The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-03-29

| for many miles. Rich men own it all in
/ immense tracts, most of them refusing to
sell any of it at $1,000 an acre. On the big
green fields, with its lush grass and
beautiful flowers, are pastured here and
there few blooded horses and occasionally
a few deer. This region for its natural
beauty was early claimed by rich men and
it mainly remains what it will always be
the finest suburban region about San
Francisco.
One constantly passes magnificent estates
| which wealth and cultured taste have
made beautiful. So many trees have
been set out, especially near the line of
the railroad, which runs close to the bay
and near the towns along it, that from the
] trains one sees little or nothing of the rich
ness and beauty of the region which lies
back of it. The region but awaits easier
and quicker communication with San
Francisco to undergo development, and
the city but awaits easy communication by
the boulevard to enjoy it.
| North of San Mateo for a considerable
distance the foothills sweep backward for
two or three miles from the bay, and at
| Belmont they swing out nearly to the
| ShOlO: o"CSPAiS ocCPiy III again SOulltN dlu.
Because the foothills are comparatively in
accessible they are unimproved, except for
a few magnificent country homes, but they
will some day be dotted with the prettiest
| homes about the bay. The boulevard
would open this region to San Francisco
and afford one of the most famous drives
in the world. AS was pointed out by Ed
ward Med. tombstone, such a driveway
down the bay would offer in addition some
side drives of tireless interest. Roads lead
up the canyons, over the crest of the inner
range, on to the lakes that nestle there,
| through redwood forests over the main
range and on to the ocean. From a slight
elevation in the foothills one sees the bay
spread out below, and a little higher up
one catches glimpse of San Francisco
and the whole bay region for fifty miles.
| Many people want the boulevard laid out
by new route along the foothills. This
would offer much finer way for pleasure
| drive and present more scenic beauty.
Others say that it would cost so enor-
mously much more than to widen and i'm
prove the present county road that runs
along the plain that it would be imprac-
ticable.
| Ed Med. tombstone, artist, writer and
editor of the Traveller, has explored every
nook of this region during fifteen years
residence at San Mateo, and yesterday he
gave his idea of the boulevard.
''There is only one thing to say about the
boulevard, and that is that it ought to be
built he said. Few San Francisco
people have any idea OF the beauty of this
region. The contrast in climate with the
city is exceedingly marked. The region is
| attractive every way to visitors and resi-
dents But, as l say, few people know it,
| There is no way through this county that
one can take and see so little of the pic
turesque corners as by the railroad.
People have often expressed to me their
astonishment at the number of beautiful
drives about San Mateo that they had no
idea Of
"There would be some magnificent side
drives leading off the boulevard. One
would be to Pilarcitos and San Andreas,
passing over the inner coast range, from
which there is a superb panoramic view
of the region of San Francisco and this
side of the bay clear to Mount Hamilton.
The oak knobs, the magnificent madrones
and the redwood country beyond are
features Of the trip.
Another picturesque ride is up San
Mateo Creek Canyon, by the Pescadero
stage road, past groves of oaks, madrones,
alders and buckeyes to the redwoods near
the summit. Passing Crystal Springs
lakes to the summit there is a grand view
of the ocean on one side and the bay and
its surroundings on the other. From the
summit one can swing along the lake and
return down Relm0nt Gauvon tho ,oret
test one on the peninsula and the old
stamping of Ralston and Sharon.
Another fine drive is from Redwood City
to Searsville, over the mountains to La
Honda and San Gregorio, where there are
as fine redwood forests as I have seen.
These side trips would be enjoyed by
many if the boulevard made this region
| popular and accessible"