The San Francisco call., 1897-10-10

family and many semi-tropical shrubs,
are beautiful beyond description. These
streets are macadamized ana have excel
lent stone sidewalks, but their wealth OF
foliage kills any suggestion or the unln-
teresting and conventional suburb.
Among the prominent residences so hap
PLY situated are those of DR.. Z. II.
Thompson, Third street; DR.. ]. f. Boyce,
Third street; w. II. Wilhts, B strest; j.
II. Brush, B street; Con Shea, Mendocino
street; I. L. Thompson, Macdonald ave.
nue.; DR.. c. W. Savage, Fourth street;
Mrs. S. P. Hart, Mend ocino street, and
w. II. Hodgson, Macdonald avenue.
TIE city is governed by a Mayor and
City Council, who, except when engaged
as a board of equalization, serve without
remuneration. The present holders of
office are the Mayor, DR.. ]. w. Jesse;
City Council-W. P. Bagley, Frank Berka,
J. n. Carter, T. P. Keegan. w. B. Simp-
son and ]. S. Wilson; the Marshal, w.
J. Stedman; the City Clerk, c. L. Mobley,
and Chief OF the Fire Department, Frank
Muther.
In its water supply Santa Rosa stands
as an object lesson to all municipalities in
America. For many years, and until
short time ago, the citizens were depend
ent for their supply OF water upon a pri-
vate corporation which secured the liquid
necessity from Santa Rosa Creek The
doubtful character of the supply and the
exorbitant price charged for it finally in
duced the citizens to secure their own
water works, and to this end $l60 600
worth OF bonds were foated on the mar
ket, despite the severe opposition and
litigation of the monopoiists. One mile
from the city on the Sonoma road four
wells fifty feet deep were sunk, tunnels
were built and pumping stations erected.
To-day the citizens enjoy the benefit OF
1000, 900 gallon daily supply of pure water
practically free OF charge.
No city in the State is better equipped
in the matter of sanitation, its sewerage
system being perfect. The sewage is
carried through WELL built conduits to a
farm some two and half miles outside
the city limits, where it is chemically
treated and deodorized. AS a proof of
the healthfulness of the city, the rate of
mortality is only eight per thousand, and,
as face tious citizen, in speaking of the
subject, proudly remarked, "the people
engaged in business here never die or
resign"
For all these benefits the Santa Rosan
pays tax of 81 % on the sl00, the cost of
the entire city government for the present
fiscal year being in the neigh borhood of
$4,000. The city is well illuminated by
gas ana electricity and has good tele-
phone service throughout both the resi-
dence and business localities. There are
three lines of street railroads giving rapid
access to all important points.
Under the efficient regime of Frank
Muther. Chief OF the Fire Department.,
Santa Rosa is well protected against the
dangers of Contlagration. There are
eleven men in the department, which is
equipped with a modern steam-engine,
no ok and ladder and two hose-carts with
$500 feet of Eureka hose. Connections
can be made with 113 hydrants on the
new water system and forty-two on the
old one, and steam is kept up IN the
engine day and night.
For the benefit of THE CALL the Chief
courteously exhibited the etfic ency of bis
department by turning in a false alarm
one evening of this week. The alarm was
sent in ct point distant half mile from
the engine house, and in just two min
utes and twenty-five seconds the firemen,
who had been summoned from their
various residences. were at the place OF
the supposed fire with their apparatus,
400 feet of hose laid and throwing q power
full stream of water.
The lives and property of the citizens
are well looked after by Marshal Stedman
and his efficient police force, though, to
the credit of Santa Rosa, it must be ADDED
that arrests are few and far between.
Further security is furnished by the
presence of Company of the Fifth
Regiment of the National Guard, under
the command of Major Julian, which has
a commodious armory in its building
facing the courthouse.
In regard to its public buildings, Santa
Rosa and the county have spared no ex-
pense In January oil 1888 the Board of
Supervisors of the county, at the instiga-
tion of Supervisor Proctor of Santa Rosa
township, commenced the movement for
the building of the present courthouse.
The city offered The board the title to the
plaza for the erection of the building.
The cornerstone was laid May 4, 1894, and
the handsome structure now in use and
erected at a cost of $50 coo was occupied
early in the following year. The impos-
Ing DullolnR Is assigned on Dorlc lines, is
quadrangular in form and surmounted by
a our-faced clock tower. which, illumi-
mated at night, serves as beacon for
miles around.
In it's spacious offices the Judges Super
vIsors, Appraisers, Treasurer, County
Clerk and o her officials are comfortap bly,
located. A climb 10 the top of its
lofty dome is we'll repaid by glorious
vista in all directions of smiling valleys
and fertile mountain slopes.
Facing the Courthouse, to the north,
are the municipal buildings; the City Hall
and Court OF Records. On the upper story
of the City Hall is located the Public Lii
brary, which, under the management of
Librarian Mrs. E. ]. Chapman, has be-
come popular and prominent feature of
the city. The catalogue includes between
5000 and 10000 standard volumes, and
the tables of the comfortable reading
room are kept abundantly supplied with
the latest periodicals and magazines. The
library has over 5000 regular patrons.
Almost every religious denomination ia