New-York tribune., 1906-04-19
AN AMERICAN PARIS.
FRISCO, GAY, BUSTLING.
Groscth of Its Wealth and Poaoer as
Metropolis of Vest.

q
lis OF that vast region west of the Missouri River
Its birth. fits location its phenomenal growth ana
the great wealth which came 10 its pioneers have
made # city OF distinctive interest Among globe
trotters it is spoken Of in the same breath with
Paris. New York and Shanghai, and it Is equally
well known There many who declare that II
is pleasure loving Paris and as entertaining
New York.
The first settlement on the shores Of San Fran
cisco Bay was made in 1776. when two Franciscan
monks Palou and Cambon by name. founded an
Indian mission. With the Mexican invasion or lS2z
a village called Dolores grew up about the mission
and later another trading station was founded near
the best anchorage in the bay. out OF these Inc
modern city has grown with leaps and bounds. The
United States took possession in 1916. and on the
heels of the change OF government came the dis
covery of gold
Another epoch marker for San Francisco was the
completion Of the Union Pacific Railroad TO the
coast in 1859. Tie development Of Oriental trade
gave the Golden Gate city still another boost, and
the opening up OF Washington and Alaska added
greatly 10 its commercial prosperity. II num-
bers a population OF than 10000. over
third OF whom are of foreign birth.
The visitor usually sees San Francisco for the
nrst time from the magnificent bay. whether he
Journeys there by ocean steamer or overland flyer
The steamers pass into the bay through the Golden
Gate which is mile in width. The overland trains
for the most part approach the city through Oak
land. which is to San Francisco what Brooklyn is
New York, and at Alameda transfer their pas
minute voyage TO the city is made.
Seen from the bay the city is only exceeded in
picturesqueness by the mountain of skyscrapers on
Manhattan Island or by Havana. with its marvel
lous Moorish colorug. 1t is built range Of
steep hills. and from distance the houses Of many
Of the residence sections seem be piled top OF
each other.
The ferryboats from Oakland their noses
into the State Ferry Building, at the foot of Mar
ket street This is huge structure Of light sand
fh1 NV. lec
length is eight hundred feet, and il contains
lofty running through its entire length. IN
which exhibits of different California in
dustries and products always on exhibition
Away from the ferryhouse. in a southeastery
direction. stretches Market street the Broadway of
San Francisco. which cuts the other streets at an
angle until II disappears in the hill region, several
miles away. II is wide enough for double lines OF
tracks and the hustle OF its traffic makes
New Yorker feel at home instantly. The streets
20 the south OF ii are level but those which come
in the north and west hilly, in some cases
rising angle OF 80 per cent
The first part of San Francisco through which one
passes has been reclaimed from San Francisco Bay
1t is largely given over to wholesale business and
many of the most substantial business blocks in the
city are to be found on either side Of the street
Many OF these built piles driven through
the sand to bedrock. and in consequence this dls-
trict is said TO have sustained heavy loss
1t is but a short ride up Market street until one
reaches the pulse of the city. The landmark best
known travellers is the Palace Hotel, building
Of eight stories. built around huge open court,
with balconies on every floor.
The City Hall. which is said to be ruined. is the
most conspicuous building IN San Francisco, occu-
pying two blocks and with dome 332 feet high.
It cost 5000 900. and it was twenty-five years
from the time ground was broken until 1t was
finally completed Its solidly constructed walls
Of brick covered with cement The interior is beau
tifury decorated. largely in native marbles. The
building was the home OF all the administrative
branches Of the city government and several OF the
civil courts. IN ore wing of the building is the
Public Library which contains about one hundred
thousand volumes, and which is kept up at an eX-
pense OF S65.e year.
The Hall Of Justice a modern building, to
which Mayor Schmidt removed his headquarters
after the earthquake, is brick and stone structure
surmounted by huge clock tower 1t has for sew
eral years been the headquarters Of the Police De-
| partment, and houses the police courts Another
magnificent structure which is said to be badly
damaged is the federal postofce building. recently
completed a of $5.000OO9. Il Is situated al
Battery and Washington streets, near the Custom
House It is substantially built OF granite, and at
tracts attention by its massiveness rather than by
beautiful architectural lines.
Until few years ago San Francisco builders
afraid OF 'slZyscrapers. The city had suffered
from earthquakes before. and It was generally be-
nevsd that structures Of more than six or eight
stories would be likely to come tumbling down
There was abundance of excellent timber. and
were safer. In 1880 NJ. H. De Young owner Of The
San Francisco Chronicle" began a new building
era by erecting a lofty building 80 and Market
streets the busiest corner in the city The Cal'
| erected a lofty shaft on opposite corner and
later THE Examiner put up a fine building across
from "The Cali" that the newspapers of the citv
were punched there 1t TO the tower of The
| CAR building that visitors went look over the
city. All three buildings said to be badly dam
aged II was at this corner and about these build
| ings that San Franciscos biggest street crowds
gahered 10 learn the results OF elections and prizo
Montgomery street is of next Importance to Mar
ket street. and many fine modern buildings one
eighteen stories high have been erected in the last
rev years: Near MontgomeIy and Sansome streets
many OF the principal hotels. in which there was
Hotel St Francis was recently opened in Union
damage = "-''-'" inc 'Hnse OF earthquake
The The most notable OF the, large office buildings
Mills NILS BGiiaing in lower Mong9mery street. tow
Market street and the CP6cker Bu1dinc ab,ch IN
occupies the site of the old Lucky Baldwin The
Stre, at Market and Powell streets The Mills
Building is similar architecturaliy to the Mills
Bullding In Broad street in this city.
OF the year. Although opera Of some sort is sung
every night IN the year at one Of the theatres this
House, in which the company from the Metropoli-
| None of the theatre buildings were rernarkabie
from a structural standpoint, yet they enjoyed an
| companies across the continent
| Al this time Of year San Francisco is crowded
! with tourists who have been spending the winter
| IN Southern California. and who return TO the
theatres hotels and caf9s The Wen housed i clubs 1P
| OF which San Francisco boasts are also crowded
best known. perhaps is the Bohemian. which gives
The fsnons Old s6IiY House on the ocean me ft gIrE
/ overlooking Seal Rocks. is said to be outside OK
! A considerable portion of the closely built area
Of San Franeseo has FToTn WI. up up into quarters for
In this section OF ten or twelve square blocks live