The San Francisco directory for the year 1869, Part 8

Author: Langley, Henry G
Publication date: 1858
Publisher: San Francisco : Commercial Steam Presses, S.D. Valentine & Sons
Number of Pages: 1076

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THE SEA WALL OR WATER FRONT OF SAN FRANCISCO .- By an Act of the Legislature of the State of California, approved April 24th, 1863, all the streets in front of the city have a uniform width of one hundred and fifty feet, the outer half, or seventy-five feet of which, is under the jurisdiction of the Harbor Commissioners, acting for the State of California, and the Commissioners were authorized to construct a sea-wall, extending from the north line of Harri- son Street to the south line of Chestnut Street. The Commissioners held their first meeting on the fourth of November, 1863. At that time a considerable portion of the water front was held by parties claiming interests adverse to the State, and the wharves under the control of the State were many of them in a very dilapidated and unsafe condition, requiring immediate and extensive repairs. By the provisions of the Act referred to, no money except that derived from the receipts of the wharves, exclusive of all expenses for repairs, could be devoted to the construction of the water front, nor has the Legislature since allowed any other appropriations of funds. In consequence of the difficulties under which they labored-although soundings were taken in 1865, and a general plan adopted in 1866-it was not until May, 1867, that an engineer was appointed, G. L. Allardt, Esq. The plans having been prepared by the engineer, and approved by the Board. and the work having been advertised for public proposals, as required by law, on the eighteenth of July a contract was made with H. H. Houston, Esq., for the construction of two sections ; the first on Front Street, extending from the north line of Union Street to the north line of Vallejo Street, a distance of six hundred and fifty feet; and the second on East Street, from the southern line of Pacific Street to the southern line of Washington Street, a distance of seven hundred and forty-three feet. In October of the follow- ing year (1868), the Board also put under contract the construction from the southern line of Washington Street to the southern line of Market Street, seven hundred and twenty-nine feet ; and in May last contracted for the building of one thousand one hundred and thirty feet south of Market Street, or to a point fifty-two and a half feet north of Howard Street. The bulkhead on the first three contracts has been completed, amounting to two thousand one hundred and twenty-two lineal feet, and on the last contract about six hundred feet have been done, making the aggregate length on November 1st, two thousand one hundred and twenty-two feet, or a little over half a mile. The whole distance on the water front, from Harrison to Chestnut streets, is eight thousand three hundred and thirty-six feet, so that about one-third of the work anthorized by the Legislature has been executed. Several modifications have been made in the plans first adopted by the Harbor Commissioners, but the work executed may be briefly described as follows : A channel to the depth of twenty feet below mean low tide, and one hundred feet wide at the bottom, (extending twenty-five feet east of the water front, and westward. seventy-five feet, or to the limit of the jurisdiction of the Harbor Commissioners) is dredged out, in which is deposited a rock embankment, which is allowed to settle to a firm foundation, the top of which being level with the city grade. The outer or sea- side has a slope a little more than ONE TO ONE, and is protected by large rock. At the water front there is a depth of twenty feet of water at low tide, and the top of the embankment is thirty-seven feet from the front line. Wharves are constructed, extending from the bulkhead to the water front, and the top of the embankment is covered with three-inch plank. The wharf between Union and Vallejo streets was finished about a year since, and the wharves between Pacific and Jackson streets and between Washington and Market streets, have been recently completed. In the two latter all the pile caps and stringers, and fifty thousand feet of surface plank, have been preserved from decay and the attacks of the ship worm (teredo nevalis) under the Robbins' process by the Pacific Wood Preserving Company.

The preservation of submerged wood has for many years exercised the minds of savans, and numerous experiments have been tried in Europe and in the United States, having for its object the prevention of the decay or decomposition of wood used for piles or street pavements. The Robbins' Patent has been adopted by our State Harbor Commissioners as the best preventive against the teredo. In Europe preparations of copper, of zinc, of iron, and of mercury, have been used as preservatives singly, and conjointly, but, although answering the purpose to a cer- tain extent, they are not only costly but their qualities have been often rendered nugatory by galvanic action ; also these metalic preparations when exposed to liquid chloride of sodium (or sea-water) lose their preserving qualities. The great desideratum, then, seems to be to carbon- ate the wood, but not to make charcoal of it, which would destroy its elasticity. This can only be done by infusing into the pores of the wood (after removing the albumen) the hydro-carbon oils from coal-tar, or petroleum. This is simply the Robbins' Process, and is believed to be superior to anything yet discovered for the preservation of wood from insects, worms, or decay.

STATE HARBOR COMMISSIONERS .- Following is a statement of the receipts and disbursements of the State Harbor Commissioners from November 2d, 1868, to October 2d, 1869 :

E. H. JONES & CO., 116 Sansom Street, Hoop Skirts, Latest Styles.

M. S. WHITING & CO., 219 Bush St., supply country dealers with Wines and Liquors, in quantities to suit. See next leaf.

CHAMPLIN'S LIQUID PEARL is the great Face Beautifier.

SAN FRANCISCO DIRECTORY.

RECEIPTS.

Wharf Dues.

$264,476 53

Commissioners' Order on State Wharf and Dock Fnud. 41.113 11

247,323 17

Total

$552,912 81

DISBURSEMENTS.

Current Expenses.

$105,369 10

San Francisco Harbor Protection Fund, (amount remitted State Treasurer) 146,343 13

State Wharf and Dock Fund, (amount remitted State Treasurer).

50,210 78

Total $552,912 81

BOARD OF TIDE LAND COMMISSIONERS .- This Board went into operation in June, 1868, by Aet of the Legislature ; since the commencement of their important duties the Board has had much to contend with in settling the demands of adverse claiments, determining the price to be paid for each block, having surveys made and setting apart reservations for docks and wharves. They have since their organization made two extensive sales of Tide Lands ; the first made in June, 1869, comprised that portion of the lands bounded on the north by Twenty-fourth Ave- nue and the open canal ; on the east by the water front : on the west by the shores of the bay, and on the south by the county line, containing two hundred and four blocks or sections of blocks. This sale netted $328,467.63. The September sale comprised that portion bounded on the north by Islais Creek ; on the east by the water front; on the west by the shores of the bay, and on the south by Twenty-fourth Avenue and the open canal, containing one hundred and fourty-three blocks. The proceeds of this sale amounted to $121.001.23. Office southwest corner of Clay and Kearny streets. Members of the Board : B. F. Washington, H. P. Coon, and L. L. Bullock.

THE SECOND STREET CUT .- The opening of Second Street, from Folsom to Bryant, has proved a more stupendous undertaking than was anticipated. As the workmen procceded with the grading, they were seriously and sometimes fatally interrupted by the falling avalanches of earth caused by the excavations. Another obstacle presented itself. The ground on each side of the bank, a few feet from the cut. would sink, and force itself out at the bottom of the bank, thereby endangering the lives of the workmen by the caving in of the superincumbent earth. This was chiefly occasioned by the formation of the soil being composed of alternate layers of rock and deposits of sand, which, being non-cohesive, bulged downward and inward, like the filling in of a swampy piece of land. 'The opening of the hill, which is in some places seventy- five feet high, commenced in April of this year, and will be completed about the first of No- vember. This work presents another proof of the indomitable perseverance of the citizens of San Francisco. There has been constantly employed since the commencement of the under- taking, two hundred and fifty teams, and five hundred men, including drivers. The excavating and grading is under the supervision of Mr. J. B. Kemp. The bridge which spans the chasm across Harrison Street will be a solid and safe structure. The walls on Second Street are built of large blocks of Folsom granite, which are anchored transversely and laterally, the anchors being carried deep into the bank, thereby precluding any danger from caving. The arch will be spanned by a strong iron-bolted structure of wood, which will defy the attacks of either tempest or earthquake. Mr. George Bordwell is the architect.

EXTENSIVE GRADING OPERATIONS .- The steam-paddy has been constantly at work during the past year in loading the dirt-cars on the varions temporary railways in the different streets be- tween Sixth Street and the Mission Dolores. Hills have been leveled and valleys filled up, so that the southwestern part of the city has lost its former " lumpy " aspect, and now presents the appearance of a level plain. In the vicinity of the Long Bridge a large number of water lots have been filled in, and extensive improvements thereon are now in process of completion. The appreciation of real estate consequent upon these operations will be immense. Many other improvements of a similar character have been made in the city during the past year, which lack of space precludes us from noticing particularly.

TELEGRAPHI HILL .- This old landmark, which was so often gazed upon by early pioneers with anxious faces and throbbing hearts. for signals of coming steamers bringing news or friends from home, is fast disappearing before the drill and the pick of the laborer. On the northwest corner of Montgomery and Broadway streets, a mass of seventy-two thousand cubic feet of rock has been removed, and on the line of Sansom Street, intersected by Vallejo Street, the gap from which the rock is being taken extends to Green Street on the north, and is fast approaching Kearny Street on the west. The building of the sea wall here found a ready source of material for filling in the landward portion of this great undertaking. Over two hundred thousand tons have been used for that purpose, as well as for ballast for ships, and the hill will furnish a never- failing supply of material for filling in the water front of the northern part of the city until Sansom Street shall have been graded from Market Street to North Point Dock.

EDWARD BOSQUI & CO., Blank Book Manufacturers, Leidesdorff st., from Clay to Commercial.

PACIFIC COAST BUSINESS DIRECTORY, Henry G. Langley, Publisher, 612 Clay Street, San Francisco.

Commissioners' Order on Harbor Protection Fund.

C. P. VAN SCHAACK & CO., Nos. 712, 714 and 716, Kearny Street.

PROGRESS OF THE CITY. 17

WASHINGTON SQUARE .- In the northern section of the city the Board of Supervisors have performed a most necessary and sanitary act in inclosing and beautifying Washington Square. This once unsightly spot, the disgust of all passers by, has at length assumed a look of cheer- fulness, and it is a pleasant sight to see the children gamboling through its walks, their young frames strengthened and invigorated by the health-giving breezes fresh from the ocean.

COLUMBIA SQUARE .- This lung of the southern part of the city has also been improved, and from a piece of unsightly waste land has now assumed the appearence of a cultivated oasis in the desert of sand-hills abounding in that quarter and will prove a healthful place of recreation for the children of the neighborhood.

NEW MONTGOMERY STREET .- This street has been opened from Market to Howard streets, and will doubtless become a favorite locality for stores at least that portion next to Market Street ; this will be an acceptable feature for the increasing population of the southern part of the city. It is contemplated by the company owning the property to build several first-class residences on that portion of the street near Howard Street as an inducement to respectable families to reside there; the proximity of the Grand Hotel and the removal of the palatial residences from Rincon Hill will doubtless make this quarter the Belgravia of San Francisco.

THE MONTGOMERY STREET EXTENSION .- When this contemplated improvement shall have been carried out, San Francisco can boast of a street affording a promenade of one and three- quarters miles long, from Vallejo to Channel streets, adorned with as handsome buildings as are to be seen in any city of the Union. This in connection with the Second Street cut will form two direct avenues for traffic between the southern and northern sections of the city.

New Buildings.

CHURCH BUILDINGS .- Several new and costly edifices devoted to religion have been erected and completed during the past year, the principal of which is the Calvary Presbyterian Church, having an outside measurement of one hundred and sixteen feet on Geary Street by seventy-six on Powell Street, erected at a cost of about $90,000, exclusive of the lot valued at $50,000. This church consists of two stories, the lower designed for lecture, class, library, and Sunday- school uses, and the upper for pastor's study and regular services. The building, which is sur- mounted by ten small towers, partakes of a combination of styles, the Grecian being predom- inant. Though massive and substantial it is not devoid of elegance, comparing favorably with the many handsome ecclesiastical edifices situate in that part of the city .... The new St. Patrick's Catholic Church, on the north side of Mission Street, between Third and Fourth, will, when finished, be one of the largest churches in the State. Its dimensions are one hundred and sixty by niuety feet in the clear. The style of architecture is Gothic. The walls are of great thickness, and the floor is supported by iron pillars, giving great strength and solidity to the building. The walls are thirty feet high from the basement, and from this point there is a clear story, making the hight inside, from floor to ceiling, seventy-five feet. This will be sur- mounted by a tower two hundred and twenty-five feet in hight. The building contains five aisles, and, to render it secure against earthquakes, the roof will be supported independently of the walls, by resting on two rows of pillars, wliich run the entire length of the building. From these pillars arms are thrown out, to support the side roof from which the clear story starts. The roof is firmly bound to these pillars, which are connected to each other by girders. The build- ing is under the supervision of the Rev. Father Gray, with Mr. M. O'Brien as superintending builder .... The congregation of the Second Baptist Church are erecting a commodious and ele- gant edifice on Russ Street between Howard and Folsom. Its exterior is seventy by one hundred feet. The style of architecture is purely Gothic. The roof is surmounted by three spires, the center one being eighty fect in hight, and the other two of lesser altitudes. The cost of the church and lot will be $45,000. Wolfe & Sons are the architects .... The congregation of the Central Presbyterian Church have recently completed a very handsome edifice on Tyler Street near Taylor. It has a frontage of twelve feet, running back one hundred and thirty-one and a half feet, and is capable of seating five hundred persons. The building is of wood with a brick foundation, and is heavily bolted and firmly braced together. There are two towers in front, and on the westerly one rises a spire one hundred and twelve feet high. The style of architec- ture is the Norman of the eleventh century, somewhat modified. Altogether, it has a very im- posing appearance .... The congregation of the Fifth Baptist Church, Rev. C. A. Buckbee, Pastor, have completed a neat structure on Twenty-second Street, between Howard and Capp, at. a cost, including the lot, of $13,000 .... New church buildings have been also erected by the Third Baptist Church (colored), Rev. J. R. Young, Pastor, at a cost of $10,000; the Bush Street M. E. Church, Rev. W. Hulbert, Pastor, and the South San Francisco M. E. Church, Rev. T. P. Williams, Pastor.

THE NEW U. S. BRANCH MINT .- This magnificent public edifice was commenced in the early part of the present year. It is situated on the northwest corner of Mission and Fifth streets,

For pure old California Wines, go to M. S. WHITING & CO., 219 Bush St. See next leaf.

E. H. JONES & CO., 116 Sansom Street, Fancy Dry Goods.

RAREY'S CONDITION POWDERS the best medicine for all kinds of Stock

SAN FRANCISCO DIRECTORY.

and when finished will probably be second to no institution of the kind in the Union. It will have all the accommodations and other necessary requisites for such an important branch of the Government. many of which are lacking in the old concern on Commercial Street. The plan of the building has been so often described that it is unnecessary for us to enter into detail. but we will give the general dimensions of the building. It will have a frontage of one hundred and sixty-five feet on Mission Street, by a depth of two hundred and twenty-five feet on Fifth Street. The building will be two stories in hight, with a basement above the foundation. The style will be of the composite order of architecture. Doubts having arisen as to the capacity of the ground to support such a structure, a boring of forty-four feet was made, which proved satisfactory, when work was immediately commenced, and a solid foundation laid in concrete. The building will cost $975,000, and the appropriation for the Mint when finished is stated at $1,250,000. Mr. A. B. Mullet is the architect.

THE GRAND HOTEL .- This hotel, now in course of construction, will, when completed, be one of the most magnificent structures of its kind in San Francisco, or, perhaps, in any city of the Union. The style of architecture is the French renaissance, highly decorated. The building will consist of a basement, three stories, and an attic with a high Mansard roof. There will be two distinct blocks of buildings, connected in the upper stories by a bridge across Stevenson Street. The largest of the two blocks will front on New Montgomery, Market, Second, and Stevenson streets ; the smaller one will front ou New Montgomery, Stevenson, and Jessie streets. At the corner of Market and New Montgomery streets there will be an octagonal tower, to be used as an observatory. Each corner of the building will also be surmounted by a tower. The diuing-room will be sixty by ninety feet, and twenty feet in hight, richly decorated. The main entrance will be on New Montgomery Street, the other entrances on New Montgomery, Ste- venson, and Jessie streets, so that in case of alarm there will be ample means of egress from every part of the building. On the first floor there will be twenty-two stores, and in the hotel there will be four hundred rooms, single, double, and en suite. An improvement on the old system of bells will be the introduction of telegraphic communication between the rooms and the office. The building will be of iron and brick, with thoroughly-braced wooden frames, to which the iron and brick will be secured with anchors, placed vertically and horizontally, three feet apart, so as to render the building comparatively secure against earthquakes. The whole structure will cost about $400,000, and is expected to be finished in February, 1870. The hotel has been leased by G. S. Johnson & Co., and will be opened for guests about the first day of May, 1870. J. P. Gaynor is the architect.

OCCIDENTAL HOTEL .- An addition is being made to the already gigantic proportions of this splendid hotel. The new portion will have a frontage of sixty-six feet on Montgomery Street, by a depth of one hundred and sixty-seven feet on Sutter Street. The first story, as in the older portion of the building, will be occupied by stores, six in number, and the upper part will add to the present large accommodation for guests, for which the hotel is celebrated. The en- tire building will contain, when the addition is completed, four hundred and twelve rooms, ex- clusive of ladies' parlor, dining-room, billiard-rooms, offices, etc. Fire hydrants, with the neces- sary hose, are placed at convenient distances in case of an alarm of fire, and a spacious hall and stair case, will be built in the new building to give free egress should a panic occur. The hotel is to be furnished with an elevator, to be worked by steam, for the accommodation of guests whc do not wish to use the common stairs. The walls will be iron braced and thoroughly an- chored, and secured by heavy tie-rods, in every story, thereby securing the building against earthquake shocks. The addition will cost $190,000. Messrs. Johnson & Mooser are the architects.

THE PACIFIC BANK .- This new building, on the northwest corner of Pine and Sansom streets, is, perhaps, one of the most secure buildings in the city. Its style of architecture is the French renaissance, and its dimensions are eighty-eight feet on Pine Street by thirty-six feet on Sansom Street. It is a three-story and basement building, with lofty ceilings; the first floor to be occupied by the bank and the upper stories to be let for offices. This building is considered earthquake-proof, the outer walls of brick and iron being fastened by strong anchors to an in- ner structure of heavy timber, so as to prevent the falling of the floors should the outer walls give way. This is a great improvement on the old style of building, and will give a sense of se- - curity to the occupants. The cost of this building is estimated at $90,000. S. Rawn is the architect.

BANK OF BRITISH NORTH AMERICA AND OTHER BUILDINGS .- On the northeast corner of Cal- ifornia and Sansom streets, Mr. I. Friedlander is erecting three buildings, which, for solidity, safety, and beauty, will compare favorably with any structure heretofore erected in this city. The style of these buildings is English renaissance, and in hight they are three stories and base- ment. The iron castings are of the most magnificent patterns, and will add Inster to the costly architectural designs already displayed on California Street. The corner building will be occu-

EDWARD BOSQUI & CO., Paper Rulers, Leidesdorff st., corner of Clay.

PACIFIC COAST BUSINESS DIRECTORY circulates throughout Utah and Washington Territories.

PROGRESS OF THE CITY.

pied by the Bank of British North America ; the others, with the upper stories, will be occupied as offices. Next to Mr. Friedlander's, on California Street, a building is being erected by Mr. Willey, and next to that is the California Insurance Company's office, all built in the same style. These buildings, like the Pacific Bank, are secured by iron braces to an inner structure of wood, to render them, as far as possible, earthquake-proof. The cost will be $160,000. Wright & Saunders are the architects.

On the junction of Market, Ellis, and Stockton streets, Mr. John Nightingale has replaced a series of one-story shanties by a three-story and basement frame building, which is an ornament to the Eighth Ward. It extends one hundred and twenty fect on Market street, and the same on Ellis Street, and presents an architectual appearance at once unique and graceful. The lower part is occupied as stores, and the upper stories as lodgings. It was the original intention of the proprietor to erect a brick building, but the earthquake of October, 1868, caused him to alter his plans, and he has erected the present frame building as less liable to damage from that cause. In the building there are thirty-three oriel (or bay) windows, which impart an airiness to the building which is pleasing to the eye. The cost of the structure was $30,000. Mr. Charles Geddes is the architect.

SAVINGS AND LOAN SOCIETY BUILDING .- This association has had erected a building which for richness of design is superior to anything of the kind in the city. It is situated on Clay Street between Montgomery and Kearny, three stories and basement ; the entire front, the first of the kind erected in this city, is of iron, each story supported by Corinthian columns, the façade beautifully ornamented with architectural designs, and the whole presenting an appearance of beauty combined with strength. The style of architecture is what is called the modern, an inno- vation on the ancient designs, but of great strength and solidity. The building cost $50,000. J. P. Gaynor, architect.

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The San Francisco directory for the year 1869, Part 8

Author: Langley, Henry G Publication date: 1858 Publisher: San Francisco : Commercial Steam Presses, S.D. Valentine & Sons Number of Pages: 1076

Author: Langley, Henry G
Publication date: 1858
Publisher: San Francisco : Commercial Steam Presses, S.D. Valentine & Sons
Number of Pages: 1076