Sacramento, Bush and Clay streets
on the hilltops. l noticed that the rail-
way magnates, the Huntingtons, Crock
ers, Hopkins and Stanford, have their
homes on top of these hills, while Flood,
O'Brien, (who is deceased), Shar~-l,
and other bonanza kings. have their
homes in the lower part of the city. 1t
looks as though the railway aristocracy
decline to associate with the plebian
bonanza fellows, who made their inn
mense wealth in mining-stock jobbing.
although they have the reputation of
having made it in legitimate mining,
which is not true. The houses of these
bonanza aristocrats are very costly, but
do not compare with those on Mob hill.
Cor. Uereldnd Leader.