The morning call., 1891-03-22


this place the fountain is passed. The water
is abundant and has a fall of several hun
dred feet, and hence the fountain is of great
strength and fullness. To the right is the
maze, or labyrnth-a copy of the celebrated
Partisan labyrinth destroyed in the Franco
Prussian war. 1t is very interesting puz-
zle, having siXty-foCr paths. and requiring
very perplexing journey to reach the pa
vilion at the center. whence view is OBJ
tanned OF the devious ways OF those endcav-
Orag to gain the spot. In size it is over
10000 square feet, and Is constructed OF lat
tice work. But without doubt, one of the
greatest novelties is the
JAPANESE TEA-HoUSE,
An exact copy Of the ancient tea-houses of
Japan. 1t was framed in Japan of native
woods by native artisans, was sent over
complete, and has been put together by Jap
aneSe carpenters on this side. Tea in native
style will be rived by japanese maidenS in
International costume, the whole ensemble
being a bit of oriental luxury dropped into
the practical Occident choice collection
of roses is being planted about the tea
house. which will eventually embOwer it in
flowers.
Nor are the children forgotten. While In
sense the whole park is their play ground,
there are especial attractions for them. In
one locality there has been constructed a
Venetian canal over 1000 feet in length, one
portion being carried across a raYine on
Lt6Slle NOIh, anu ny Il ClICullUuS route CIV
ing a very novel water ride. In another
place is the merrygo-round with adjuncts Of
swings, seeSaws, donkey and goat carts, etc.,
just as found at Golden Gate Park.
At the entrance to the canyon at the back
of the park are found the tables and benches
for picnic parties, of which there are great
number. The hooks and corners farther up
are popular spots Tor basket parties, while
the paths which are opened for a mile or
more up the canyon supply pleasant prom
enades. Later on it is the intention to erect
capacious and handsome casino which will
be surrounded on all sides by broad YER
andahs and will be In the midst of shrub
berry and flower beds. A photograph gal
lery. refreshment booth mo liquors being sold
on the grounds), and every convenience will
20 to complete the arrangements.
The lower grounds of the park are taken
up by lake of considerable extent, which
ADDS the further charm OF variety to the
scene. The grounds are clean and lastly
kept, there being no brush or rubbish any
where, and are the resort entirely of the bet
ter class, largely family parties who come to
spend the day, bringing their luncheon in
baskets. Eventually the park will be almost
huge HOVER garden, many thousands OF
plants, shrubs, flowers and bulbs being set
out. In everything there seems desire to
keep the place choice and select, neither ex-
pense nor trouble being spared by the lessee5
to make and keep Blair's Park one of the
the bay.
OAKLAND AQUATIC THEATER
Another means adopted by the company
to cause travel on the Piedmont cable road
is the erection Of the great aquatic theater
beside the power house. No attempt will
be made to describe it here, that duty being
postponed until the opening q few weeks
hence. Suffice it now to say the building is
ornate and elegant, the accommodation aud
equipment promises to be most complete
and the baths can hardly fail of being very
popular. This. too, is being efficiently con-
structed by the San francisco Tool COM
pany, who make speciality of that kind OF
work.
MILD CLIMATE.
In regard to climate it is claimed that
Piedmont is not surpassed by any locality in
the State. 1t is above the ordinary frost
line and is often free from the heavy fOgs
which settle in the lOwlandS. Careful tests
show the temperature at night to be an
average of about five degrees warmer than
in Oakland. In summer the trade winds
which are so severe in San Francisco often
fail to reach Piedmont, and when they do
they are tempered with midness. BY kind
ness of Mr.. James Gamble a comparative
table of average temperatures at Oakland,
San Rafael and Piedmont is given from OBJ
seryatiOns taken by him in January q few
years since:
Oakland. ......7 A. NJ, s5o; P. NJ, $50; p NJ. so
Il. s.,
Piedmont. a NJ, 4So; p. NJ 500; P. NJ, 500
AN UNEQUALED VIEW.
On clear day the view is almost unsur-
passable, panorama lying displayed before
the eye that even the famous Bay of Naples
cannot excel. The two cities, Oakland and
San Francisco, on either side of the peace
full. land-iocked sea, lie in perfect BIRDS
eye, while the Golden Gate, flanked by its
protecting body-guard of hills, presents a
picture never to be forgotten. In plain
view are classic Berkeley, the stately emf
nences of Piedmont itself crowned with ele-
CANT homes, the spires Of Oakland, the
lawns of Alameda, and so on as far as the
eve can range. The late ]. Ross Browne.
who was a famous traveller, declared of
Piedmont that me had travelled almost over
the world, and he could remember no other
place where the view was more extended,
beautiful and diversified"
RAPID RISE IN VALUES.
In consequence of these attractions and
these improvements there has been almost
phenomenal rise in values, and even yet
the prices are considered low for so advan-