Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1906-04-25

nom clustering winds ana provided
with good spring water and named the
Happy Valley.
Stockton street. stretching from Sac
ramento to Green streets, presented
the neatest cluster OF dwellings, and
Powell street was the abode OF churches,
| for of the six churches In existence In
| the middle of 1850 three graced It's
sides and two stood upon cross streets,
within half a block. Mason street,
above II, was really the western limit
of the city, as Green street was the
northern Beyond Mason street ran
the trail to the Preside, past scattered
cottages, cabins and sheds, amid dali
rles and gardens, with a branch path
TO the Marine hospital, on Hilbert
street, and another TO the North Beach
anchorage, where spectators were
planning a wharf TO attract settlement
After the vigilance committee dis
banded the criminal element became
holder, and In 1856 the crime and cor
ruption in the city had become intol-
cradle to those who wished to live a
decent and orderly life. When Editor
King of the Bulletin, who had de-
nounced the thugs, was murdered by
James Il. Casey, a new vigilance or
ganization was created, and In a few
days Casey and another murderer
named Cora were executed in front OF
the committees headquarters. Many
lawbreakers were later put to death,
and the regime Of the California bad
man" came to an end.
1t has been asserted that San Fran
cisco is the most cosmopolitan city in
the world, and by cosmopolitan is
meant a population from all parts of
the world. Not long ago the records
indicated that 43 per cent of the peo-
pie of the city were born In foreign
lands, not In two or three different
countries, but in practically every land
under the sun. According to the ma
tional census reports for 1890, San
Francisco had a total population of
29S, 997 OF these 172. 1876 were native
born and 126,S11 were born outside of
the United States. Fully half the
grown persons in the community re-
moved to California from alien lands,
while a large percentage of the other
half and of the general body Of chill
dren were of foreign parentage. In
1900 San Francisco had population
of 342, 7S2, of which 34l per cent was
foreign born.
San Francisco has long been famed
as one of the wide open" cities Of the
United States As in the days of
1S49, the gambler devotes himself to
his vocation with little interference
from the authorities. Prior to the
earthquake two OF the most prominent
corners in the city were occupied by
gambling dens. One of them, known
as the Cafe Royal, has been a verltable
gold mine for its proprietors,
The California supreme court has
rendered a decision to the effect that
the game of draw poker Is not a game
Of change, but involves Judgment and
other elements as well as chance or
luck. and because of this decision these
places are permitted TO be maintained.
They are frequented by hard look
ing crowd of men, and many scandals
are told associated with these places.
A visitors life is probably safe in these
resorts. but his money is not. 1t Is said
that the son Of the premier Of British
Columbia was fieeced OF $500 in the
Cafe Royal a few years ago. He lost
$1,000 in cash, but stopped payment on
$1,000 In checks.
San Francisco has forty-seven square
miles of territory, or about 10000
acres. within the municipal limits. The
finest residences are on Mob hill and
Pacific heights, both of which districts
command magnificent views of the
bay and the Golden Gate. The city
has six large parks and twenty-five
small ones, and Golden Gate park &C.
cupies over 1000 acres.