The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1906-04-24

San Francisco. the metropolis OF the
Pacific coast. is the largest and most
important city OF the region west Of
the Mississippi river. It is built on q
peninsular washed by the waters or
the Pacific ocean on one side and the
waters of the Bay OF San Francisco on
he other. It occupies a central posi-
ton on the coast line OF California
The city's area Is ~ square miles
Its site is largely hilly. n 1t pre-
sents a picturesque appearance from
the harbor. The part devoted to COM
merce lies along the shores of the bay.
and is moderately level. viii the resi-
dental district on elevated ground.
The most fashionable quarters are
those which overlook the ocean, bay
and town. Knob Hill. upon which the
men who constructed h first over
land railroad quilt their palatial resi-
dences. is about 500 feet above the
ocean.
A part of the site of San Francisco
was reclaimed from the bay. Some OF
the most substantial structures in the
business section are reared on plies
driven to bed rock through made
round Market street is a thorough
fare several miles long n the streets
south Of il are level. but those from
the north and west intersectlng II nave
grades in some places as great as so
per cent. 1t is his feature that gives
the town a striking skyline, and from
the BAY it presents the appearance OF
a city with houses piled on top OF one
another.
Except the thoroughfares and a very
small area near the water front. the
| streets are of ample width. Market
street. the main artery. starts at the
Ferry building and cuts across me
town in a southeasterly direction. IL
is intersected on the north side by
streets laid in conformity with the
cardinal points. rms
| produces irregular blocks. which nave
! left some space at points of intersec-
ton for placing monuments. The
streets south of Market. with the ex-
ception of Mission, which describes
heightened arc. cut each other at rlgh'
angles.
There are in all $50 miles of street:
open to travel. OF these 104 are paved
with rock laid on a foundation of con
crete. Market street presents at al
times an animated appearance. some
of the largest department stores IN tne
city are on this street, but the chle1
shopping district is still In the street:
to the north of that th~oroughfare-
/ Kerney, Suffer. Post. Gerry and Gran
avenue and Stockton street. Unlor
SQUARE, in his locality. is a fashion
able shopping centre. An EXTENSIVE
system Of boulevards exists, furnish
! ing a continuous drive of nearly y
miles. In 1908 there were 274 mile:
| CT street car track-176 electric n 81
cable. four horse and eight steam
! There are many hotels. the most prom
inent being the Palace. the Occiden'
tai and the St. Francis. The latter !:
a modern history building OF stee
and stone and is admirably situated OF
Union Square. The Palace is perhap'
the best known hotel west of the Mis-
sississippi.
San Francisco is growing very rap
idly. The population in 1860 was 80,
SO2 and in 1870 149,473: in 1880 23Z'
$50: in 1890 29s.s97: and in 1900 S42.
1872. One-third of the population i
of foreign birth. OF these the Ger
mans number 1914: Irish 1858
:, English, Scotch and Welsh 1892; 1tal
ians 7.50s: Chinese 1884. The Chin
csc live in a distinct quarter, whlci
/ has taken on many of the character
istics of their own native land, an
| Chinatown of Sal Francisco is one o
the sights to be visited by the tourists
The city has had a number OF de