Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-10-23
BUILT On THE HILL
San Francisco the Pride Of the
Pacific Coast.
HER MATCHLsSS RESOURCES
Prof. Swsasbsrg Describes the Wonders
and Advantages OF the Remark
able MsIopolls.

LETTER NJ AbER AAlN.i
In NY last letter / described some of
the advantages of san Francisco, IN
this ! continue 10 te OF lis wonders.
Tbs great metropolis Is built on more
than score OF mis-, from the summit
of which are Afforded magnificent
panoramic views OF the harbOr aud
surrounding territory. Market street
is the main thoroughfare. and IL 10
San Francisco what Broadway is 10
New York
Ii begins at the bay and extends
southwest over three miles. Market,
kearny aud Montgomery are the lead
ing streets for the retail trade. while
the elegant palaces, the residences OF
many mlllionalres, are located mainly
There are laid out something over J.
800 avenues, streets and alleys.
The city was incorporated May, 1850,
and therefore only about 4 years old.
Younger then our city. Ia all things
that make 8 great city, Frisco Is, IN the
true sense, a metropolis and consplcu-
Gus among the Older and grand cities
of the world, II is moving steadily on
ward IN the path OF prosperity. 1t has
population Of about 325 900. The
business portions contains many hand
some and imposing structures, old
wooden buildings are being crowded
out aud replaced toy brick, stone and
IRON ediices. The fine residence por-
tons are occupied almost exclusively
by frame buildings, the mild climate
giving them the preference over any
other description OF dwellings,. On
Van Ness avenue and streets lying west
of it the visitor Will see Il larger number
of handsome frame residences than he
will find elsewhere, within the same
space, in any city of the world.
Bay Windows Numerous
One feature that the visitor will
notice In the prevailing style of archi-
lecture, Is the multiplicity of bay win
dows, which are to be seen IN every
private house, and in many public
buildings, as the Palace hotel, where
they stud the entire front. Adding
greatly to the comfort of the guests,
besides giving the house an attractive
and inviting appearance. San Francisco
is called the "Bay City," and might
with equal appropriateness, be styled
the bay window city.
Notwithstanding all that has been
done to reduce the steepness of the
natural grades of streets, by skillful
landscape engineering, portions of the
city are still remarkably billy.
The Mission Peaks, twin hills, of
equal height, perhaps 200 yards apart,
are said to be 925 feet high, and about
one mile southeast is a point 93S feet
above the ocean. Reservoir Hill, one
mile northwest of the peaks, is 920 feet,
Park Peak is $40 feet, Bernal Hill $50
feet, Long Mountain 46S feet, Straw
berry Hill, IN the Golden Gate park, 426
feet. Russian Hill, one mile long and
the most prominent hill in the densely
settled part of the city, is 400 feet above
ocean level. Mob Hill, where the resi-
dences of bonanza kings and Southern
Pacific milllonaIres are located, is one
OF the highest points In the city, and
the streets leading to ii are SO steep
that walking up and down them is very
difficult. Russian Hill, Telegraph Hill
and Rincon Hill are covered with fine
dwellings. The valleys are almost a.
numerous as the hills, some of which
are IN the shape of amphitheaters,
nearly surrounded by heights, from
which the interested traveller looks
down on denseIy populated territory
Interesting by day and brilliant by
night. The city, as seen from the ap-
preaching Oakland ferry boats, makes
beautiful and Impressive appearance,
especially so at night, when ablaze with
lines of lights climbing lis hundred
hills. A fine view can be had of the
city from several of the hills, where the
spectator can see at glance the whole
city, n forest of houses with domes and
steeples towering above them, the busy
wharves and the bay, the largest and
safest harbor IN the world.
street Railways.
The triumph of mechanical geniu.
exhi oited IN the successful operation
of cable lines IN this city Is one If the
marvels of the age. The system orig.
mated IN san Francisco, and here II has
ttained perfection. No other mode
of locomotion was possible over the
hills of the city. There are about ~
miles of cattle in operation, beside,
several electric lines on more Ievel
ground. One OF the latter il being
extended to South san Francisco and
many miles southwark into san Mateo
country.
The fire department is said TO be one
OF the most efficient IN the world. The
present force consists of over $50 men
FL steamers, % h rse reels, 10 hose car
RACES, hook and ladder trucks. and
over 100 horses. There are IS 900 feet
of csrbollzed hose, 1892 hydrsnts and
20 clsterns, with a total capacity OF
about 3 900. 600 gallons.
The firm alarm and signal boxes arc
located all over the CITY. There ART
over 800 automatic signal boxes. There
are now over 200 miles OF wire -on the
SIG nal alarm circuits.
San Francisco has her full Quots OF
frsternai. benevolent. social and reli
glous societies aud associations. The
prominent societies. have elegantly
furnished balls and parlors for the
entertainment OF members and the
reception of friends from abroad
Everything "a done 20 make Il pleasant
for strangers. they are looked NJ
made acQusinted and happily enter
tanned. Tins j. one Of the strong chsr
/ scteristics Of the California people. a.
81 which seems 60 have most won
+ derful influence upou the stranger
{ among strangers, and he always leave
with kndiv fee ~ sud pleassu
word for tne CITY ard 80 people
There sTe I25 halls. - garden ana
PARK resorts. 9 gvmussums, - h0s
pltsis, So .ibTsrIes and residing rooms
~ military organ zsuons. - clubs SO
s0Cisl soc afles, II 70 gious and III