The Colfax gazette. [volume] (Colfax, Wash.) 1893-1932, 1910-07-15
SAN FRANCISCO AS
SEEN BY OLD TIMER
Is Now More Grand, More
Beautiful and Substantial.
Chinatown, Mecca of Sig shtseers,
Rebuilt and Unobjectionabie--
SIoop That Negotiated Northwest
Passage Is a Great Treasure.

San Francisco, July 9.-(Special to
The Gazette. Ut is hard to realize,
looking over the business section of the
city from Van Ness avenue south to the
bay, that it was reduced to ruins a little
over four years ago, and that new San
Francisco, Phoenix-like has arisen, more
grand, more beautiful, more substantial
y Ihan the old But such ia the case The
old timer misses many familiar land
marks, but he sees in their place some
thing more modern and lasting, and
their absence is hardly noticed. Stand
ing on the roof Of the Chronicle building
the other day a friend pointed out the
area destroyed by the earthquake and
fire four years ago last April, the stu
pen dousness Of the catastrophe being
fully understood for the first time. 1t
was a view from the top of the skyscraper
commanding sight of the entire city.
The area destroyed covered TX square
miles, and the destruction wend on for
four days and three nights, leaving
death, ruin and desolation on every
hand. The estimated money loss was
1902 500, 600. All Of THE enormous
loss, except So, 100000. il attributed 10
the fire that swept over the city, the
quake being responsible for the smaller
sum named. There are but few traces Of
the disaster left, the extension Of the
fire limits being largely responsible for
these Great buildings Of enormous
height, fire proof and quake proof, have
been erected, monuments to the grit and
enterprise Of the people Of the Pacific
coast metropolis Il il the marvel Of
all who visit the city. And we are told
that the city has been rebuilt without
borrowing 10 any great extent from
abroad showing the wealth Of San
Francisco and the state Of California, es
it has taken vast sum OF money to
2 rqbuild and restore.
fs 1t will be hardly possible for another
such catastrophe to occur again, as the
authorities have taken time by the fore
lock and constructed 90 emeEg ency reser-
voiCs, holding from $4,000 to 100,0 900
gallons Of water each, to be used when
occasion demands. This il aside from
the regular water supply. Fire Chief
Sullivan, who lost his life the second day
of the fire by wall falling on him,
recommended the establishment OF these
reservoirs years ago. Had it been done
the damage of April IS, 1906, aside
from the quake, would not have happened.
Although the horse has been stolen, the
stable (metaphorically spenking) il now
kept locked and no more horses will be
stolen.
The New Chinatown.
Chinatown (so-called) has been re-
built and, as Of old, il the mecca Of the
sightseer. Many OF the Objectionable
features OF the Chinatown of former
years have been left out, or, at least, [
found nothing Objectionable in the rounds
made. Following Dupont street from
end to end the visitor will see large
stores filed with the wealth. gorgeous
ness and splendor of the Orient, along
celestial. One magnificent building in
particular, occupied by the Sing Fat Co.,
is not only filled with the most costly
goods of the Orient, but is crowned with
S02ola OF pagoda architecture, from
. be- top Of which waves the American flag
and directly beneath it the flag of the
dragon. The joss house is easily recog-
nizable, aside from a notice posted,
strangers Welcome" The room con-
tains images and is decorated in many
colors, where the faithful bow and scrape
and bring incense. 1t was the cry of
Denis Kearney and the mob in the 7O's
that tile "Chinese must CO." cry that
became q slogan all over the Pacific
coast, but Denis Kearney has long since
departed from this earthly tabernacle
leaving a name tainted by graft, while
Mayor Mccarthy says the Chinese must
stay" as they are an asset to the city,
which would seem to be the case Judging
from the number OF people going through
their quarters every day and the thrift
that seems to prevail on every side.
a Historical Vessel.
San Francisco possesses one of the
wonderful parks of the world-Golden
Gate. 1t is the breathing spot of the
half million people who inhabit the city
It contains about 5000 acres. person
could spend week in this beauty spot
and then not see all contained within it's
limits. will attempt to mention only
I ne thing, to my mind the greatest
aeasure contained within the park en-
\ Neosure. 1t is the sloop Gioa, the little
craft that made it's way through the