The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-10-09

In my last letter I had just reached
San Francisco-San Francisco is to the
west what New York is to the east. the
great metropolis of the Pacific coast. A
city full of interest and great wealth. /
was surprised to see so many evidences
of wealth and prosperity as l found here
Banks stores, hotels, street cars and
boats all sc emed full of business and
seemed to have all that they could man.
age.
1 spent several days here In and around
the city, visiting many places of interest.
Taking the sightseeing car we had a
good chance to see nearly all places Of
interest. One of the prettiest and best
kept parks in the world. 1t comprises
over 1000 acres and has more fine flow
ers than any other park in the United
States. We also saw the Golden Gate,
the entrance to the bay, where the great
ships come and go laden with the COM
merce of the world.
The sightseeing car gives one a chance
to see all the business part of the city.
the fine residences old missions and
many places of interest. Market street,
the main business thoroughfare, is the
busy street OF the city, and when light
ed at evening presents a beautiful scene.
Unequaled in any city where have been
1t really looks as if one would have to be
worth at least a million in order to be
able to do business on this street
The sightseeing car does not take US
through Chinatown. This trip must be
taken in another way and Is one that no
visitor to the city can afford to MISS
This trip gives one a very good idea of
the every day life, manners and GUS
tom of those queer people There is no
danger or risk whatever in making trip
through Chinatown unless the visitor
should make the trouble himself. The
people are polite, quiet ready to answer
all reasonable questions. failed to see
anything very bad in Chinatown
\ 1 made several side trips out from this
city into the country. l also crossed the
bay on several trips, one around Goat
island where Uncle Sam has one of his
naval training schools, and n number of
warships. Also l went down to Mares is
land where the Russian ship Lena is
stripped and tied up. 1 found hotel
charges most reasonable and the service
all one could ask in this city.
Yes, l was about to forget the trip out
upon the rock cliffs and see hundreds of
seals summing themselves. Here too is
menageries of birds and animals some Of
which are now almost extinct. Here too
one may indulge in a sea bath, at any
temperature desired. Cliff house is
great place for amusement and nearly all
tourists visit this beautiful resort.
After spending few days most pleas
antly on this interesting city / find my
self next, through the courtesies of the
Southern Pacific Railroad company,
aboard one Of their first through trains
and off by the. Mount Shasta route for
Portland, Ore. Passing out of San Fran
cisco over this line we cross the San
Francisco hay on great steamers, and
soon after crossing we come to the mouth
OF the Sacramento river, where we find
the largest transfer boat ir the world,
ready to take our whole train across at
one trip This great boat has four rail-
way tracks. and can handle the longest
of trains, taking engine and all over at
one trip.
After crossing this river we soon come
to the city of Sacramento, the capitol of
the state. stopped here to see the beau
tiful capitol grounds and building, both
of which are very fine. Resumng again
our journey. we pass through the great
Sacramento valley. one of the richest ag-
ricultural districts In the state. Here most
attention is given to general farming,
grain-growing and stock being the chief
Industry. There are some fruits but this
not SO given to fruits as the valleys in
the southern part of the state.
We pass on out of this valley and reach
the mountains of North California, the
grandest of which 10 old Mount Shasta.