Saturday press. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1880-1885, 1885-03-21
SATURDAY.

MARCH e. ,sas

Railroad, the coast range Of mountains just
visible in the distance on the west and sue
cession Of mountain spurs on tho cast with rich
tributary valleys entieing ono into enchanting
fields beyond. Of which Russian rver Bennett,
Rinccn, Green, oailieos, Santa Rosa. and
several smaller valleys look TO Il as their base
Of supplies and natural market. From San
Francisco this point "a reached twice day nov
by ferry to ribaron, at 7s4s a. NJ, and $50 ?.
NJ. thence 10y rail touching At various stations,
the principal OF which ATE san Rafael and Pc,
alams. fteigh, trains also pass daily to and
fro; there Is also branch line to tho lumber
region Of Guernevlle. The main line extends
a. fsr north as Clovetdale, beyond which tegu
lar stages convey the traveller 10 the important
townships in the adjacent counties.
Santa Rosa was settled and the town laid out
In iSS,. but was slow tn It's growth that its
population in 1870 had reached but 900. From
the completion OF the railroad in is7, its pop,
ula,ion has been steadily increasing so that nov
il claims 5000 For some years past 1t has
been an educational center, aud in this con.
nection attained some celebrity, hut from var.
ious causes its claim 10 the eminenee 1t once
held seemed on my reeen, visit TO be on the
wsne. Santa Rosa was carly famed for the pro
fusion and enofnity OF its roses, and on my first
visit 10 the town several years agoit use1 TO be
said that il obtained its name from this fact. AT
my last visit. which was. however, two months
later in the season, ! missed the great clusters
on vrrandahs and fences, OF single flowers like
great sauoers on bushes that had received a
gardeners systematic care, The pride and
glory Of Santa Rosa is its rose tree thirty feet
high, the trunk of which is eighteen inches in
circumference. situated near the corner Of
Fourth and streets To traverse the town
at tina, time was to be in a continuous scent O.
roses, and could readily accept the idea that
the name was mos, appropriate. | remember
too. thought that suggested itself at the sight
was, why amid such ptofusion could
not some effort be made to utilize them in the
manufacture Of per(umery and OF that rarest
and most expensive of extracts, ottar of roses
II i, was profitable 10 manufacture in Euro
Pean countries where the supply OF flowers was
mainly limited to conseryatories, what was to
hinder the utilizing OF this luauriant waste.
Blu, that, perhaps. would have been too slow
and tedious money making project for Amer
leans, especially Caliiornians, where their farms
big and their yields are large and their mines
give strikes rich almost beyond comparison.
iornd Santa Rosa in the fall OF 1854 pass
ing through what seemed to me transition
state. San Francisco gave it the credit OF en-
NIL
were deluding themselves with the same erro
neous idea. will acknowledge to finding
considerable building activity prevailing, bu
mostly OF public and business character. SC
tina, the improvements noticed were largel,
speculative in character, though permanent ii
Rosa was done on Third and Main streets
and the activity ii is now enjoying is in the ef
fort to bring all the business over into Fourth
and Fifth streets, and with some prospect o
success, but at the loss and discontinue o
property holders on the south side Of the town
OF late years Petaluma has assumed quit,
rival attitude TO Santa Rosa, having doubt
less some superior claim as Commercial
point, inasmuch as /, has shipping facilities b,
sail and steam with San Francisco as vel
As by rail. Tnis much in her favor, it was no
ama,tcr OF much surprise that she should max
the effort to have the county seat taken from
Santa Rosa and granted 10 her, and as an in
ducemen, Offered to donate her plaza and sub
scribe $500. 600 for 4 new county cour, hous
that was contemplated a, Santa Rosa early i
1855. A hearing Of the Pe,aluma propositio
was fixed for April. but they failed to appea
50 the ua,ter was indefinitely postponed
nevertheless, numerously signed petitio
from citizens OF Pe,auma sought to have tn
question Of removal OF the county seat sui
United 10 the people, but without success
Vigorous steps were then taken toward III
erection Of connections cour, house on III
plaza q, Santa Rosa. which had been surrende
TO the county by the city a, the hands Of III
mayor, and, at the time Of my visit on la
new year, a fine substantial edihce, thrs
stories in height, was rapidly approaehin
completion. at cos, Of $4,000. 1t was
the same stereo,yped general style Of count
scat coan houses throughout the state.
A short distance above the court house, an
running through from Fourth 10 Fifth street
the new Atheneum building Of brick, Two siori'
in height and OF spacious dimensions. 1t
being erected BY corporation ofpuhlic spinie
citizens. prominen, among whom IS Capal
ID. Y. Fmser-known to many Honolulans-
Who has been anchored at Santa Rosa sou
six o. eight yean. lie is treasurer 81 the col
cesn and practically director OF supervisor
the building committee. The lower story
divided for two large stores, and of the fro
postion of the upper acor will be taken sui
Gem ipr lodge and ante rooras on one side
the entrance. and dressing rooms, etc, on u
osher fof the use Of balls OF parties. Al u
further end Of the hall will be the Stage as
green rooms, while the main Aoot Is to
arranged 10 as TO utilise portion ios extends
the stage by Temporary aoos a. in our M,
Hall. l ~as questioned closely respectiI
n,saAusen,ents and arrangement Of Honolulu
theatre. EOS their guidance. apd gave them
shs bess Of my shili,y. aided BY the parieula
puilished in the Hawaiian Annual for iss
Il had ma been the original plan TO put q
iery ssocnd the bailding, but On deciding
do % a. The Salis were going up, they add
q lev more ieei TO complete the same vi
syms,rieal proportions Captain Fraser tax
great pride In the size and strength Of 4
hsiiding and the isi,hfalness u sofknansil
in rs eonssrustion. ], Is planned TO equal
es~plcseasss add convenience any sinai
puble bsiasLss " ,As seass outside Of $
Snaeises.