Langley's San Francisco directory for the year commencing 1880, Part 6

Author:
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: San Francisco : Francis, Valentine & Co.
Number of Pages: 1214

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STATE BUILDINGS OR OFFICES. -- Although several state officials necessarily have their offices in this city, the State has not yet provided any special building for their accommodation. The various Commissioners, Inspectors and Agents rent offices as convenient as possible to the respective locations of their several occupations. Should the reader have any special desire to know where these are he can easily ascertain by referring to the proper place in the general directory.

MUNICIPAL BUILDINGS. - Of these, the first to be noticed is the Old City Hall, standing on the southeast corner of Kearny and Washington streets. It was one of the first large buildings erected in the pioncer days of the city, and remains a standing monument of the illy-conceived structures of that date. During the years 1878 and 1879, most of the City and County Offices were removed to the new City Hall, and there now remains in the building only the offices of the Sheriff, County Clerk, Chief of Police, Police Commissioners, and Police Court, all located on the first floor. The second and third floors are used as Court Rooms for departments one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, and eight of the Superior Court.

NEW CITY HALL. - The legislation for management and construction of the new City Hall would make an interesting chapter in the political history of San Francisco. So suddenly did the city spring into existence, and so rapid was its growth, that it was almost impossible to provide the halls, court-rooms, offices, prisons, etc., necessary for its increasing business. The old adobes of Dupont, Clay and Washington streets, which sufficed for the Alcaldes, Mayors and Recorders of the " days of '49 and '50," were soon given up for the more commo- dious quarters on Kearny street and the plaza, and when the Jenny Lind Theater was purchased and adapted to the uses of the city the accommodations seemed complete. For a quarter of a century or more these buildings have comprised the City Hall, and as far as their capacity enabled them, have supplied the chief offices of the city. New courts established, crowded prisons, and increased business, necessitated a building designed and constructed for the special purpose, and the subject of a new City Hall was agitated. In the first survey of the city Larkin street was its western limit, and, at its junction with Market street, a large plot of ground was reserved as Yerba Buena Cemetery, extending thrce blocks north on Larkin, three east on McAllister, and crossed diagonally by Market to place of beginning. The "Western addition" was soon after surveyed and built upon, thus bringing the cemetery within the populous limits, and burials in it ceased. In 1869, Yerba Buena Cemetery was a neglected inclosure of bramble-covered sand-hills. Then it was proposed to devote it to the purposes of a City Hall. An Act of the Legislature, approved April 4, 1870, authorized the proceeding. The tombs were removed, the ground leveled, and the plot surveyed by running Park avenue parallel to and one hundred feet from Market street, and opening City Hall avenue, one hundred feet wide, connecting Market street with Park avenue. The portion fronting Market street was to be sold and the remainder reserved, on which to erect the building. The impression was that the sale of the lots would supply a sufficient fund for the ercetion of the necessary structure, but only about $900.000 was received from the salc. Pro- posals to architects were made, limiting the cost to $1,500,000. Several fine designs were offered, and one, by Augustus Laver, was accepted. Although other architects protested that this design would involve a cost greater than the amount to which they were limited, and therefore unfair to them, the appearance was so attractive-and with the assurance that its cost could be brought within the limit-it was accepted and the acceptance approved by the public. The plot of ground being triangular, required a building of peculiar form, but is neither triangular nor square. The main front on Park avenue is 800 feet, on Larkin street

THE LARGEST STOCK Of OPTICAL GOODS in this City only at MULLER'S 135 Montgomery Street.

Dixon & Bernstein, Show Case Manuf's, 250 Market St.

JONAS J. MORRISON,

Redwood and Puget Sound Lumber, especially selected for Building Purposes and Foreign Shipment.

PROGRESS OF THE CITY.

it extends 550 feet, and on McAllister 650 feet. In 1871 work was commenced; a deep exca- vation was made, and a monolith of broken stone and cement laid six feet in thickness, covering the entire base of the building, and involving an expense of $600,000. Upon this incomparable foundation the massive walls of brick were laid, and the superstructure arose, solid and strong as a casemated fort. The heavy expenditures in the early part of the con- struction admonished the public of the errors in the estimates, and a halt was called. The original design of the building was altered in order to reduce the cost, the architect removed from the superintendency of construction; the Board of Commissioners was abolished-no charges, however, being made against them-aud the property taken in charge by the Board of Supervisors. The expenditures by the first Board of Commissioners was $1,366,000, and by the Supervisors, $203,720. In 1876, an Act was passed by the Legislature authorizing the Board of Supervisors to levy and collect, annually, for four years, a tax of 15 cents on each $100 of valuation, to create a fund to be called " The New City Hall Fund," to carry on the work of construction. The Act made the Mayor, Auditor, and City and County Attorney a Board of Comissioners, erch to receive a salary of $100 a month, and with power to appoint an architect at $300 a month, a superintendent at $200 a month, and a secretary at $150 a month. Under this Commission the expenditure-up to the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1879-has been $1,167,835. The estimate, from the same date, to complete the' building, is $1,750,000; making, should the estimate prove correct, the total cost of the structure $4,487,555. The monolith foundation, the massiveness of every wall, the immensity of its iron girders, and its exterior ornamentation of towers and columns, have added greatly to the cost over ordinary buildings, but have secured it strength and durability to defy the throes of the earthquake, the terrors of the flames, or the ravages of time. When completed, it will be one of the largest, handsomest, and most durable edifices of the kind in the United States. The main entrance will front on City Hall avenue, a broad opening into Market street, oppo- site Eighth. A flight of steps, extending in a semi-circle of one hundred feet diameter, ascend to a broad portico surrounding the base of the principal tower, which rises to a height of two hundred and seventy feet. From the portico numerous doors open into a grand vestibule, or rotunda, eighty feet in diameter and one hundred and five feet high. From the rotunda lead corridors to the various halls and offices. On the McAllister street front is a broad and elegant approach, now completed and used as the principal entrance to the building. Twelve large iron columns, six feet in diameter and eighty feet in height, stand on the portico and support the pediment, above which rise two towers, each one hundred and fifty feet high. The Larkin street front is similarly ornamented by portico, pillars and towers, but contains no grand entrance. On the southeast wing of the main building is a high, square, cam- panile tower, a fine architectural feature. The original design contemplated a mansard roof, adding a high story, but for the sake of lessening the expenditure a low roof was substituted, leaving the building rather flat in comparison to its ground area and the loftiness of its towers. The basement is a story of twelve and a half feet in height. The first story has a height of twenty feet. On the second story the halls have an elevation of twenty feet, but the Court rooms and chambers of the Board of Supervisors extend in height to the roof, a distance of thirty-four feet. The third floor has an elevation of eigheen feet. In the basement are located the offices of the Superintendent of Streets, License Collector, Registrar of Voters, Commissioners of Insanity, and Grand Jury rooms. On the first floor the Mayor, Auditor, Treasurer, Assessor, Tax Collector and Surveyor. On the second floor, the Clerk's office, and chambers of the Board of Supervisors, and Court-rooms of Departments 9 and 10 of the Superior Court. On the third floor, the City and County Attorney, and office of the Board of Education. From either end of the McAllister street front will extend wings, each one hundred and forty feet in length, inclosing the entrance in an oblong square. The Hall of Records is detached from the main building, as an extra safety from fire, but is connected with it by an arcade, describing an arc of a circle. This Hall is a circular edifice, ninety-five feet in diameter, and surmounted by a dome, rising to the height of one hundred and thirty-four feet. It will be surrounded by an arcade, which will increase the external diameter of the building to one hundred and thirty-two feet. The Hall of Records was completed for occupancy in May, 1877; and so much of the main building is completed as to supply rooms far the principal city officers.

For fine designs in Bookbinding apply to D. HICKS & CO., San Francisco.

INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL .- This is a reformatory institution to which ungovernable boys are committed, either on complaint of the officers of the law, or, as it often happens, at the request of the parents or guardians of the refractory youths. It is located on the San José Road, about six miles southwest of the City Hall, and is designed to accommodate two hun- dred and fifty boys. The ages of the inmates range from children of nine years to lads of eighteen, the greatest number being from ten to seventeen. The boys at the institution are compelled both to work and study, four hours per day being devoted to the former, and four and a quarter hours to the latter. Some are taught various useful trades, and a large number are employed in farming and gardening-seventy-five acres of the one hundred and thirty which compose the grounds being under cultivation. The school-room will seat two hundred boys. The Magdalen Asylum connected with this institution has about seventy-five inmates. Fifteen dollars per capita per month is appropriated for their support.

PAPER HANGINGS.

Importer of French, American and English Paper Hangings. Private residences Decorated in Artistic Style Geo. W. Clark, 645 Market

JAMES E. GORDON & CO.,

WHOLESALE HARDWARE, Corner Market and Front Streets.

SAN FRANCISCO DIRECTORY.

THE HOUSE OF CORRECTION is situated on the San José Road, on the lot occupied also by the Industrial School. The building, which is composed of brick and stone, was completed in 1874, and cost about $120,000. The central portion is octagonal in form. Attached are two wings, containing in all two hundred cells, each capable of accommodating two prisoners. The plan contemplates three other wings, with accommodation for one thousand ininates. The cells are furnished for three hundred and ninety four prisoners, with three dark cells for the purpose of punishment. Several large workshops have been built for the prisoners, all of whom are required to perform manual labor for eight hours each day. There is also a hos- pital and chapel.

THE CITY AND COUNTY HOSPITAL is situated on a ten-acre plot of ground, in the south- ern portion of the city, bounded by Potrero avenne and Nevada. Sierra and Nebraska streets.

THE CITY AND COUNTY ALMS HOUSE occupies a portion of the old San Miguel Ranch, distant about six miles from the City Hall, and within sight of Lake Honda.

THE TWENTY-SIXTH STREET HOSPITAL, located on the Potrero, near the corner of De Haro and Colusa streets, is specially set apart for the receipt and care of persons afflicted with contagious diseases.

For a full description of the three last named institutions see Hospitals.

THE COUNTY JAIL is an old two-story brick building, located on Broadway, between Kearny and Dupont streets. For years it has been utterly inadequate to accommodate the number of prisoners committed to it, and temporary expedients in the establishment of branch jails, and the occasional use of the House of Correction have been resorted to when over- crowded. At the present time the use of the House of Correction by the Sheriff for this purpose has been ordered stopped, and the branch jail abandoned

THE CITY PRISON, located in the basement of the old City Hall, at the corner of Kearny and Washington streets, is the most inadequate of all our city institutions. The prison con- sists of one long corridor, opening into which are several large cells, in each of which a score of prisoners are confined at once. At the upper end of the corridor are several rows of smaller cells, which two or three prisoners can occupy at a time. The whole place is damp and almost without ventilation

In the northeast corner of the basement is an apartment used as a receiving hospital for the reception and treatment of invalids found exposed on the streets, casualties, wounds, etc.

Hotels.

San Francisco still maintains the lead among the cities of the world with respect to the quality and number of her first-class hotels, which she assumed contemporaneously with the opening of the Palace and The Baldwin, and is still able to challenge comparison equally as well npon the score of liberal patronage. In immensity and solidity of structure, the Pal- ace stands probably the peer of any similar building in the world. It is seven stories in heighth, the heighth of each varying from twenty-five feet in the clear-the first story-to fourteen feet-the seventh. It fronts two hundred and seventy-five feet by three hundred and fifty feet in depth. It possesses three inner courts, around which balconies or piazzas attached to each story extend. The walls and partitions are made as nearly earthquake and fire-proof as possible, and required thirty-two millions brick in construction. The courts, the New Montgomery street front and the dining room are now lighted with the electric light, which was first introduced in July, 1878. Taking equal rank with the Palace in character of accom- modation and appointment, The Baldwin presents an appearance of more graceful and pre- tentious architecture, although not as substantially built. It fronts two hundred and seventy- five feet, by one hundred and eighty-four feet in depth. It is six stories in heigth. The base- ment is entirely of brick and iron. Its principal dome stands one hundred and sixty-eight feet above the pavement, and from its commanding location, it presents one of the most salient of the city's many adornments. To these may be added our other leading hotels, which go toward the completion of our first-class list, all of whose appointments, both in regard to lux- ury and convenience, combine to sustain the reputation claimed for the city. In the aggre- gate the accommodating capacity of our leading hotels exceeds five thousand, and it is a just enconium upon the liberality of the people of the Pacific Coast, that they are generously sus- tained. The Lick House, so long a favorite among the first-class hotels, in April, ISSO. will be transformed into a business house, devoting the first story to stores, the second to offices, and the third to lodging rooms. The following is the list of hotels and their locations :

PALACE HOTEL. - Location, southwest corner of Market and New Montgomery streets, extending back to Jessie street. The ground floor on the Market and New Montgomery street fronts is chiefly occupied by stores. There are seven hundred and fifty-five rooms above the ground floor, and the accommodating capacity of the hotel is estimated at twelve hundred.

THE BALDWIN -Location, on triangular block bounded by Market, Powell and Ellis streets, its main front being on Powell street. It has four hundred and ninety-five rooms, accommo- dating capacity, about eight hundred. This, the latest of our prominent hotel structures, was formally opened in February, 1877. '

SAN FRANCISCO LAUNDRY

The Largest Laundry Establishment on the Pacific Coast OFFICE, 33 GEARY ST.

Steinway Superb Pianos at GRAY'S MUSIC STORE, 117 Post St.

J. MACDONOUGH,

CUMBERLAND, LEHIGH AND ENGLISH FOUNDRY COKE, 41 Market Street, corner Spear.

PROGRESS OF THE CITY.

THE GRAND HOTEL .- Location, southeast corner of Market and New Montgomery streets. It is four stories in heighth, fronts two hundred and seven feet on Market, by three hundred and ten feet in depth on New Montgomery, has four hundred rooms, and will accommodate about six hundred guests.

THE OCCIDENTAL HOTEL .- Location, east side of Montgomery, extending from Sutter to Bush streets. It is four stories high, and has accommodations for six hundred guests.

THE RUSS HOUSE .- Location, west side Montgomery, extending from Bush to Pine streets. It is three stories high, the ground floor on the Montgomery street front being occupied as stores. It has accommodations for three hundred guests.

THE COMMERCIAL HOTEL .- Location, at junction of Kearny and Pacific streets and Mont- gomery avenue. It fronts one hundred and thirty feet on Pacific, thirty-five feet on Kearny street, and one hundred and forty-eight feet on the avenue. Capacity, three hundred.

THE COSMOPOLITAN. - Location, southwest corner of Sansome and Bush streets. It is a brick building, four stories in height. Only the third and fourth stories and a portion of the first are used for hotel purposes ; the second story having been converted into offices. It is now conducted on the European plan.

LODGING HOUSES, ETC .- In addition to the above, there are numerous smaller hotels, and about fifteen hundred boarding and lodging houses in the city. An unusually large number have been erected during the past few years-notably on Bush, between Kearny and Stockton, on Mission, from Third to Ninth, and on various other streets, especially south of Market, are this class of improvements noticeable. A stranger would think our people reversed the rule, and all boarded, and that " keeping house " was the exception, but the far greater number of dwellings erected during the same period proves otherwise.

Theaters.

For many years San Francisco has maintained a high reputation for its theaters. Not- withstanding the depressed state of business during the year the theaters have been fairly maintained.

BALDWIN THEATER .- This theater, located in the Baldwin Hotel, has its front on Market street, and in point of elegance of fittings, taste and skill in architecture and adorn- ments, stands in the lead of all of our dramatic temples, and indeed challenges comparison with all others elsewhere. There are three circles in addition to the orchestra, ten mezzanine and twelve proscenium boxes, the boxes being furnished with elaborate richness. The total seating capacity is about fifteen hundred. Electric automatic fire alarms are located in all parts of the building, and the facilities for fire extinguishment are of the most perfect. Cost, exclusive of hotel, $250,000.

CALIFORNIA THEATER .- Location, Bush street, between Kearny and Dupont. This theater, which stands in the relation of the "Old Drury" to the city, was opened in 1869, at a cost of $125,000. There are two circles besides the orchestra, the gallery being in the rear and slightly raised above the upper circle. It has ten private boxes and a total seating capacity of eighteen hundred.

GRAND OPERA HOUSE .- Location, Mission street, between Third and Fourth. It has a frontage of one hundred and ten feet, by two hundred and seventy-five feet in depth. It has the largest stage of any theater in the United States and the most complete stage appoint- ments. There are four circles in addition to the orchestra. It has twenty mezzanine and twelve proscenium boxes, making a total seating capacity of two thousand four hundred. Its facilities for escape in case of fire are of the best, doors opening into broad vestibules from all parts of the house, render jams almost impossible. This theater was opened in January, 1876, and cost $325,000. Its location, however, seems to have been unfortunate, and thus far the experience of managers has been generally disastrous in connection with the Grand.

THE BUSH STREET THEATER .- Location, south side of Bush street, near Montgomery. Seating capacity, about nine liundred.

THE STANDARD THEATER .- Location, north side of Bush street, near Montgomery. Seat- ing capacity, about eight hundred.

THE TIVOLI GARDEN .- Location, north side of Eddy street, between Powell and Mason. This pleasant place of amusement was established as a free place of resort and saloon for refreshments, but an admittance has latterly been required, and it has become a popular place of resort.

THE BELLA UNION THEATER .- Location, west side of Kearny street, near Washington. It is devoted entirely to variety entertainments, and will seat about one thousand.

THE ADELPHI THEATER .- Location, south side of California street, near Kearny. It is also like the Bella Union, devoted entirely to variety entertainments.

CHINESE THEATERS .- Of these there are three: The New, 623 Jackson street ; the Grand, S14 Washington street, and the Royal, 836 Washington street. They are frequented to a cer- tain extent by white people, particularly tourists.

In addition to the foregoing, there are Platt's, and Union Halls, and the Mechanics' Pavilion, and other smaller halls, where public entertainments are frequently given

J. GUNDLACH & CO.

Cor. Market & Second

CALIFORNIA WINES & BRANDIES. Proprietors Rhinefarm, Sonoma

D. HICKS & CO., Bookbinders and Printers, San Francisco.

CONTINENTAL SAFETY OIL

SHOULD BE USED IN

EVERY HOUSEHOLD.

SAN FRANCISCO DIRECTORY.

Street Railroads.

The street railroad is an American device, which, like so many "Yankee notions," is adopted by all the world seeking ease, comfort and economy. Few eities or large towns of the United States are now without this cheap and ready means of conveyance, and gradually the system is extending through the conservative eities of the old world. The street car is emphatically the poor man's carriage, as it is the rich man's convenience, resorted to by all classes, colors and nationalities, making it the most democratic institution of the age-con- necting the centers of business, the fashionable promenades, the quarters of the artisan, the manufacturing districts and places of amusement with the modest family residence and sur- burban villas, in all the parts and surroundings of the great city. It renders every section of such easy access, that over-crowding is no longer a necessity nor an excuse. Property has thus been enhanced in value, and the sanitary condition greatly improved. In the adoption of this method of intercommunication, San Francisco stands pre-eminent. The growth of the system in this city, the timidity of capital to engage in the enterprise, the struggle for right of way, the distrust of the authorities in granting franchises, the litigation of the colored people to obtain admittance to the cars, the adoption of the cable roads, and the final popu- larity and rush for franchises, would constitute an interesting feature in our local history.

THE MARKET STREET RAILROAD is the oldest in the city, dating from 1857, when it formned a portion of the San Francisco and San Jose Railroad, and was operated by steam for a num- ber of years, running an awkward looking "dummy " locomotive with one or two cars at- tached, between the terminus, opposite Fremont street, to the the depot at Valencia street, soon after extending to "The Willows, "then a surburban resort, near the Mission. Market street was not at that date, nor for several years after, a graded highway, and the railway passed through many narrow cuts in the sand hills and by ponds of stagnant water. The track was of T rails, and the gauge that of the steam railroads, which gauge is still main- tained, making it and its recent connections different from all others in the city, and forbid- ding the use of its track by other lines. As all other roads have a broader gauge, it necessi- tates their laying additional tracks when running on Market street, thus accounting for the numerous lines of rails that mark, in places, that great thoroughfare. The Market Street Railway, of the present, comprises an extensive system. The ferry landing is the most desir- able objective point of all the street lines, and from this starts the one under consideration. The main line now extends along Market to its junction with Valencia, and by the latter to Twenty-sixth street, a distance of about four miles, with double tracks. The street is now graded, paved and almost solidly built up the entire distance. The old depot at the junction of Valencia street is abandoned, and the trains of the San Francisco and San Jose Railroad, now the Southern Pacific, make their way to the general depot, at Townsend and Fourth streets. Cars leave the ferry landing every two and a half minutes during the busy hours of the day, and pass the entire length of the route in forty minutes, the fare being five cents for the entire distance or any part thereof. The cars of this line are distinguished from the many cars on the street by their dark blue sides, and at night by their purple lights. A branch on McAllister street to Devisadero, to be operated by a wire cable, will soon be constructed.

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Langley's San Francisco directory for the year commencing 1880, Part 6

Author: Publication date: 1880 Publisher: San Francisco : Francis, Valentine & Co. Number of Pages: 1214

Author:
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: San Francisco : Francis, Valentine & Co.
Number of Pages: 1214