Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-04-23
SAN FRANCISCO.
From r. p. Bronson.

have as much time to read as [ have
to write, we are we'll fixed for the Job
on hand. With me, [ have been the
rounds and all that is left of me is
time; | have been out to ''seal rock"
where hundreds Of Seal, or Sea Lions,
as they are some times called-climb
out on the rocks. 1t is certainly
wonderful sight; Woodwards garden
is another resort of Interest," sort of
museum. More sights than can be
seen in one visit, animals from a rat to
Lion, flowers, paintings, and a
circus running every afternoon; ad-
mission to the whole business 5 cents
and 5 cents fare on the cable cars
miles to get there. Golden Gate
Park" is another popular resort
Thousands of people go there every
day, and more Sundays than any
other; there are more rustic curiosities,
smoother walks and driVeways than
any park have ever seen. The Gar
field monument is in this park (un-
fnished) the hills and valleys, the
concrete stops and landings, the artis-
tic taste displayed attracts attention.
Gold and nature seem to have done
their best to make the place interest
ing. There are great many parks in
the city, but this one receives the
direct attention Of the city authority,
by way of police, workmen, etc. II
costs cents to reach any of these
points by cable cars.
This city had population Of 234,
600 in 1880, they claim now 800, 900,
$4,000 of which are Chinese. They
have the best harbor, the largest hotel,
more bay windows, the highest hills,
and more of them, and the largest
feas of any city in the world.
The old settlers say that they
seldom have more than one earthquake
in a month but that they always have
one or more every year. Sometimes
the buildings swing to and fro, so
that dishes fall off the shelves and
people jump out of bed and run into
the street, and are so frightened as to
neglect to clothe themselves properly
When the shocks are light the people
are only excited and forget it in day
or two.
1t is remarkable that the people in
the prairie states build with view to
heavy winds and cyclones; here they
build with an eye to earthquakes; they
prefer wood and in every case put iron
rods through the building each way
to stiffen and save it from injury by
the shaking
The Palace Hotel covers block
and has 755 sleeping rooms, in all
over 1000 rooms and 324 bay windows,
is 7 stories high above the basement,
where all the cooking and general
work is done. The Baldwin, Occiden-
tai and several other hotels are just as
good, and some of them do more and
a better business than the Palace.
Rent and real estate is held at fabu-
lous prices; an Office like J. w Coch-
rams would rent here for 500 per
month.
California claims many advantages
over Wisconsin and the eastern states,
such as climate, health, fruit and
wheat. 1t seems to be conceded by
eastern people because it is California,
but the facts are simply these, on the
coast they have fog until about 10
o'clock A. NJ. nearly every day, the
air is damp and cold nearly all the
time, not cold enough for fire or an
overcoat, but too cold to be without it,
and there is not much difference in
summer and winter, except it rains in
winter and does not in the summer.
In the interior of the state in the
summer it is hot almost to suffocation,
the mercury above anything that we
ever saw in the east.
They don't have any spring here,
or pure bracing air like spring time in
Wisconsin. San Francisco is not
healthy. | presume it is on the
mountains or III the high latitude, and
/ suppose it is because it is cold and
the air purer. Approximating Wis
GUuSlu Cl1LudGS Iue mortality Ol UulS
city is q to the 1000 and St. Louis is
the same.
California can raise better wheat
and about % bushels to the acre more,
but she can't raise any good potatoes,
no corn worth mentioning. This state
has no good apples, they are dry taste.
less things, inferior in every way to
Wisconsin apples, but they raise fine
grapes, oranges and figs. By the way
| have just discovered why Eve used
fig leaves for an apron, the leaves are
large as plate, and would cover quite
an area--if that is what you call it
and of course answered the purpose.
| always thought Eve was good
manager of domestic affairs
The great blow about the health
and the climate of California looks to
the unsophisticated stranger as much
like bluff, as the hills and N ountains,
which are too high and steep even for