The San Francisco call., 1896-06-28
A CITY THAT
Is BUILT ON THE BAY OF
SAN FRANCISCO.
Houses and Thoroughfares That Pro-
ject From the LAM Far Out
Over the Mission Mud
Flats.

The people of San Francisco do not re-
ally know just how many interesting and
unusual things there are around about
strange and curious thingson every hand
that one grows callous and passes them
by without notice?
Down on the Mission mud fats, just off
the mouth of the channel, there is little
city on the water that in almost any other
part of the world would be sight to show
all visitors. Thousands of people pass it
daily and never give it notice. Some
patriotic citizens may explain this by say
ing that there are so many interesting
things here that the one in question is of
no importance, which may be all very
true. But there is no denying the fact
that it is worthy of great deal more at
tention than it has received in the past.
The commencement of this city's build
ing dates back about ten years. IL was at
the time the pier was built out toward
Mission Rock. This naturally made work
for great many people in heimmediate
vicinity, and the pier became central
point for doing business.
As the business of Mission Rock grew so
builders were located there. At first they
had only their workshops there, but soon
moved their household effects also. Houses
were built on the pier, and the main pas
sageway became like street.
Later on time came when there was no
longer room on the pier for houses. Such
a trife did not interfere with the prospec-
tive builders, however. 1t was a little
more work, but they drove piles in the
mud as near the pier as was necessary for
their purpose and let some of the houses
hang over. This has been going on for
long time and at present the city covers
many acres.
1t is certainly one of the most pictur-
esque places in the State. The buildings
are constructed on easy lines and in such
positions as best suited the builders. The
result is a conglomeration of sky-ines,
broken here and there with fagpoles and
chimneys. Many OF the buildings are in
the form of balcony and hang over the
water III the most threatening manner.
But they are most likely safe enough and
nobody has ever heard of anybody Ioosing
sleep through fear of taking plunge into
the waters Of the bay.
In this little city on the water there are
about $50 people living. Most of them are
engaged III some sort of maritime business,
such as fishing or bodybuilding, and the
others are there to supply their wants.
There are no large dry-goods stores in this
town, and one will search in vain for a
church. But irst-cass saloon has been
prosperous for many years. One man
keeps sort of general store and his wife
takes in boarders. At least, she did for
long time.
They are a happy lot OF people, these
San Francisco Venetians. None of them
work themselves to death and they have
plenty to eat and drink. They also have
time to entertain the few visitors they
may have. In other respects the town is
like any other. Babies are born there and
old people die occasionally, just the same
as in any other part of the world.
When seen from any direction this curl
Gus town presents picturesque and artistic
appearance. The piles on which it is built
are not in the best of repair and are COW
cred with barnacIes that give them rich
gray-green color.