The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1911-02-24
FRISCO
As Seen By The Rev. |. ".
MuIhane Of This City
WrlteSEntertalningly TORGad-
erS Of The Banner
Of The Many Points OF In.
tereSt In The West
The City Prepared Should
There Be Another Fire
Many Other Interesting Feat.
ureS In The Letter
San Francisco, Cal, Feb, 1S

| Editor banner
Before departing on my homeward
bound journey, having completed one
half of it, and now ready to start on
the other, perhaps a few impressions
of this city may interest your readers.
The rise of this city from the awful
catastrophy of 1906, is marvellous and
is an indication of the wonderful re-
cuperating powers of American mu-
inequalities. While the earthquake
caused the fire and destroyed all the
means by which the fire might be
ed the most damage. About 500 mil
lions of dollars, the loss is estimated
at, 400 millions of which was directly
caused by fire. To avoid this danger
in the future the city has at great ex-
pense put down under the streets in
many quarters immense cisterns into
which has been pumped sea water, so
that if the mains are destroyed again
there will remain supply Of water
to fight fires.
OF course everyone has read of the
Golden Gate Park, out really it sur
passes expectations. 1t was $500 ac-
res where 80 years ago there was
nothing but sand. There are trees,
500 in variety, and native tree of
every state in the union, and flowers
and animals and $50 varieties of birds,
and statues lnnumerable. Boats on
the lake, art galleries, museum, stad-
ium, and every imaginable manner
of things to please, educate and in
struct.
Then beyond it is the famous Cliff
House and Seal Rocks, and the roar
ing of the Pacific upon the beach; add
to this a blue sky and gentle wind
with rich ozone in it, and you have
picture worthy to see and remem-
ber.
The races of men are here also and
one can we'll quote Robert Louis Stew
enson, when he called San Francisco,
: "The Melting Pot of Nations" It's
people are just now in great glee on
account of securing the location of
: the Panama Canal Exposition and ev-
| erywhere you see, even tags on the
bicycles of the telegraph messenger
, boys, 1915 Exposition"
A local writer says: "San Francis
| co has way of its own. Its citizens
) have minds of their own. Even the
t babies turn their toes out with en-
) phatic originality. 1t could not be
hustling Chicago or blessed old Bos-
/. ton, or gay New York--it is just
Frisco, all by itself" Truly, it is a
{ wonderful picture. stood for NOM
! ent this morning on the corner OF
/ O'Farrell street and Van Ness avenue
I the place where the fire was original
r ly checked in 1906, and as men and
q boys and girls hurried along to work
!. / caught the murmur of at least hall
t dozen languages recognized and hall
/. a dozen others l knew not.
4 The number of hotels is amazing
n They are everywhere. Up and dowr
a every street you see wealth and fash
ion jogging side by side with abjact
i pictures of poverty and detection.
noticed also today an electric hearse
| don't know whether Mr.. Ed. McCor
mick of Mr. H. j. Chappe'ear coult
manage one in the city of Mt. Vernon
or not, but the day may come wheI
we will be carried to our graves b!
n electricity.
One street here is commonly know
by the name of Gasoline Row." TO
it is said that every known make o
automobile has its agent and its sam
A. pies along this street. l went to SCI
d 1t and 1t is marvellous. really believ
c, Truman Davidson would open his eye
1. and say, Good bye, rubbed tired oil
g hacks, your day is done"
1t Well, must close, get my ticket
'e validated and prepare to journey o.
II again towards the eastern sun an
IS try to catch up with Old Father Time
10 for even II do hail from old Mt. Veei
rs non don't want to Oe slow and W
rs are Just two hours behind your Ger
s. tral time, as we have Pacific time.
I'd had to change my watch twice, pu
se 1t back an hour each time. This wa
quite the reverse of the English toul