Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-11-14

will one day be concentrated. Aizmeds
county nas al average width or about
twenty fise miles extending 10 aud
beyond Ine summit or the Contra Costa
. hills.
Il comprises numerous healthful aud
fertile valleys, besides the broad Ala
media Valley, which reaches from the
shores 10 toe bay from one side or the
foothills 10 the other, the great elyer-
more ana Smaller valleys are ricnly
endowed with the most productive
coils and an excellent climate.
Ine city Of Oakland 10 built upon an
cbtuse peninsula which projects INTO
SAD Francisco bay and mas tor rs base
the Contra Costa mountains, wn Sc
foothills begin almost within the city
limits and are reached by admirably
graded roads and streets from whose
heights one may overlook the city IT.
self, With San Francisco. the Golden
Gate, the Pacific ocean and san Fran
cisco bay IN one grand view.
The Ferry Boats.
There are three ferry lines running
boats which are commodious aud
sumptuous III ali their appointments.
Passengers ride free on the local system
trains within the city limits, privilege
not enjoyed IN any other city or place
IN the world. Round trip tickets TO
1 san Francisco are % cents; monthly
| commutau tickets IS. The city Is
located on ground slipping gradually
/ toward the bay, atfordlng ex-
! ceilent drainage Its beautiful,
| broad, well-shaded streets inter-
sect each other at right
angles Magnificent residences. stately
/ churches, handsome school houses,
l lovely flower gardens and we'll kept
| streets, otter attractions to resident
| aud visitor not exceeded by those of
any other city IN the country. Oakland
| IS fast becoming great business and
manufacturing center, as we'll As one
| OF the most delightful spots Tor health
ful residences.
Lake Merritt is water park OF about
250 acres, with three miles OF graceful
winding shores arranged for boule-
ward. Oakland has tine public library
and four reading rooms. located at
convenient points of the city. 1t has
eight parks, slxty-five churches, eigh-
/ teen colleges, academies and semin-
aries. Ii claims the finest bathing
house In the United States. 1t 10 q city
| Of churches, schools and quiet homes,
and has acquired the appellaLlOn OF
| the "CIty OF Flowers" From January
10 December il is bower of flowers.
Oakland has over 100 miles of
/ streets. eighty-nine of which were ma
cadamlZed at the time OF our visit,
-ighty-one miles of sewers, and more
under construction, principally OF
lronstone pipe; about $50 miles of side
walks, about one-half of which are
built of cement or artificial stone. 1t
mas many miles of horse, cable and
electric railroads. 1t is supplied with
an abundance Of pure water from
Lake Cnabot, situated about 240 feet
above the city.
The Harbor and wharves.
The government. wisely approaching
the advantages of Oakland harbor,
has in part constructed series of great
and important improvements. 1t has
already expended over Loco, 900, and
the plan will require the expenditure
of as much more. When completed
1t will be one of the best and safest
harbors in the world. The Tidal canal
bridge, the largest iron bridge IN Cali
fornla, spans the channel. This ex-
tsnsive water front has space for hun
dreds Of wharves, capable of accomo-
dating any number of fleets.
The cotton mills at Oakland are the
only ones IN the state and are said to
be doing profitable business, buying
all the cotton grown in California.
The wines of Livermore Valley rank
high and took the gold medal at the
Paris exposition IN 1889. The Alvarado
sugar beet factory, the first in the
| state. made over 1928 pounds of
sugar IN 1891. Situated at the old nile
sion of San Jose is one of the largest
and oldest vineyards III the state. and
one of the largest and most complete
wine cellars, which Is excavated out of
the side OF the mountain and has ca
pacity of 1000. 900 gallons. The termi-
nal depot at the ferry IS the largest in
the United States, covering nearly five
acres, and IS ] $50 feet long, construct
ed of iron and glass. and cost, together
with the "mole," over 81 900, 900.
About 0.000. 900 passengers pass over
| the Oakland ferries every year. The
| only salt works in the state are located
near San Lorenzo. Oakland has about
! forty public school buildings ana other
| private schools already mentioned.
| The state university, the state deaf,
dumb and blind asylum, are located st
| Berkeley. The university has large
! buildings ana fine grounds. 1t has a
fine library and is well supplied with
apparatus. Tuition is free to all. Oak
land is the educational center of the
state. Ii mas a fine medical college and
military academy. The Chabot observ-
atory. IN one OF It's parks. is accessible
to the public At al times. 1t has a
large telescope.
Oakland manufactures nearly every
article in common use on the coast.
The climate is said to be unsurpassed
for equsbility and salubrlty. never
reaching the extremes OF heat and
cold. the nights being cool, pleasant
and conducive to sleep Take II all in
all Oakland Is one of the most pictur-
esque and beautiful spots on earth.
c. q. ;.