SAN FRANCISCO 



5190 



SAN FRANCISCO 



AN FRANCISCO, "the city loved around 

 the world," is the principal seaport on the Pa- 

 cific coast of America, situated on a hilly penin- 

 sula between the Pacific Ocean on the west and 

 San Francisco Bay on the east. Golden Gate 

 (which see) connects the bay and the ocean and 

 bounds the city on the north. 



San Francisco Bay, including its northern ex- 

 tension, San Pablo Bay, is fifty-five miles long 

 and from three to twelve miles wide. It is the 

 largest bay on the western coast of the United 

 States and one of the greatest harbors in the 

 world. On the eastern shore and directly op- 

 posite San Francisco are Oakland, Alameda and 

 Berkeley, all connected with the larger city by 

 ferries. 



The story of the city is summed up in few 

 words by Frank Morton Todd, an observer of 

 American cities: 



Born a. drowsy, Spanish hamlet, fed on the in- 

 toxicants of a gold rush, developed by an adven- 

 turous commerce, isolated throughout its turbu- 

 lent history from the home lands of its diverse 

 peoples and compelled to the outworking of its 

 own ethical and social standards, San Francisco 

 has evolved an Individuality and a versatility 

 beyoid any other American city. 



General Description. The city occupies an 

 area about seven miles square and comprises 

 the county of San Francisco. The site is hilly, 

 and some of the elevations rise abruptly from 

 sea level to altitudes of 400 to 900 feet. The 

 ranges of hills are separated by nearly parallel 

 valleys, and the diversity of surface imparts to 

 the city a picturesque appearance. The streets 

 are broad and straight and, with few excep- 

 tions, cross at right angles. Those in the north- 

 ern, central and western parts of the city ex- 

 tend approximately north and south and east 

 and west, but in the southern part most of the 

 streets extend northwest and southeast and 

 northeast and southwest. Market Street, the 

 great thoroughfare, extends from the Ferry 

 building southwest to Twin Peaks and divides 

 the city into two nearly equal parts. The 

 streets to the south of Market are parallel with 

 it and at right angles to it, but those on the 



north extend north and south and east :m<l 

 west. 



That portion of the site bordering on the bay 

 is low and level, and the land on which the 

 Ferry Building stands and that occupied by the 

 docks and warehouses have been reclaimed by 

 filling in. On the Pacific coast a ridge of sand 

 dunes protects the city from the winds. Along 

 the west side of the city extends the Great 

 Highway, following the ocean for three miles 

 and connecting with other drives and boule- 

 vards leading to all parts of the city. Electric 

 and cable cars connect the business sections 

 with all outlying points. The hillsides are dot- 

 ted with beautiful homes. Whether it be ap- 

 proached from the bay or from the ocean San 

 Francisco presents a beautiful appearance. Vis- 

 count Bryce, former British ambassador to the 

 United States, says of it: 



Few cities in the world can vie with San Fran- 

 cisco either in the beauty or in the natural advan- 

 tages of her situation ; indeed, there are only two 

 places in Europe Constantinople and Gibraltar 

 that combine an equally perfect landscape with 

 what may be called an equally imperial position. 



From the summits of Telegraph Hill and Rus- 

 sian Hill, and from the reservoir near Twin 

 Peaks, magnificent views of the city and its 

 surroundings may be obtained. 



Parks and Boulevards. San Francisco has 

 over thirty parks and public squares, whose 

 combined area is about 1,400 acres. Golden 

 Gate Park, having an area of 1,013 acres, is one 

 of the largest city parks in America. It has a 

 frontage on the Pacific of about half a mile 

 and extends inland for. four miles. The park 

 contains long drives, walks, lakes and hills 

 whose summits offer fine views to the visitor. 

 Nine baseball diamonds, a dozen tennis courts, 

 handball courts, a completely equipped play- 

 ground for children and a stadium enable the 

 lovers of sports and play to satisfy their desire 

 for exercise amid beautiful surroundings. In- 

 teresting plants from all parts of the world are 

 found in the gardens and the collection of ani- 

 mals includes deer, elk and Alaskan moose. In 

 the aviary are many rare and interesting birds, 



