The San Francisco directory: embracing a general directory of residents and a business directory : also, a directory of streets, 1879 , Part 9

Author: Langely, Henry G
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: San Francisco : Francis, Valentine & Co.
Number of Pages: 1196

USA > California > San Francisco County > San Francisco > The San Francisco directory: embracing a general directory of residents and a business directory : also, a directory of streets, 1879 > Part 9

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During the past year, the receipts from all sources for the Harbor fund have been $609,229. 62. xpenditures, $323,708.12 ; turned in to State Treasury, $285,521.50. Of the expenditures, 38,649.57 have been devoted to permanent improvement, $82,068.79 to the purchase of dredges id steam tugs, $23,979.38 to urgent repairs, $4,803.38 to sea wall account, and the remainder maintenance and contingent expenses.

Work contemplated in China Basin has been delayed by questions on the part of property wners as to the right of the Board to enter China Basin. The matter is now before the ipreme Court, and if favorably decided, important and extensive improvements will be imme- ately undertaken, the effect of which will be to afford a vast increase of accommodations to r lumbermen.

Work under three separate contracts is now in progress, covering the contemplated bulkhead North Beach from Stockton to Lombard streets. For the first thousand feet the gross price $96,000. The second thousand feet has been let at forty-six cents per cubic yard for rock rk, and twenty cents for earth, and $20,000 additional for wharf ; the third thousand feet " sixty-five cents per cubic yard for rock work, and twenty-five cents for earth, with $20,000 ditional for wharf. Kearny Street has, during the year, been filled in from the shore-line to e bulkhead, at a cost of $11,975.

Hotels.

No notable change in the capacity or accommodations of the hotels of the city has occurred ring the year. San Francisco still maintains, however, the lead among the cities of the world th respect to the quality and number of her first-class hotels, which she assumed contem- jraneously with the opening of the Palace and the Baldwin, and is still able to challenge Inparison equally as well upon the score of liberal patronage.

In immensity and solidity of structure, the Palace stands probably the peer of any similar lilding in the world. It is seven stories in height, the height of each varying from twenty- fe feet in the clear-the first story-to fourteen feet-the seventh. It fronts two hundred Del seventy-five feet by three hundred and fifty feet in depth. It possesses three inner courts, ahund which balconies or piazzas attached to each story extend. The walls and partitions are I de as nearly earthquake and fire-proof as possible, and required thirty-two millions bricks in Cistruction. The courts, the New Montgomery Street front and the dining room are now Ihted with the electric light, which was first introduced in July, 1878.

Taking equal rank with the Palace in character of accommodation and appointment, the Edwin presents an appearance of more graceful and pretentious architecture, although fully a substantially built. It fronts two hundred and seventy-five feet, by one hundred and eighty- fr feet in depth. It is six stories in height. The basement is entirely of brick and iron. principal dome stands one hundred and sixty-eight feet above the pavement, and from its chmanding location, it presents one of the most salient of the city's many adornments.

To these may be added our six other leading hotels, which go towards the completion of our fit-class list, all of whose appointments, both in regard to luxury and convenience, combine toustain the reputation claimed for the city.

In the aggregate the accommodating capacity of our leading hotels exceeds five thousand, a. it is a just encomium upon the liberality of the people of the Pacific Coast, that they are gjerously sustained. The following is the list of hotels and their locations :

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

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ANDERSON & RANDOLPH, Jewelers, 101 Montgomery St.

SAN FRANCISCO DIRECTORY.

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.

THE GRAND HOTEL. Location, north-east corner Market and New Montgomery Streets. It is four stories in height, 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 COSMOPOLITAN. Location, south-west corner Sansom and Bush. It is four stories high, and has an accommodating capacity of about five hundred.

THE OCCIDENTAL HOTEL. Location, entire front on east side of Montgomery, between Sut- ter and Bush Streets. It is four stories high, and has accommodations for six hundred guests. THE LICK HOUSE. Location, west side Montgomery, extending from Sutter to Post Street, and a depth of two hundred feet towards Kearny. Capacity, three hundred.

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.

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.

The only improvement in the line of amusement buildings for the year worthy of note is the re-modeling and thorough overhauling given to the cozy little theater formerly known as Emerson's Opera House, now transformed into the Standard. This theater, which was formerly devoted to minstrelsy, has had all of the old appointments taken out; material alterations of stage have been effected, the floor of the auditorium extended, seats of the latest and improved order introduced, and by a liberal and tasteful exercise of the fresco painter and gilder's art, a transformation has been effected, which has placed the Standard in the front rank as a candidate for the favor of our amusement loving people. It is being managed upon the combination plan, and was formally opened October 28, 1878, since which time it has enjoyed a season of more than ordinary success. Our list includes :

BALDWIN'S 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 appointments. There are four circles in addition to the orchestra. It has twenty mezzanine and twelve pro- cenium 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 man- agers has been generally disastrous in connection with the Grand.

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

THE STANDARD .- Location, north side of Bush, near Montgomery. Seating capacity, about eight hundred.

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

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. The

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Gold and Plated Jewelry at GEO. LOOMIS', 706 to 716 Kearny St.

PROGRESS

THE CITY.

number of places of amusement, coupled with the fact, that there is with us no Summer inter- mission, gives ample proof of the generosity of our people in sustaining 'so largely this source of relaxation, although it is but just to remark that the past year's theatrical experience has felt, as all other lines of business, the effects of "over production."

Public Squares.

There are twenty-two public parks, or squares, in this city, varying in size from two hundred feet to the great Ocean Park of one thousand and thirteen acres. Ocean, or Golden Gate Park, lies in the northwestern portion of the city, bordering on the ocean. It is fifty-six blocks long and nine blocks wide-or three miles long and a half mile wide. A beautiful avenue, or drive, about three-quarters of a mile long and one hundred yards wide, leads from the city proper to the park. There are seven lakelets in this park ; also arbors, grottoes, mounds, rustic benches, etc., which gives it rather a picturesque and romantic appearance. Up to June 30, 1877, the Park Commissioners had received from all sources $499,941.09, of which $486,249.47 had been expended, leaving a cash balance of $13,691.62. From June 30, 1877, to June 30, 1878, the receipts have been as follows : From taxes, $34,763.38 ; from Police Court fines, $200 ; from Pound fees, $75 ; from appropriations by Act of Legislature, approved February 14, 1878, $40,000 ; from sale of old sacks, $144, making a total since their last report of $75,182.38, with balance on hand at that date, $13,691.62-$88,874.

The amount expended during the past year, is $57,210.38. leaving a cash balance on hand of $31,663.62. Since its organization, the Board of Park Commissioners has disbursed $543,459.85, all of which is represented by actual work performed on the grounds in its charge and for the purchase of material and merchandise employed in the work, The Legislature of 1876 author- ized the Board of Supervisors to make annual appropriations of $15,000 from the General Fund, and an annual tax levy of one and one-half cent. upon each one hundred dollars for its mainte- nance. Early in the fiscal year ending June 30, 1878, a special appropriation from the General Fund of $10,000, and an additional levy of one per cent (making a total levy for Park purposes of two and one-half per cent. ) was made by the Board of Supervisors. A subsequent order,

however, revoked the direct appropriation and reduced the levy to two per cent. As a conse- quence, works of improvement during the year were discontinued and force employed only to the extent necessary for maintenance except in the case of the conservatory, built during the year, for which purpose the special appropriation of $40,000 by the Legislature was made. The gross amount of expenditure above set forth includes the expenses for fencing Buena Vista and Mountain Lake parks, making large plantations in the former, and the expense of the prelimi- nary topographical surveys for Golden Gate Park. Deducting these, and there remains actually expended upon the Park, in the six and one-half years since work was begun, $495,879.74. Of this amount, about $115,000 is chargeable to maintenance, $14,000 to work horses, rolling stock, tools, etc., the remainder, $366,879.74, being chargeable to direct improvement.

During the year ending June 30, 1878, the Park was visited by six hundred and sixty-five thousand three hundred and sixty one persons.

The length of roadway constructed is thirty-nine thousand seven hundred and eighty-four feet, representing an area of one million seven hundred and seventy-eight thousand seven hun- dred and ten square feet. About four miles of linear length of walks have been constructed, of which nearly three-fourths are completed, the remainder needing only the capping surface of screened rock with which all are finished. The only new work in roadway during the past year was the construction of an additional section of the "Southern Drive," by the expenditure of the "Bush" fund. This fund, amounting to $6,348.09, was created by voluntary subscriptions of citizens of San Francisco, secured through the efforts of Mr. David Bush, during the months of January, February and March, 1878, and was placed in the hands of the Park Commissioners for the employment of laborers at one dollar per day, thereby relieving the then prevailing distress among the unemployed.

The number of trees and shrubs planted in the Park since the Spring of 1872, when this branch of improvement was begun, is one hundred and forty-two thousand. In the nursery, for future planting in the coming season, there are between fifteen aud twenty thousand plants and trees. The reclamation of the lands bordering on the Great Highway from the continued drift of the shifting sands of the ocean, the solution of the problem for which the simple means adopted by the engineer in charge, amply furnished, continues to become more and more assured ; the dune has steadily increased in height and its resisting power to the drifting force of the sands has become fully established.

The feature of the year, however, is found in the construction of the conservatory for the reception of the two conservatories presented to the Park Commissioners by a number of our prominent citizens during the year 1877. These conservatories were purchased from the estate of the late James Lick, Esq., by whom they were imported from France, and presented upon the condition that suitable buildings for their reception and care should be erected in Golden Gate Park within eighteen months from date of presentation. In pursuance of this condition, the Legislature of 1877-8 passed an enabling act, authorizing the appropriation of $40,000, and the work was at once begun. The conservatory is located about one quarter of a mile from the entrance of the main park, and is built upon a plateau, partially artificial, lying to the right of,

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SAN FRANCISCO DIRECTORY.

and about fifteen feet above, the level of the main drive. An adequate conception of its mag- nificent character may be obtained from the following figures :

It is built, judging from superficial appearance, almost entirely of glass, is three hundred and fifty feet in length, the main building being fifty-six feet square and surmounted by a dome, rising fifty-six feet high in the clear, inside measurement, the inside space being unbroken by any trusses or girders, the roof being supported and sustained entirely by its connection with the external walls. In this splendid dome the bright glare of the continous crystal is relieved by two lines of glass in variegated colors, one at the spring of the arch and the other at the summit of the arch. The remaining portions of the building average thirty-five feet in width ; the east and west ends being extended in their fronts, which face the south, to a line parallel with the main or central building. In front of the main building is a reception room, twenty by twenty feet, through which visitors will enter. In the center of the reception room is a small pool from the middle of which rises a tasty and unique fountain, the design showing a swan sur- rounded by magnolias, upholding a bowl in which a mermaid rises, holding on her shoulders a sea- shell in which the fountain plays. The east extension is used as the aquatic house. Here, in the front, is located the fernery, in the shape of a Grecian cross, from which the water passes to the main pool in the rear of it, which is a trifle lower in height, and thirty feet in diameter. This will be the home of the Victoria Water Lily, a tropical flower whose exuberant growth produces leaves five and six feet in length, each of which is capable of upholding a child on the water. The temperature of this pool will be maintained at eighty degrees Fahrenheit. The heating apparatus is located in the basement of the office, which is situated directly in the rear of the main building. The pipes for communicating the heat to the main building are over four thousand feet in length. On the east of the office and in the rear of the east wing is located a smaller glass house, fifty by twelve feet, containing two propogating beds. Similariy located, in rear of west wing, is another structure, twenty-five by thirty-five feet, containing two nursery beds.

The whole building required in its construction twenty-six thousand square feet of glass, weighing twenty-five tons, and two tons of putty. It is a marvel of architectural beauty, sur- passing in this respect any similar construction in the United States, and is only equalled in size by the Government Conservatory in the Horticultural Gardens at Washington. The contractors were Messrs. Lord and Burnham, of Irvington, N. Y., who make a specialty of works of this class. This being the largest work they have ever executed, they have given personal super- vision to all its details, and its completion has justly created for them, as well as for the repu- tation of San Francisco's greatest park, a monument of never failing beauty ; a testimonial to the one of superior skill and genius, and to the management of the other a full comprehension of the æsthetic tastes of our people.

No further work upon the parks of the city has been done during the year save simple maintenance, except in the case of Pioneer Park, where the road leading to its summit has been completed.

In addition to Golden Gate Park, we have Pioneer Park, on the crest of Telegraph Hill, which embraces six fifty-vara lots, donated for the purpose by several liberal citizens ; Buena Vista Park, bounded by Haight, Fell and Broderick Streets, containing thirty-six acres; Mountain Lake Public Square, in the Presidio Reservation, and eighteen additional reserved blocks or squares in different sections of the city, most of which have been more or less improved. Portsmouth Square, opposite the old City Hall, is noted as being the place where the United States flag was raised over our newly acquired territory from Mexico on the 8th day of July, 1847.

WOODWARD'S GARDENS .- These gardens, although a private collection and improvement, are justly regarded as one of the principal attractions of the city. They are located on the block bounded by Mission, Thirteenth, Valencia and Fourteenth Streets, are finely improved; and contain valuable and extensive collections of natural and antique curiosities, wild animals, fossils and paintings.

PROMENADES .- Upon Montgomery Street are located a large number of the most fashionable retail houses-three of the leading hotels are on this street, with a few squares, and four others are within "bell boy" distance. Some of the most elegant and substantial buildings are also found on this street.

California Street intersects Montgomery at the business center, thus affording the spectator a "map of busy life, its fluctuations and its vast concerns." The block bounded by California, Montgomery, Pine and Sansom Streets, with the sides of streets opposite the same, represents the financial heart of the city, where, in its fierce pulsations, fortunes are made and lost in a few short hours; the small speculator, a millionaire, and the millionaire, tempting the goddess of fortune once too often, becomes a wreck upon the commercial strand.

Kearny Street runs from Market to the top of Telegraph Hill, and is our fashionable prom- enade, though few promenade its entire length and height. Market Street continues in its progress as a contestant for the seat of the retail trade, and bids fair in time to become the Broadway of San Francisco. Upon these two streets may be seen people of every nationality and from every clime. This would be a peculiarity in any other city less cosmopolitan than San Francisco; but we are accustomed to new faces, new things and new ideas. In short, ours is

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PROGRESS OF THE CITY.

a new world, founded by a people new to each other, with its natural and many blessings free to all.

Water Supply.

THE SPRING VALLEY WATER WORKS draw their principal supply at present from the Penin- sula, where they control the water-shed of thirty-nine square miles, which supplies their three storage reservoirs, namely : the Pilarcitos, the San Andreas, and the Crystal Springs. They are located at a sufficiently high altitude to supply all parts of the city by gravitation. These three reservoirs together have a storage capacity of over fifteen thousand million gallons. They can and will be increased to forty-six thousand million gallons, by building the lower Crystal Springs dam. The water from these reservoirs is conducted, by means of two thirty-inch plate-iron pipes, into the Lake Honda and the College Hill reservoirs, respectively. The former holds thirty-three million gallons, and the latter fifteen million gallons. These two reservoirs again feed the five smaller distributing reservoirs in San Francisco, viz : Market Street, Russian Hill, Francisco Street, Clay Street, and Brannan Street Reservoirs, all of which have a capacity of more than sixty million gallons. The water from these distributing reservoirs is furnished to the inhabi- tants of San Francisco through a system of cast-iron pipes, laid in the streets, nearly one hundred and seventy miles in length, varying in diameter from twenty-two inches to three inches. The Company also obtain from Lobos Creek, by means of an aqueduct and pumping works at Black Point, two million gallons daily. It owns additional water rights relating to the coast streams above and below Spanishtown, which will enable it to utilize a water-shed of sixty square miles. It has also acquired Calaveras Valley, which controls two hundred and fifty square miles of water-shed, and is the next nearest source of supply to San Francisco that exists. It has facilities readily adapting it to the construction of reservoirs that will contain forty thousand million gallons. From these Calaveras reservoirs the water will be conducted by an aqueduct, consisting of two miles of tunnel, twenty-two miles of pipe, and about twenty-four miles of open aqueduct, to Crystal Springs and San Andreas Reservoirs ; independent pipe lines will convey the water from there to the city reservoirs. When the entire works are developed as proposed, the Spring Valley Water Works will have a storage capacity aggregating eighty-six thousand million gallons, and fed from a total water-shed of about three hundred and fifty square miles ; all of which, when developed, will give an average yield of more than two hundred mil- lion gallons daily-which, according to the amount consumed in Liverpool, England, viz : four- teen and one-half gallons per capita, will be enough to supply near fourteen million inhabitants. The Company is also prepared, in case of any exigency requiring additional supplies, to pump water from Lake Merced to the extent of five million gallons per day.

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The San Francisco directory: embracing a general directory of residents and a business directory : also, a directory of streets, 1879 , Part 9

Author: Langely, Henry G Publication date: 1879 Publisher: San Francisco : Francis, Valentine & Co. Number of Pages: 1196

Author: Langely, Henry G
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: San Francisco : Francis, Valentine & Co.
Number of Pages: 1196