Perth Amboy evening news., 1923-08-01
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BY A. H.
NEA SerVica Writer

SAN FRANCISCO.- Bridging the
| waters which form San Francisco's
city limits promises soon to be one
of the city's chief outdoor sports.
A district is being formed to join
| this city with its playground, Marin
| County, site of Mount Tamalpais,
wonder Redwood trees and other
scenic marvels, by bridging the
Golden Gate.
Application has been made to
| Washington, d. c., for permission
to build a couple of bridges across
| the southern portion of the bay, and
two other bridges which would join
San Francisco directly with its east
bay neighbors are contemplated.
| For long this city has beer cut off
| from the mainland by the bottle
neck between the bay and the Santa
| Cruz Mountains. The latter, though
| native sons would not sacrifice them
for "a mint, do occupy much of the
| coast line of the peninsula upon
which San Francisco stands.
From present indications the first
of the transbay bridges to be built
will be hat which will connect Red
wood City and the Niles country.
This will span the narrowest point of
the bay, and will form the overwater
connection for a 50-miie drive from
Oakland to San Francisco.
A little further north is the pro-
posed location of a bridge between
San Mateo and Hayward. which will
somewhat lessen the auto route be-
tween this city and the eastbay.
The other two, still iii little more
than a state of contemplation would
extend from the city waterfront
one to Alameda and the other direct
ly to Oakland.
The transbay bridges will make
possible direct untransferable
connections with some of the
nations richest farming and fruit
growing areas.
Also, say those supporting the
move, they will do for SaE- Francisco
what the Brooklyn Bridge and it's
kindred did for New York, perhaps
eventually welding the entire bay
district into a greater San fran
cisco.
But should the central bay bridges
eventually be built and the present
ferryboat system he abandoned, they
will not pass without a certain
amount of attendant mourning. For
San Franciscans hold warm affec-
ton for each traditional sight of the
city. And many see a in the
ferryboats, which stick diligently to
their prosaic TASK of transporting
the commuters over the same route
day after day.
Probably destined for greatest
renown is the bridge which will
span the Golden Gate, IN thus
become the Statue of Liberty of
the west coast.
But apart from this fact, it will
have many claims TO international
distinction.
To begin with, it will be $50 per-
cent larger than any bridge now in
existence and it's principal span will
more than double that of any exist
ing structure, a stretch of 1000 feet.
The main span Will be built on the
suspension principle between two
piers. Upon each pier will be two
towers, 1910 feet high, or nearly
twice as high az the Washington
monument. And (trust San Fran
cisco always to see the amusement
angle) there will be sightseeing ele-
~vators in each tower.
In building the bridge, engineers
must overcome a S00-foot water
depth. The total cost is estimated
as 20,000,0 900.
Work will start about the first of
the year, according to present plans.
Romantic traditions abound in
California, tales of daring cava-
liers and their lady loves, or
hardy pioneers, of wide-hatted Span
iards who owned lasd grants of al
most inconceivable magnitude, of
courageous mission fathers preach
ing the gospel unmindfui OF danger
to themselves.
How could it be otherwise when
there is abundance of such magma
lion stirring names of Canada dc
Guadalupe La V~isitacion, Arroyo de
la Alameda, Lagun de Los PaIos,
and so on?
But there will be one less tradi-
ton If John ]. Bonafacio of Salinas
Is successful in his plea to the wide
world.
, The tradition in question tells of a
love affair between General William
IlCA d 4tCQlGIdHI dlO
Senorita Maria Ygnacia Bonafacio
of Spanish descent.
When the call came for Sherman's
regiment to proceed to Mexico in
1S4S, there was a romantic parting
I between the lovers, so the story goes
A rose cutting was planted by them,
as they plighted troth to be married
when the roses blossomed.
But Sherman was ordered east
after the war n was married. Tit
%senorita stayed single until her dy.
ing day.
B~onafacio, nephew of the senorita
denies the legend and ever threaten.
e legal proceedings against those VIII
[ attempt to keep 1t alive.
mot a word of truth in it," he de,
clares, land besides, I'm tired of be
e ing pointed out as the nephew of tn,
D woman Sherman Tilted and of beln,
piled with personal questions by in
n curing strangers. The sooner tn,
J. yarn is forgotten, the better"