Daily Kennebec journal., 1906-04-23

OF the Missouri river. 1t 1S Dullt Oh
Il peninsula, washed by the waters ot
the Pacific Ocean on one side ana the
Bay Of san Francisco on the other. ana
occupies central position on the coast
line Of California
This citys area il forty-seven square
miles. It's site is largely hllly. and 1t
presents Il picturesque appearance trom
the harbor. The part devoted to COM
nerCe lies along the shores Of the bay
and ie moderately level. but the resi-
dental district IS arc on elevated ground.
The most fashionable quarters arr
those which overlook the ocean. bay
and town. Mob Hin" upon which the
men who CoStruCtod til" first overland
railroad built their beautiful homes. i-
about SEQ feet above tn" level Of the
higher
Twin Peaks. which form back
erouni to the leading throughtarc. are
900 feet high
A part Of the site "f san Frau"i"cr
i reclaimed from the bay. .;amc o;
the most s;ubGt lntiaI Str;lt tures in tn"
business Sc ton are reared ca pile
driven to bedrock through mad" ground
aud vast areas of sand dunes have been
leveleI in order to conform localities t.
the street system, which was arbitra-
riy decided upon with little reference
to contour
Market street is several mrlcs long
The streets south Of it are level but
those frGm the north and wost inter
Grcting it strike boldly at the hiI.,. AMI
4,
as 50 per cent This feature gives the
town its striking skyline.
From the bay it presents the appear
ancc of city with houses piled on top
of one another. while from the points
of vantage offered by the hills views
Of rare beauty. embracing the ocean and
bay and the distant mountains, may be
obtained.
It's situation on a peninsula across
which the summer trade winds blow.
has given San Francisco unique eli
mate. During the thirty years of OBJ
servation the lowest temperature re-
corded % and the highest 100. The low
est mean temperature for any month
during this period was 46. and the high
est 65.
emi-tropical plants flourish in the
open air throughout the winter. Dur
ing the summer months rain rarely
falls. but the skies over the city are
frequently Clouded with fog. which
sometimes descends in the form of a
mist.
The rainfall averages about twenty
one inches. The precipitation usually
begins in October and ceases in May.
In normal winters. periods during
which the skies are clear from four to
six weeks are not infreGuent.
The term "rainy season applied to
weather conditions in central and
southern California is misleading. 1t
simply means that there are certain
months during which rain falls and not
that there is continuous rain. A
remarkable feature of the climate is
the regular afternoon wind.
Except in a very small area near the
water front in tine oldest part of the
city. the streets are of ample width
Market street. the main artery of the
city rs it were. starts at the Ferry
building ard cuts across the town in
SOutnwesterly direction.
1t is interscctnd on the north side by
streets laiG ont in conformity with the
cardinal points. This arrangement
produces irregular blocks at the point
of intersection which leaves some space
for putting mp big monuments.
streets south Of Market, with the ex-
ception of Mission. which describes a
heightened arc. cut each other at right
angles. The sidewalks are wide in all
parts of the city and as generally con-
structcd of artificial stone
There are in all $50 miles Of streets
open TO travel. OF these 1O4 miles are
paved with bituminous rock laid on a
foundation of concrete. There is a
large proportion. however paved with
blocks of basaltir rock laid i'm sand.
and in some neglected quarter cobbles
may be seen.
Market street is the leading
thorcughfare and at all times re-
presents an animated appearances
Some of the largest department stores
are on this street. but the chief
shopping district is still in the streets
t" the north of that thOroughfare-
kcarney. Suffer, Post, Geary. Grant
and Stockton streets
Union Square in this locality was
rapidly becoming a fashionable shop
ping centre. An extensive system of
houle'ardS exists. furnishing con-
tinuouS drive of nearly twenty miles.
1t starts near the heart of the city,
traverscs the United States military
reservation and Golden Gate Park,
skirts the Pacific Ocean for two or
three miles and winds in and out
among the hills lying southwest of the
town.
In 1903 there wore 2746O miles of
street car tracks-176 electric, S6.68
cable. horse and steam cars
one corporation controls 244 miles
of san Francisco's transit system
Golden Gate Park, containing more
than 1000 acres, enjoys the distinction
OF having been redeemed and built up
from sand waste There are now
Eearly 500 acres of cIOseShaved sward
green and attractive all the year round
and Il still greater area is planted
with shrubs and trees. semi-tropical
trees being largely in evidence
In Golden Gate Park there are
several partrait statues, but none of
great merit. The monument by Storey
TO Francis Scott Key, the composer of
The Star-Spangled Banner" is con-