The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1890-07-18
ABOUT ALAMEI
Unique Features of a California
City,
Correspondence of the Press. !

near by the metropolis of the Pacific
coast.
The city of Alameda lies across the
pay from this city, and covers a PENN
sula about four miles long by an average
width OF one mile. Along either side of
tne city Is deep channel of sails water.
one side ends abruptly on bluH some
twenty feet above high tide, and shades
OFF into a sand shoal at low tide, afford
ing an excellent bathing beach at high
tide and fruitful oyster and clam shoal
at low tide. The other side of the city
shades off into lowland or salt marsh
to shallower arm of the bay, which is
being dredged into channel for heavy
draft vessels. When this ship canal is
completed the city will be cut off to
form an island, having a ship channel
around its entire area.
The population is now about II 900.
and its streets and avenues are models of
neatness and engineering taste. There
are miles on miles of wide, smooth, arti-
fetal stone sidewalks, and many ele-
CANT driveways and wheeling roads over
smooth macadamized streets. 1t is am
ply lighted by system of tower electric
lights, and the plant is owned and oper-
ated by the city.
The lots are laid out 90 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 off chicken farms, and
the rising sun is saluted by chorus of
Growing cocks and cackling hens. The
lawns are well kept and abound in rich
foliage, plants and fruit trees, including
fig trees and all the smaller California
fruits.
Orange trees are now and then seen,
only for ornamental purposes, and the
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
mite variety and color Roses climb to
the very tops of the houses, and tall eu-
calyptus trees at intervals go up to 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 unoultivated lots
are rank with wild flowers and weeds
which show the strength of the earth.
The primeval live oaks are gradually
giving place to more useful and orna-
mental growths of fruit and foliage
plants, and rich palms Of 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 aparadise 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 filed 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 the most striking feature of Ala
media to the student of sociology is its
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 and 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 l do not know of any mu-
nicipal 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
gophers, which plow up the cultivated
lawns, and the feas. which render life
burden to the women and children.
Nature has been lavish in her gifts, and
art has been called upon freely, making
Alameda delight to the eye and a
comfort to the lover of quiet and
beautiful home. In driving through
the extended rose uncovered streets |
was not little surprised to see running
in the streets covey of California tufted
quails. And one finds rich wheat fields
and vegetable gardens interspersed 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 out
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
paratively slow but steady, and the
space being limited, it never will be
more than quiet, delightful, sleeping
camp for the busy clerks and business
men of this busy, busting city. Its Sc
clusion and quiet guards it from the
sporting element of large city and Sc
cures to it perpetually an industrious
and honest home loving people, whose
interests are common and mutual and
whose patriotism is not measured by
party whips or Doodle gathered from the
pockets of honest tax PAYERS.