The San Francisco call., 1909-04-03

j IA u Mil valleys claim TO be san I
Francisco's most beautiful suburb
is not an exaggerated one is /
apparent from the testimony Of
hundreds OF visitors who troop
into the town and scatter TO the
many show places within an hours
travel IN almost any direction.
Nesting at the base OF old Tamalpais
and in a natural park Of giant red
woods and madrones the location is
in itself delightful Its proximity to
the metropolis which is reached BY
boat and electric train in IS minutes,
has of necessity made ii suburb, Yet
its individuality precludes the possi-
biIty Of IL ever taking on any OF the
characteristics which ordinarily make
suburb Objectionable.
Up the side OF Mount TamalDais, over
She foothills ia every direction. the
cozy homes are climbing. and sites
through the little valleys that diVerge
from the main one are fast being
sought out Tor building. Camp
Tamalpais is one of these parks which
have been recently opened UP because
o. the demand for sites among the
trees and here are giant redwoods 10
feet in diameter. Here are rustic seats,
q monster open fireplace and a swim
ming pool, and this summer many log
Farther over the hills and adjoining
Muir woods, The new national park, is
camp Monte Vista. nearly a thousand
scres in extent and containing within
its boundaries every conceivable vari-
ely Of building site. This is soon to
BE connected with the electric railway
Ay line which viii convey passengers
ne the Muir woods in 10 minutes from
Locust avenue station. The present
route 10 the national park is by way
of the Iamalpats railroad and the trip
occupies an hour and a half.
Noooside Terrace is one Of the
wooded tracts close TO the center of
The town Starting at the brook on
which stands the old mill which gave
the valley its name. this tract rises
IN terraces 10. tle summit OF a hill
from which magnificent view of the
bay and Of Tamalpais is 10 be seen.
The side Of the hills are covered with
talf redwoOdss fnadrones= and the fra
grant laurels. Those who have chosen
THIS secluded location for their homes
have only cleared of enough timber for
The building ana the result is that
II IS easy 10 imagine while standing
smong these trees that the metropolis
IS hundreds OF miles distant Five
minutes walk brings one 10 the center
ot Mill Valley and 90 more TO the heart
of san francisco.
10 The last three years Mil Valley
and with the opening Of Muir woods.
the rev national park lately given to
The government by William Kent Wis
ltors VINO stopped at Mil Valley en-
= route ana 10 admire have begun TO
remain ane buy lots. To the class OF
nature lovers who 80 10 Muir woods
-or enjoyment Aii3l Valley has made
its appeal, ana il is Of such for tba
-iest part that the present population
composed. For many Years the
place was little known except as a
remote and semi mythical haven
where some few substantial business
men frenl the metropolis made 4hei,
homes Il was after the earthoual1e
et 1906, when people were driven to
me surrounding country that Min
Valley really was discovered. and since
tnen the place has been growing bv
leaps and bounds At the present time
the growth is taking on the appear
ance ot a boom, and although property
values have risen to some extern in
the last three years. the figure for a
desirable building site with grounds
such as can be secured in no otber
sertlsn is remarkably low
Another factor which viii contribute
- the Immediate and rapid growth of
the town is the altering Of the route
q -North hWestern Pacific passenger /
trains from. san Rafael The trains
UhiIsa formerly proceeded by way Of
Greenbrae and I%buron are now routed
hN way ef the cutoff to Corte Nader
and g Mill Valley Junction. and thence
10 sausaIitO.
The railway from Locust avenue 10
camp Monte Vista and the Muir woods
is being hnanced by local and. eastern
capital Already the right Of way has
been secured and construction work I
VIII begin IN June The fare viii be
= cents for re6urn trip ana the Sun
day traffic VIII run into the thousands
Mili valley is spending $50 900 on
improvements 10 streets. bouIevards
and highways, SO GOO on Fairgrounds
and $1,000 on sewers A library site
has been purchased directly north OF
The Record Enterprise Office for s. 500.
and 1he building on this viii begin
this year The bond issue for these +
improvements was Immediately sold at
= premium OF $4,000.
Two bright weekly papers are pub
lished in the town and both are circu-
lated 10 the extent of the population
" nearly 5000 people There are
churches Of ali denominations, schools
from Kindergarten to high. and all the
other institutions OF a city close TO the
metropolis and made up of a population
which is OF the metropolis
Apart from the many picturesque
spots which are everywhere about the I
settlement there are bits of scenery I
which have been made famous by such
artists as Keith. WEIGH. cadenasso and /
dozen others. Willow camp, favor
lie place for artists summer colonies. /
is-rvh hours drive over the hills; as is
Bof las beach. Redwood canyon. the 4
former summer 5inks grounds OF the /
Bohemian club is on the road over
which in summer thousands travel I
every Sunday, and there are scores OF
beaqtffui drives IN every direction. TO
say nothing Of the countless bride I
paths through beautiful groves Of
trees ever yerdant hills.