The San Francisco call., 1897-01-24
Where San Francisco
Surpasses All the Other
Big Cities Of the Union

as free to use by the general public as are
any similar institutions elsewhere, In fact
in many respects freer. The magnificent
Free Public Library carrying 100000
bound volumes of the best literature OF
the world, has 1900 daily readers and over
20 900 borrowers, who take to their homes
to read at leisure the volumes they de-
sire. This without any price or fee what
ever The schools and higher institutions
of learning of San Francisco are noted
throughout the world for their high STAN
dard of excellence. Astronomy and nat
ural physics have their greatest temples at
the Golden Gate.
The San Francisco millionaire has long
been thing of common talk. He is a dlf-
ferent creature from those Of this class
elsewhere. He keeps in touch with his
fellow citizen, and while he may lack
some of the traits which mark the one
who looks toward Eastern Atlantic shores
for guidance in the etiquette OF the bac-
carat ia bic and the cut OF knee breeches,
he prefers the old-fashioned ways and
customs of good old-fashioned '49ers, and
does not falter when appeals to his purse
are made 10 aid in the betterment of his
poorer fellows. No greater, widespread
philanthropy has ever been witnessed
than that practiced by the California mil
ionaire.
High above all other things San Fran
cisco is phatically business city, run
by business men upon business principles.
She can with pardonable pride point to
lesser number of business failures and
foreclosures than can any other city OF her
size. And she is not yet out OF swaddllng
clothes. The business of the Golden Gate
is in its infancy.
For long time the fair har3or of San
Francisco has been antagonized by the
selfish policy of a powerful corporation
which by sharp practices obtained control
of rights of way for land transportation
leading from the Golden Gate to the East
err States, and which in the pursuit of it's
grasping policy has done all that cupldity
and greed could do to thwalt enterprise
and deter industry by the imposition of
inhibitory rates. Recently the National
Congress has lnterposed its rightful pro-
lection to the Pacific Coast, and the re-
straint which has heretofore impeded
manufacturing and commercial industries
will shortly cease to be. Then will dawn
the bright morning of The golden land.
With the commerce OF half the world dis
EN- barking at her wharves, with other and
adequate railroads leading to the interior
of the continent and to the shores of the
Atlantic, with rates of fairness making it
both possible and profitable to ship to the
distant points the countless products OF
the favored Pacific Slope, San Francisco
will swiftly assume her regal rights as the
greatest commercial center.
Fifty years from now the maritime
trade of San Francisco will outrank that
of any other city of the world. The boy
of 10 years, of to-day, who may live TO
witness the great City of 1947, will view
splendid metropolis of immense area
city of magnificent proportions, where
grand architectural palaces of trade will
line broad and busy thoroughfares. He
will be able to stand upon some eminence
overlooking a noble bay and count thou
sand huge leviatEans OF the deep coming
and going through the sunset gate, each
laden with. The riches of the eastern and
western worlds, and all loading and un-
loading their respective cargoes at the
great City's docks. A dozen lines of steel
highways will center at the City's gates,
whence their smooth-worn rails will
spreau uol1u, easI anu Soutu, Aoui-tIdcheu
and occupied.
1t may, to the one who deals only in the
dull prosaic, seem too much of a romance
to entertain such views as these; but to
him who studies the causes leading to the
rise and growth OF cities, to him who will
in fair candor of spirit examine into the
conditions which encompass San Fran
cisco, and from such examination frame
unbiased deductions, there will be no
hesitation in arriving at the conclusion
! that all which has been said in this arti-
Gle is not only possible, it is highly prob
able. The histories of the greatest COM
mercial cities of the globe had less favor
able promises than has San Francisco
F. M. CLOSE, DISC.