Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1906-04-27
TENTH CITY OF NATION.
San Francisco Metropolis Of Pacific-its Pop.
ulation Was 100000.

San TTdnCisCO meuOPOitS OF FdCitic-US POp.
ulaton Was 100000.
San Francisco was the metropolis OF
the Pacific coast OF the United States
and the largest and most important
city OF the region west of the Missouri
river. 1t was built on q peninsula
washed by the waters of the Pacific
ocean on one side and the bay of San
Francisco on the other. The city's
area was AZ square miles, and its popu-
lation in 1900 was 342,7 Since that
date the city has grown substantially,
and population Of 400, 900 was claimed
for il.
A part of the site of the city was re.
claimed from the bay. Some OF the
most substantial structures in the bus.
mess section were reared on piles driv-
en- to bedrock through made ground,
and vast areas of sand dunes have been
leveled to conform localities to the
street system, which was arbitrarily
decided upon with little regard to
contour.
Market street was thoroug ghfare sew
eral miles long, and the streets south OF
it we're level, but those from the north
and west intersecting it struck boldly
from the hills and had gradients in
some instances as great as SO per cent.
It is this feature that gave the town
its striking sky line. From the bay it
presented the appearance of city with
houses piled on top OF one another,
while from the points of vantage Of
fered by the hills views OF rare beauty,
embracing the ocean, the bay with it's
islands and active commerce, the
densely populated districts and the
distant mountains we're obtained.
The abundance OF excellent timber
and the popular belief that frame
building is eafer and better in local.
ity having the peculiar conditions of
San Francisco are responsible for the
fact that in 1900 there we're 50,494
frame, and only 1881 stone and brick
buildings, says the New International
Encyclopedia. The occasional occur.
renee of earth tremors for long time
restrained the propensity to build sky
oCI0YCISs Al AOVVS uOWONObS bu0 pIO'
prietor Of the Chronicle erected q 10.
story modern, fireproof building. This
example was soon followed by other
property owners and the city soon had
it's share of tall structures, one Of them
l8 stories high. The major part Of
this class of buildings is composed of
eight, 10 and IL story buildings. the
eight stories being the most numerous.
The most conspicuous structure was
the city hall, surmounted by dome
1872 feet high. It cost about 81 7,OO0,.
COO and rs years we're occupied in
building it. The postoffiee cost the
federal government IS. 900, 900.
San Francisco is rated as the tenth
in importance Of the manufacturing
cities OF the nation The activity of
trade is reflected by the bank clear
ings, which aggregated 81. .373, ,362, ,O25.
The first settlement was made in
1776 by Franciscan monks. In March,
l848, the population was 500, many OF
whom bad been attracted by the gold
excitement.
In five big fires in 1849, 1850 and
1851 damage estimated to aggregate
SIG, ,OOO, 900 was done.
On October 81, 1868, an earthquake
did some damage. With the compile.
ton of the Union Pacific railroad to
the coast in 1869 the city entered upon
q new period of prosperity