Telegram-herald. ([Grand Rapids, Mich.) 18??-1892, 1890-07-25
Asoor ALAMEDA


27er BY the naetco20As q tAs r-el-S
so9ss-
The cry u Alameda Les across TIE
bay froa this city. AID covers 3 PENN
s1la About four miles loaz BY an sYeFSgs
width u one mils. Along either Slde OF
the city l. a deep channel OF salt water
One side ends abruptly on = bla1 sons
tweRty feet above higa tide, and shades
"A into sand shoal az low tide, E1ofo-
tag al excellent bathing beach a. high
tide and fruitful oyster and clam sneal
At low tide. The other side Of the city
shades OF int0 lOwlznd or salt marsh
10 shAlbowsr arm II the bay, which Is
being dredged into a channel for heavy
draft vessels When this ship canal Is
completed the city VIII Be cut OF 10
form an island, having ship channel
around its entire area.
The population is now about 1900,
and It's streets and avenues are models or
nestness and engineering taste. There
are miles on miles OF wide, SID0cth, artl-
fetal stone sidewalks, and many ele-
CANT driveways and wheeling roads over
smooth macadnnized streets. IL Is am
ply lighted bv a system Of tower electric
lights and the plant is owned and oper-
ated by the city.
The lots are laid out so by 100 feet.
and afford ample space for handsome
residences and cultivated lawns Across
the back ends of more than half the
yards are fenced OF chicken farms. and
the rising sun is salnted by chorus Of
growing cocks and caekling hens. The
lawns are well kept aud abound in rich
foliage, plants and fruit'trees, including
6g trees and all the smaller California
fruits.
Orange trees are now and then seen,
only for ornamental purposes, aud thu
rich aroma OF orange blossoms and
magnolias fills the air. But the chief
glory of the place is its exquisite masses
Of roses and flowers of almost inf
pite variety and color. Roses climb TO
ths very tops Of the houses, and tall eu-
calyptus trees ct intervals go up 10 min
gle with the graceful arms of windmills
which occur at frequent intervals, and
whose perpetual revolutions pump the
pure artesian water from the gravel
beds far below the loan and sand which
forms the soil. All uncultivated lots
are rank with wild flowers and weeds
which show the strength of the earth.
The primevsl live oaks are gradually
giving place to more useful and orna-
mental growths of fruit and foliage
plants, and rich palms of a half dozen
varieties are interspersed with century
plants and other tropical growths.
The absence of the hummer element
is not the least conspicuous feature of
the place, and the splendid sidewalks
are paradise for baby wagons and chill
dren's tricycles.
The numerous steam engines which
run TO and fro between the ferries to this
city and the limits of Alameda draw
loaded trains well filled with men and
women bound to the city to transact
business.
The trains and ferry boats present the
aspect in the morning of flower shows.
The men wear huge bouquets on their
coats, and the ladies carry large punches
Of fresh cut roses and peoples to deco
rate the tables of bookkeepers and ste
nographers.
But TIE most striking feature of Ala
media TO the student Of sociology is It's
non-partisan municipal policy. Here.
indeed, party politics is ignored, and
men are chosen for their fitness and
not for party or personal advantage.
The schools, the police apd the sanitary
interests Of the place are looked after by
the best men of the city regardless of
political affiliations. The nominating
conventions are novelty. The last one
was called TO order by the president of
the Democratic club, and the permanent
chairman was the president of the Re
publican club. The secretaries were the
scribes TO the respective party commit
tees and the vice presidents included
the American party, and | believe also
the Prohibitionists were not overlooked.
In this respect do not know Of any mu-
nicipsl or civil organization in this coun-
try where such a condition of affairs ex-
lists except at Alameda.
1t is not necessary to add that mere
handful OF policemen are to be seen,
and they have but little TO do.
The worst features of the place are the
gophcrs. which pillow up the cultivated
lawns, and the heas. which render life a
burden to the women and children.
Nature has been lavish in her gifts, and
art has been called upon freely, making
Alameda a delight to the eye and a
comfort to the lever Of a quiet and
beautiful home. In driving through
the extended rose cmbowered streets
was not little surprised 10 see running
in the streets covey Of California tufted
1uails. And one finds rich wheat fields
and vegetable gardens interpreted be-
tween elegant homes; but the sound
Of the carpenters hammers on ev-
cry hand indicates that soon these
remaining traces Of agriculture must
yield to an ever increasing influx Of
home seekers Avenues are laid ont
through corn fields. and soon the spray
Of lawn sprinklers brings forth rich
green lawns and cultivated flowers.
The growth Of Alameda has been COM
paradvely slow but steady, and the
space being limited. il never viii be
more than n quiet, delightful. sleeping
camp FOR the busv clerks and business
men OK shis busy, busting city. Its Sc
clusion and quiet guards it from the
sporting element Of q large city and So
cures 70 it Perpetually an industrious
and honest home loving people. whose
interests are common and mutual and
whose patriotism is not measured By
party vhips or Doodle gathered from ths
pockets Of honest tax payers
". g. BEToN.
Teatifixation-