The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-07-21

Golden Gate. That for mail steamer or
sidewneeler 1.-THE ocean steamers were all
sidewheelers at that time) was the Amer
lean flag and underneath two large black
arms stretching outward and slightly up
ward from the flagstaff. When the OBJ
server at the outer station sighted side
wheeler he would hoist his signal, that
was repeated by the man at the Preside
station, and then when the man on the hill
station caught sight of it he ran the Ma
tional colors to the masthead and then set
the big black arms. That signal, which
could be seen from every part of the
then City set people almost wild.
one to another, and every one who
could absent himself from business
rushed down here or to any point
along the water front to wait until the
vessel dropped anchor. When she passed
the wharf she was met by Sweeny d
Baugh's boatman and he received the mat
ter for his firm, generally contained in a
small carpetsack. The boat was then
rowed with all possible haste to the end of
the wharf, where stood in waiting a
mounted messenger, who, the moment he
received the sack. put spurs to his horse,
one of those hardy, fleet California mus
tangs, and rode the pace that terrifies
down to the exchange on Sacramento
street, near Montgomery, and threw his
ing. There was always crowd at the ex-
change, for the sack contained a summary
of the news of the world, and every one
was anxious to know what had occurred
since the previous arrival.
''Thls style of announcing vessels was
kept up until the month of September,
1852, when the firm opened Geographic
communication between its office on Sac
ramento street and the outer station at
Point Lobos. This was in the time of
Geographic infancy, and that line was the
first in this City, the first one put in SER
vice in the State, and the first west of the
Rocky Mountains. The event was marked
by celebration, as the construction OF the
line, which was only eight miles long, was
considered a most extraordinary enter
prise. and so it was. This line was followed
shortly thereafter by the California State
Telegraph Company, which had its office on
Clay street on the south side just above
Wells building, which is on the southwest
corner of Montgomery street. 1t opened
lines to Sacramento, Stockton, Marysville
and San Jose. The tariff then to San Jose
was 81 for ten words and 40 cents for five
additional words; while to Sacramento,
Stockton and Marysville it was 81 for the
first ten words and rs cents for each adj
ditional five words. Messages were high,
but money was plenty"
"How about press dispatches at that
timer" asked.
The colonel looked at me for moment
and replied, 'They simply didn't have
them
This spot, right in front of old Abe's
place, was the terminus of the omnibus
1ine-the old Peoples line, that was owned
by Bowman 81 Gardener. If | am not mis-
taken a man named Grim was in some
way connected with the organization of the
line. The route was along Third, Kearny,
Washington and Powell to Francisco street,
and to this place. The people used to en-
Joy jolting ride over the rough pave
ment, and pay at the rate of 10 cents for a
single ride, or three tickets for a quarter.
That was the method of traversing the
City from South Park to North Beach un-
til the streetcar system was introduced.
recall to mind that in 1861 the Legislature
granted to John Gardener, Michael
Sicily and J. NJ Donohue franchise to lay
rails on certain streets of San Francisco and
operate thereon cars drawn by horses.
There was a provision that the rate of fare
should not be more than cents, if more
than one fare was rendered, but if single
fare only was collected the tariff should be
10 cents. The original route was along
Third street to Howard, to Second, across
Market 10 Sansome, along Sansome to
Jackson, up Jackson to Stockton, to Union,
to Powell, thence to the northern extrem-
ity. 1t was also granted the right of way
on Washington street, from Stockton
down to Sansome."
THAT road was built after you went
away" l added, by way of information, to
the colonel. ''And Chris Buckley, who
was once boss of the San Francisco Democ-
racy, was one of the first conductors on
the new line"
GAS you interrupted me-" continued the
colonel, II was telling you of the COM
pany's franchise. 1t had another clause
and that was that the company might sub
stitute Montgomery for Sansome street,
provided it could get the consent of the
majority of owners of property fronting on
that thoroughfare. There was very bitter
fight to keep the railroad off that street, for
all believed that it would be the ruination
of it. have observed that the cars did get
there and that the streets retail business is
ruined. Wonder if the cars did it or the
desire to go west and out Market street."
I told him that the fact that Montgom-
cry street was no longer prominent bust
ness street was due to the fact that when
one large retail firm moved up to Kearny
street others followed.
when I was East" continued the
colonel, II read an account Of the inten-
ton to tear down old Abe Warmers place
and move his monkeys and birds and
bears, and as that was pretty full account
and as you and everybody in town no
d0I,ht road II T dop,f fhi,,L could odd