The San Francisco call., 1895-07-19

IlSHUully situated anu nOSL ptIlSCI, udbu-
raj seaside resort. Here is found the old
historic town of Bollnas. which
nestles comfortably and beautifully un-
der the lea of the western hills,
fully protected from the fogs and winds OF
the ocean and situated just off the bay on
an estero, into which, from the outer bay,
small vessels of light draught and steam
launches find passage over the bar.
Bolinas started out years ago to be very
important point, where San Francisco IN
its infancy, secured its lumber supply with
which to build It's cradle and construct its
early habitations. 1t was from Bolinas
that the first supply of lumber was secured
and much of the early mining industry. de-
rived It's substantial supports from the for
ests on the hills of Bolinas Long years
since have the hills surrounding been
stripped of their valuable lumber, but
there remains still the grander beauty of
the mountains, hills and valleys, beach
ana reef, making picture grand IN effect
and beautiful in detail, accurately por-
trayed py Thad Welch in his excellent
painting exhibited at the Worlds Fair and
lately purchased and owned by Mr.. LIE Roy
G. Harvey.
Bolinas Bay has received the favorable
attention and careful study of the
men at the head of the United
States Coast Survey, who recognized the
exceptional advantages of such bay for safe
narDOr 1OT N6SSelS Outgoing VI W
the Golden Gate In stormy weather, and
who have made careful survey, and recon-
mend such bay as a safe and convenient
refuge for vessels to "lie to- during the
storms from the west and northwest which
so frequently visit our coast during the
equinoctial season. The bay is formed by
a high mesa land on the west extending
south from Point Reyes into the ocean a
distance of several miles, and forming
bold headland, from which extends still
further south the well-known and beautiful
Duxbury Reef. The headland, or mesa, in
connection with and parallel to the main
land, forms the outer bay of Bolinas; the
semi-circular beach and the estuary max
ing the smaller or inner bay. Bolinas, sit
uated on the inner bay, is completely shell
tered on the north and east by the mount
aims, on the west by the mesa and head
lands, and open only to the hospltable
south, with its warmth of perpetual sun
shine and consequent balmy air. The
town is so situated that it is completely
and thoroughly protected from the winds
of the ocean, and by the reef from the
ocean swells that roll in at the Golden
Gate. The reef also serves to protect the
bay from the cold ocean currents that
sweep down and along the coast.
The bay and its surroundings seem to
have by nature been expressly designed as
the most perfect and ideal ocean beach,
free from raw winds from the ocean and
sheltered from the fogs and chilling cur
rents, and especially adapted for bathing,
boating and fishing. The beach is semi
circle of shelving sand hundred yards
wide and ten miles long, quiet and shell
tered summer and winter, having a re-
markably even temperature OF ocean water
ripping on its sunny sands. There is
none of the usually dreaded and danger
Gus undertow, but perfect safety in bath
ing.
On the hills around the bay are already
located numerous seaside cottages, erected
by lovers of the beautiful landscape, who
have by chance strayed here from the
warmer valleys of Napa, Sacramento and
San Joaquin, as well as by a few hundred
San Franciscans who know by tradition of
the beauties of Bolinas, and have gone
over to see for themselves, with the result
that many have purchased advantageous
building sites and have erected picturesque
villas and comfortable summer cottages,
which for six months IN the year they
occupy with their families, enjoying the
equable climate and finest ocean and
mountain scenery, and daily dip in the
sea. The natural beach advantages, the
combination of ocean and mountain seem
ery, the absence of wind, the warmth of
the water, the mild and balmy air, the
buautiful beach, all go to make Bolinas the
most delightful natural bathing place on
the Pacific Coast.
The old town of Bolinas, nesting, Sleep
ing, under the hills and on the bay, is
typical of New England fishing village,
like a Gloucester or a Cape Cod town.
Here one finds the old resident, who has
existed in comparative obscurity since the
early fifties, still hale and hearty from the
beneficial effects of odd jobs of ship car
pentry, or more frequent rest of energy
from lack of labor, but withal preserved in
age by salt ocean air, and who will at the
slightest pretense find time to spin yarn
that savors of ocean salt and wrecks of
gallant barks on the banks of the reef;
who will insist on turning OUT at the
early watch of eight bells in the morning
to begin a days work by feeding the
chickens, and then to await daylight and
the only excitement of the day, the de-
parture of the stage for Sausali:o. With
breakfast and the rising of the sun the
energies of "Old Charlie seem to decline
to the daily occupation of fishing and
doing on the wharf, or the more arlsto-
cratic occupation OF roosting on the shady
hotel veranda, entertaining young boys
| and newcomers with tales of historic in
terest when the liberty pole in the plaza
was hewn from the tree standing where it
| grew and dedicated to the cause of liberty
| in 1854 by patriotic concourse of people,
the entire population of the place, num-
bering at least twenty-five, marshaled
anu COululduuGu ny bn6 SeCOllQ I1dbc VI
the American bark Sea Dog, then loading
shakes for the mines. Or of the founding
and dedication 'of this hotel in 1885,"
when Captain Lambsen erected the ma
ternal building, consisting of kitchen
and one room, and as trade and traffic
| increased room at time was added each
| year. until 1870.
Then the United States Coast Survey
sighted Bolinas and established a station
on the hills, from which, by a system of
! topography, it was determined that the
conglomerate architecture of the hotel was
the result of the differences in calculation
of its numerous builders, rather than an
attempt to approach the grotesque. From
the determined sea level it was also ascer-
| tanned that the elevation of the different
rooms varied in accordance with the
weather-eye of the builder. and a wide
variance in the eternal fitness of things is
marked by one room having six doors and
no windows, while others have, by acci-
dent, one door and one window each. But
the ups and downs of Bolinas and its pic
| turesque hotel have not seriously affected
or attracted the outside world, and both
to-day lie sleeping, awaiting the judgment
day of wise men who will soon build rail-
road to disturb the long rest of this quiet,
ancient nook. While Bolinas has suffered
the fate of comparative obscurity, unknown
| to MANY other than in name il has Sub-