The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-11-22

It is difficult to believe when we'll housed
that out of doors the thermometer ranges
habitually In the forties. and one must bum
die well up for a walk or drive. A serious
task it is, too, this bundlng up process
gloves, coats. muffs, overshOes, and II driv-
ing, shawls and soapstOneS. The workman
goes about his work with OvershOts, q
heavy wooden surtOut, mittens and knit or
fur cap pulled down over his ears. The
platforms of street-cars are inclosed, Just
inside pail Of sand stands ready to sprinkle
on the icy tracks, within slove occupies
seat or is inserted 10 the floor.
The few hOrse-car lines that are still In
the city are slow, and, being without con-
ductors, each car has curious cDntrivance
for the convenience Of passengers in paying
fares, that Is not at all bad. 4 small slot
- between each window allows TIE coin TO
fall into al inclined groove. through which
it rolls into the box by the driver.
Eectic-caT lines are everywhere; all
street-cars are dirty, In fact, all railroad
cars as well, are dirtier and more dismal
than would be tolerated by a San Francis
can, and as for leaving stations on schedule
time, 1t is the exception, not the rule. a
new system Of transfers has recently been
adopted by all the car lines in Rochester,
which is of great advantage to residents,
though il is a source Of constant trouble to
strangers as the lines cross and recross
each other, or wind about In such uneX-
pecied ways that it is almost impossible to
tell where neXtl
1t hardly. seems possible that city could
be more regularly laid out than Rochester is,
In its central or business portion.
The newer portions in the suburbs are in
regular blocks sYmmet'i raliy laidiout but in
the old centers broad streets and narrow
lanes 1nStle each other They start off
straight for somewhere, but end in block
or more; they cut off at unexpected angles
some LONG gore, or perhaps curve cOnven-
iently around some goodlv sized buildings,
with houses Of the most nondescript charac-
ter frowning from the opposite sido. How
ever, they all bring you, street-car lines
and all, sooner OF later, TO the Four Corners,
. the very heart of the city. The tree-6or-
dered walks, too, follow you down to the
business streets, and whichever way you
may look trees dim the perspective.
- Rochester is essentially city of red brick
=. There are white brick aud stone and wooden
houses, but red brick, red brick, every
where. The few stone houses are really ar
tistic, and many Of the newer suburban
residences, composites Of stone and wood,
remind one Of the newer architectural eff
forts made in San Francisco within the past
three or four years, and are really very eff
fective.
Rochester lays claim to about 10000 in
habitants. One does not see one-Quarter of
the leaning that is seen in San Francisco
Street hucksrers seem to be an unknown
quantity, and aside from the newsboys,
there are no street calls, even the irrepressi-
BILE rags, bags and bottles" man is trans
formed; with nand-cart he politely calls at
the back door for ANY rags, mum, this
mornin'?"
The Genesee River runs through the city,
but two or three blocks of the business pOr-
tiOn are built over it. as ii is not navigable,
because OF the height OF its banks, hun
= dred feet or more, and because of its two
Tails, Just north OF the city limits, and
which aid not little to the other points of
interest about the city.
1t is here in the city limits that the Erie
Canal crosses over the river, and what
student Of the old Biographies OF twenty or
more years ago does not remember the
picture OF the wonderful stone viaduct over
the Genesee
The city lies upon a rolling plateau, on
either side OF the river, and about $50 feet
above Lake Ontario. which is six miles to
the north.
The water supply comes from Hemlock
Lake, forty miles south, and the distribu-
ting reservoir Is on the highest hilltop, Just
within the city limits south. Twenty OF
more acres Immediately about 1T are being
laid out In park, and the view Of the sur
rounding country is beautiful and extern
siVe; autumn tints are fading, but are brill
liant still to California eyes.
The city lies north and has hundreds OF
handsome spires: few buildings reach eight
OF ten stories, and the intrusive reds are
The drive to the lake is delightful-down
the west bank and back the other
Inc homes OF many millionaires lie on the
western banks, which have been terraced.
and are one tangle of berries and vines
while below TO the waters edge the wood
bine climbs over the rocky walls.
No one need be without lawn or mark
provided he owns land enough; nature pro
vides the trees and grass, and the freuuen,
showers OF summer keep 1t green, and vel
one longs for the flowers.
Charlotte (ShaloU, summer resort. lies
at the mouth OF the river on the lake and
MAINTAIN a few miles further west Ir
summer the many hotels and cottages are
thronged, two lines of electric cars and the
railroad run to the city. All the sports Of
the famous seaside resorts are here. and
Charlotte ranks next to the Thousand
Islands as a summerlng place.
Rochester is essentially city Of manu-
factories, the river furnishing fine water
power. Factories have been increasing sc
rapidly the past few years that the city has
been endeay0riHg to plan some system oil
dams for water storage, which undoubtedly
can and will be done. 1t has not been
many years since Touring was the chief in
dustry. but clothing manufactures now take
the lead. Furniture Is made and shipped Il
all parts of the world. and is of the mos
beautiful aud elegant description. Prices
too, are unusually low; much of it reacne;
San Franc-co with prices nearly doublad
In the matter of parks RScnester 1,
far behind. A few 9msis ones dot the
city here and there, and occasionally