The San Francisco call., 1896-12-20

where the cornerstone was 10 De lalu. Inc
rest fell in and brought up in the rear.
The procession formed most imposing
spectacle and large crowds followed TO see
the ceremony performed. With the Royal
Arch Masons was the golden Ark of the
Covenant upon truck drawn by four
horses.
The sides of the lot fronting respectively
on Kearny, Washington and Merchant
streets showed a dense, unbroken line OF
spectators at the beginning of the cere-
mony and many crowded into the lot and
kept the police busy. The windows of all
the adjoining buildings were also tlled
with people.
In addition to the various Masonic
bodies present at the laying OF the stone
were most of the City officials and ma
iority of the Supervisors-e
DR.. RottanZi stood by and divided his
attention between observing the ceremony
and stroking his new and silky Vandyke.
Charles L. ]. w. Pierce, grand commander
of the Grand Consistory, was accompa-
MED by William Frank Pierce, inspector
of California and Thomas Hubbard Cas-
WELL supreme grand commander of the
Southern Jurisdiction of the United
States. All these gentlemen have attained
the thirty-thlrd degree in the Masonic or
der. A. l.. Fitzgerald, the inspector of
Nevada, was also present.
The kearny-street and North End I'M
provement Association, which has the
credit of having the new municipal build
ing located on the site it will occupy, was
out in force. The Grafton Of the day was
delivered by Attorney George D. Shad-
burne, the chairman of the judiciary COM
mittee of the association.
Shadburne's oratioD preceded the formal
ceremonies. He was listened TO with the
closest attent ion, and at the conclusion of
his remarks was greeted with hearty ap-
plause. In part he said:
Ny FeIow-Citizens: We are standing upon
historic ground, made memorable by the deeus
OF pioneers OF past age, whose memories clus-
ter around us as we, too, are about to perpetu-
ate the history of our golden City. On such
an occasion il is meet that we allow to pass in
review at least some of the storied past
1t was predicted in 1854 that San Francisco
was destined one day 10 be in riches, grandeur
and influence like Tyre or Carthage of the
olden time, or like Liverpool or New York of
modern days. Our City to-day proves the pre-
diction true.
The bay called San Francisco Bay was first
discovered by the missionaries OF st. Francis
about the end Of the year 1863. The Spanish
Government, TO secure control of the country,
directed that missions be established along the
coast. TIE first mission established was that
at san Diego IN 1853. On leaving that port
directions were given by the Inspector-Gen-
ersl as to the names OF subsequent missions
they were taken from the calendar of saints.
ST. Francis was not among the number. When
tnis discovered by good Father Junipero
he exclaimed; "Whall Is not our own dear
Father ST. Francis to have mission assigned
10 h1mI'' To this the VISltad0r, or 1uSpec tor
General, replied: 'If st. Francis wishes
mission let him show you good port, and
then IL will bear his name" So when the
good priest discovered and entered the Golden
Gate and behold our beautiful and capaeious
hsrbor he at once named it San Francisco Bay.
The mission al San Francisco was established
in 1776. On the 27th day of June an expedi-
tion which had started by land from Monterey
arrived at Washerwoman's lagoon. presume
you all know where that is; ii is at the north
faf IN Ctfl Of Gan
cisco. Here the mission wes temporarily
established SubSeQ uently, however, it was
moved 10 the old Mission Dolores about two
miles southwark. store ship had previously
lett Monterey With. arms, soldiers, families and
provisions. 1t did not arrive until August
On the 18th of ptember solemn possession
was taken OF the Presidio. After blessing and
planting the cross the first mass was said, and
concluded with a Te Deum. On the 9th of
Novem Der q similar ceremony was performed
on taxing possession OF the mission. And for
want OF an organ they continually discharged
firearms during the ceremony, and the smoke
OF musEets supplied the incense. The do
minlon of the padres was gentle and minlste-
rial, and in few We arS the missions had
thrived and multiplied to such an extent that
the whole coast. from San Diego 10 San Fran
cisco, was under their sway, and the Indians
had become converted and had greatly in
creased in number and were fast becoming an
industrious and contented people. The
sions continued in power until about 1S45,
when the Mexican Government deprived them
OF their authority and pos sessions.
The Americans began to enter California in
considerable numbers; the time was soon to
arrive when Mexican dominion would cease.
The Russians were about the first foreign set
Tiers in California. They had two stations,
one in Bodega and the other at Fort Ross, as
early as 1872. They were constantly and
jealously eyed by the Spanish and Mexican au-
thoritles, until, in 1S41, they sold out 10
Captain John A Suffer and retired from the
country. It soon became evident that Mexico
could not stop the how of imml grafton to her
Golconds. Adventures from every cline
he in fiT1a
the principal merchants were foreigners.
The Spaniards looked on Indifferent TO the re-
suit.
Texans were now knocking at the door of
Congress Tor admission into the Union, which
entrance was effected In 1S45, and the Mexi-
can war followed in 1846, which lost Cali
1ornia TO Mexico forever.
Prominent in the delivery of California to
the United States were Colonel John c. FFe-
mont, CommodoTes Sloat, Montgomery and
Stockton, General Kearny and Colonel Steven
son. Right opposite you on the plaza is where
Commodore Montgomery hoisted the Ameri-
flag July 8, 1916, in the little town known
Yerba Buena.
In the spring OF 1948 the war with Mexico
was at an end, and Ca ifornia was part OF the
United states, but, as matter OF fact, her in
domiteble sons. led on by such men Com
modores Stockton, Sloat and Montgomery,
General Kearny and Colonel Fremont, had al
ready won her independence. After the rails
ing of our National colors on the plaza, San
Francisco. then Yerba Buena, was continu-
ously under American control.
The orator here entered upon a de.
scription of the discovery of gold in Cali
fornia, depicting with realistic language
and sympathetic gesture the early scenes
and circumstances among which the pio-
neers lived. To give an idea of the prices
paid for goods and provisions in those
times he gave the following information:
December 1, 1S4S, the market stood as fol-
lows ir San Francisco:
-Four, $27 per barrel; beef, 500; pork, $50;
butter, 80 cents per pound, and cheese, 20
cents.
During the greater part of the year 1S4S San
Francisco had been almost entirely deserted
for the mines. The school closed; the news
papers-two in number-ceased pu pIicetfon; ;
and times in the village were dull; but things
were lively in the mines. individuals made
$5000 $4,000 and SIS 900 in the space of
lew weeks. One man dug out $12 900 in six
days. Three others obtained $4,000 in sir gle
day. In one instance five loads OF earth sold
for $3.50 which yielded, after Washing $16-
600. The common instrument first made use
of to dig with was butchers knife, so butch
ers' knives suddenly went up to $50 and $50
apiece.
On the strength of these successes and on
account OF the scarcity of supplies, everything
went up in price enormously.
Flour at one time sold as high as 5000 per