Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1906-04-26

streets, upon the hills, housetops and
the world of shipping in the bay"
In its early history the city suffered
from several disastrous fires. Between
December, 1S49, and June, 1851, six
confiagrations played havoc with the
growing young town. Better buildings
were planned and several fire compa-
MES were organized. These were steps
in the right direction. 1t was also dis
covered that the fires were started by
criminals who profited by the confu-
sion.
This fact and the inefficiency and
corruption of the city government led
u large number of citizens to organ
ize the famous vigilance committee
which ruled the place in 1851. Quite a
number of crooks were lynched by
the committee, others were driven out,
like John Oakhurst, the leading figure
in Bret Harte's "Outcasts of Poker
Flat" and the city went through q pu-
rifcation process that was of great
benefit to it,
The aspect of San Francisco at this
time was not inspiring TO infowing
gold seekers. 1t was struggling med
ley of low, dingy adobes, frail wooden
shanties. born in an afternoon, with a
sprinkling of more respectable frame
houses and a mass Of canvas and rub
Der habitations. 1t was mainly n city
of tents, rising in n crescent upon the
shores of the cove. From Clark point
it skirted the land to Telegraph hill,
along the Clay street slopes, tapering
away to the California street ridge
The larger number passed to the south
west shores of the cove, beyond the
Market street ridge, a region sheltered
from clustering winds and 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 its
sides and two stood upon cross streets,
within half q block. Mason street,
above it, was really the western limit
northern. Beyond Mason street ran
the trail to the Preside past scattered
cottages, cabins and sheds, amid dai-
-ies and gardens, with Il branch path
to the Marine hospital, on Filbert
street, and another to the North Beach
anchorage, where spectators were
planning q wharf TO attract settlement
After the vigilance committee dis
banded the criminal element became
bolder, and in 1886 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 p. Casey, Il new vigilance or
ganiZation was created, and in few
days Casey and another murderer |
named Cora were executed in front of |
the committees headquarters. Many |
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 q 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 I
tional census reports for 1890, San |
Francisco had total population of /
29S, ,997. OF these 172, 1856 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 a population
Of 342, ,7S2, of which 341 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
lS49, the gambler devotes himself to
his vocation with little interference
from the authorities. Prior to the
two Of the most prominent
corners In the city were occupied by
rambling dens. One Of them, known
Is the Cafe Royal, has been veritable
old mine for its proprletors.
The California supreme court has
endered decision to the effect that