The San Francisco call., 1908-04-26
ECeTa from 1RoADVaY @~0 FOURTEENTH 81

information OF the American feet OF
war vessels and also for the enlighten-
ment OF all other visitors and inquirers
regarding material conditions in tha
cities that front San Francisco. each
one OF which comes now under the
limelight- The foregoing are some
leading facts that convey the proper
impression OF actual solidity and per-
lanency OF growth Oakland has
thrived wonderfully in the last t1c
years The great FIRE in san Francisco,
that destroyed all the downtown bust
ness section OF the city and q very large
portion OF that which was devoted 20
homes. sent thousands OF people from
san Francisco TO do business and 10
seek abiding places IN Alameda county.
OF the business Oakland. by reason Of
central location and also because Il was
already better equipped for the trans
action OF business than any other COM
munity On the east shore OF the bay.
received the greater portion During
the period OF reconstruction in San
Francisco 50 many men bought build
ing sites and business locations in Oak
land that the building boom. the real
measuring stick Of growth, is strongly
n evidence IN the accompanying fig
ures. Homes were needed 20 accoramo-
date the ever growing population
Structures Of various kinds became
necessary TO meet the requirements OF
business Among the larger buildings
that have been put up n Oakland since
the year 1905 are Two very costly and
nne bank buildings OF class A cor
structioa n the business center OF the
Athens OF the Pacific"
Oakland, as the county seat OF Ala
media county. contains the county
courthouse and the hall OF records Of
the county II IS the oEcial center OF
all the communities between Contra.
Costa county On the north and Santa
Clara county On the south When the
first trznScontinental railroad, the Cen
traI Pacific. which is now a part OF
the Southern Pacific system. was seek
ing land al tide water for its ter
uinai and yards and had its choice OF
bay frontage. II selected Oakland That
undoubtedly was the best and IN fact.
the ideal place At the outset the
approval OF the abIest engineers and
the sbIest fna1ciers that have been
associated on the Pacific coast was
placed on Oakland for business uses.
That their judgment has been amply
approved By the subsequent develop
ments IS Iut1iaousiy evident When
Oakland wss put on the railway map
for the first time. that determined that
the county seat should be there and
also that business should be centered
there for Alameda county. When the
second line OF the Southern Pacific
company was constructed, the line be-
tween Los Angeles and the bay OF
San Francisco. that passes through the
san Joaquin valley. and also when the
Santa Fe reached the tide water OF San
Francisco bay. Oakland was made a
terminal city for more trackage- The
Oregon line comes TO Oakland The
Western Pacific comes as near 10 IL as
possible.
All circumstances have worked to-
getker for years to enhance the I'M
portance OF Oakland The sudden i'm
petEs that Tas given o its growth
b. the san Francisco IRE OF 1906 only
hastened its immediate development
WHY that development was certain IN
the long run. without any adyentftious
circumstances. requires little explana-
ton II was backed up by = splendid
interior country It was in front of
San Francisco II was easily devoted
10 business uses and was found 10 be
er.iuently 1T for homes Added to the
other natural possessions was the es-
tuary that Hes between Oakland and
Alameda that provided additional com
mercia1 facilities and q water front
near the future center OF its business
enterprises
During a period OF years ship build
ing firms removed to Oakland 70 take
advantage OF the good sites for the
erection OF ways for the construction
Of all sorts Of sea craft To the yards
so created must be attributed q large
part OF the mercantfle marine con-
structfon with which the port OF San
Francisco is credited IN statistical
tables. Mercantile and manufacturing