Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-04-19
TERRIBLE CAL AMITY BEFA[LS
CITY OF The GOLDEN GATE.
THE STRICKEN CITY

Man, with all the strength Of
machinery and millions, built a city
on the California coast using fifty
years in which to complete the
task. San Francisco, the city of
the Golden Gate. was the pride OF
the great west. Men made the
place q mecca when intent on bus
mess or pleasure.
Nature, with the forces that have
been hers since time began. re-
quired but three minutes to lay
waste the beautiful, costly struc-
lures that stood along San Fran
cisco's streets. Three minutes. to
visit death upon hundreds, possibly
cure in their faith in the articles
of Man to oppose the anger OF Ma
ture, slept while roofs and walls
tumbled down upon them. Three
minutes to start q fire in every
block and begin the utter destruc-
! tion of the piles Of debris that alone
were left after those fatal three
minutes to show where monuments
to progress and business ability
had stood.
Man is mighty, but Nature is
mightier than Man.
Il + i. ! j i
San Francisco, the most Import
ant city on the Pacific coast Of
America, Is on the northeast end
Of peninsula. twenty miles long
and at this point six miles wide,
from the ocean. It has been one
Of the most rapid growing and
prosperous Of American cities.
In 1848. six months after the gold
discovery, San Francisco was a
village Of but 500 residents. The
1900 census gives 1t population
Il Of 342,7s2. The land on which the
city IS built is most uneven, rising
at the Twin Peaks to 925 feet In
the built up portion of the city
Many Of the eminences are covered
by beautiful residences, command
ing the most charming and exten-
tssiye views. 4 Il s s.s
1t contains many fine pubic fant
commercial buildings. Among the
most important Of these are, the
Union ferry depot, where the boats
land that connect San Francisco
with the railway systems across
the bay, the city hall, an imposing
structure, covering four acres, BULL
at cost OF $6,00O,000, (this was al.
most totally wrecked; the United
States mint, the total coinage oi
and the Palace block one block or
Market street. There are eighteen
hospitals, sixteen theatres and 17s
churches.
San Francisco covers forty sever
square miles Of territory, or about
10000 acres within the municipal
limits, MANY Of the streets, espe-
cially in the northern and western
parts Of the city, are very steep
and the hills are mounted by cable
cars. The present total mileage ol
street car tracks is 280. The finest
residences are on mob Hill ant
Pacific Heights" both districts
commanding superb views Of the
bay Ind Golden Gate, and in Var
Ness street, a street 125 feet wide
running north and south through
the geographical center Of the city
The commercial district is II
part on made ground, facing th'
harbor on the eastern side Of tn,
peninsula. and on the comparativel.
level ground to the southeast. Th'
mission district to the south anS
ed from the old Spanish mission
situated there, is also favorit,
residence quarter. Market street
y thoroughfare 120 feet wide, rum
from the water front by gradua
ascent into the interior Of tn
peninsula in southwesterly direc
tion.
The streets to the north Of Mar
ket street cut the city. into rec
tangular blocks, running north ant
south and east and west, hence a
acute angles to Market street
Those to the south of Market stree
are parallel to or at right angle
to that street. The city is thu
cut into two district portions, 10
cally known as the South and Nortl
Of Market street. The district t
the south is occupied by manufac
turing establishments. and tn
homes of laborers, that to the mort,
is occupied by shops Of the bette
sort and by the homes Of the NOR
wealthy classes.
IL In its early history the city suf
/ fered from several fires. These oc
| Cured Dec. "a, 1s49. May A, 1851
June IA, 1850, Sept. II. 1850, May !
1851, June %. 1881. Two effects 4
these fires were the use Of bette
materials In building, and tn
formation of various hook and lad
der. engine and hose companies.