“ A part of the site of San Francisco is reclaimed from the bay. Some of the most substantial structures in the business section are reared on piles driven to bed rock through made ground, and vast areas of sand dunes have been leveled in order to conform localities to the street system, which was arbitrarily decided upon with little reference to contour. Market Street, a thoroughfare several miles long, and the streets south of it, are level, but those from the north and west intersecting it strike boldly at the hills and have gradients in some cases as great as 50 per cent. ”

“ A complete display of the mineral resources of California is also made in the Ferry Building by the State Mining Bureau. The Academy of Sciences, endowed by James Lick, is a substantial structure. It holds a growing museum devoted to the natural sciences. In Golden Gate Park is situated the Memorial Museum, founded to commemorate a successful international fair held in 1894. The Hopkins Art Institute, situated on ‘Nob Hill,’ contains the nucleus of a fine-art collection. The building and contents were presented to the University of California to be maintained for the public. ”

“ The emergency system has been well developed, and few cities are bettor provided with the means to care for the victims of accidents. Of literary, scientific, and other societies there is an unusual number. Among the most prominent may be mentioned the Academy of Sciences, Astronomical Society, Geographical Society, Mechanies' Institute, Pioneers of California, and Technical Society. ”

“ The California Historical Society, San Francisco Medical Society, the San Francisco Law Library, the French Library, and the Mercantile all have collections exceeding 30,000 volumes.
None of the churches are conspicuous examples of ecclesiastical architecture. The Roman Catholic Cathedral is a brick structure. The Jesuit Church of Saint Ignatius, with its accompanying college buildings, covers a full city block. The Dominicans have an equally large church. Many of the older church buildings are of frame. ”

“ The most fashionable quarters are those which overlook the ocean, bay, and town. ‘Nob Hill,’ upon which the men who constructed the first overland railroad built their palatial homes, is about 300 feet above the level of the ocean, and ‘Pacific Heights’ rise still higher. The ‘Twin Peaks,’ which form a background to the leading thoroughfare, are 900 feet high. ”

“ Semi-tropical plants flourish in the open air throughout the winter. During the summer months rain rarely falls, but the skies over the city are frequently clouded with fog, which sometimes descends in the form of a mist. ”

“ The Pacific Union is composed chiefly of wealthy citizens. The Jews have two prominent organizations—the Concordia and the Verein. The number of women's clubs is large. The leading ones are the Century, Sorosis, Forum, Outdoor Art League, and California. ”

“ Burlingame, a fashionable resort modeled after Tuxedo, is 25 miles south of the city. Menlo Park, near by, contains the residences of numerous wealthy men. Palo Alto, the seat of Leland Stanford Jr. University, is on the peninsula about 30 miles from the city, and the California University is situated at Berkeley. Both of these great universities have intimate relations with the city, the latter, a State institution, maintaining several affiliated colleges within the city's boundaries. A part of the great endowment of ‘Stanford’ is in San Francisco. ”

“ Population. San Francisco has grown very rapidly. The population in 1860 was 56,802; in 1870, 149,473; in 1880, 233,959; in 1890, 298,997; in 1900, 342,782. One-third of the population in 1900 was of foreign birth. Of these the Germans numbered 35,194; Irish, 18,963; English, Scotch, and Welsh, 12,342; Italians, 7508; and Chinese, 13,954. The Chinese live in a distinct quarter, which has taken on many of the characteristics of their native land. Their isolation is entirely voluntary, and extends no further than the choice of a place of habitation. ”

“ It has been found in practice, however, that very little is spared for permanent improvements from the ordinary revenues. There is an active movement in San Francisco looking to the acquisition of a municipal water system, the present supply being derived from a private corporation's reservoirs on the peninsula. The project contemplates the bringing of a larger supply from the Sierra Nevada Mountains, and the cost will probably reach $25,000,000. A two-thirds vote of the people is required to authorize a bond issue. ”

“ The tendency to use the more durable materials is, however, growing rapidly. The occasional occurrence of earth tremors for a long time restrained the propensity to build ‘skyscrapers.’ In 1890, however, the proprietor of the Chronicle erected a ten-story modern fire-proof building. ”