West Coast Gazetteer &
Directory ~ San Francisco ~ San Luis Obispo, California
San
Francisco,
San Francisco County is
situated on the west shore of the bay from which it
derives its name, in latitude 37° 47' 35", longitude
122° 26' 15". It occupies the terminal portion of a
peninsula, extending in a northwesterly direction from
the mainland, lashed on the west by the long swelling
billows of the Pacific Ocean, and rippled on the east by
the smooth waters of the bay. The city and county
extends from bay to ocean, four and one-half miles in
average width, and six and one-half miles in length. The
harbor is a beautiful sheet of water, about 75 miles in
length and 12 miles in average width, affording safe
anchorage at all times. Its entrance, the far-famed
Golden Gate, is a strait about 5 miles in length and 2
miles in average width. Vessels can enter with ease and
safety, and the depth of water is sufficient for the
largest craft.
The
first settlement of white men on the shores of the bay
was made in June, 1776, by an expedition from Monterey
under Friars Francisco Palou and Benito Cambon,
accompanied by several settlers with their families, and
a detachment of soldiers, under the command of Don Jose
Moraga.
Previous to this, in 1775, a vessel called the San
Carlos, commanded by Lieutenant Ayala, was dispatched
from Monterey to ascertain if an entrance to the bay
could be effected, and in August of that year passed
through what is now called the Golden Gate. This is the
first vessel, of which we have any authentic record, to
cast anchor in the bay of San Francisco. It is contended
by some historians, however, that the bay was discovered
by Sir Francis Drake, in 1579, during his voyage along
the coast. In October, 1776, the mission Dolores was
founded, and about this time, a few houses were also
erected near the shore of the bay, and the settlement
named Yerba Buena, after an aromatic herb of that name
which grew in great abundance on the surrounding hills.
This name was retained until January, 1847, when it was
changed to San Francisco by an ordinance issued by the
American alcalde, Washington A Bartlett.
In
1822 California became a Mexican territory, and from
that time the commerce of the port gradually increased,
hides, tallow and grain being the principal exports. The
first survey of the town was made in 1839, by Captain
Juan Vioget, which included the ground bounded by
Montgomery, Kearny, Sacramento and Pacific streets. The
war with Mexico broke out in 1846, and on the eighth of
July of that year. Captain Montgomery, of the U. S.
sloop of war Portsmouth, took formal possession of the
town, hoisting the stars and stripes on the Plaza, now
known as Portsmouth Square; and soon after, Washington
A. Bartlett, a lieutenant on the Portsmouth, was
appointed alcalde. The discovery of gold, in the fall of
1848, was the dawn of an era of prosperity which was to
metamorphose the embryo nucleus into the beautiful city
of the present. In the place of sand hills we now see
massive, handsome and imposing buildings and blocks, and
the sandy plains have been transformed into gardens
which diffuse fragrant odor from flowers in perpetual
bloom. The incorporation as a city was effected in May,
1850, and the consolidation of the city and county
governments, m July. 1856. Its rapid growth to the city
of magnificent proportions and commanding importance of
today is a marvel of wonder and a rare instance of the
giant possibilities of human energy and American
enterprise. The population according to the census of
1880 was 283,956.
It is
the chief commercial metropolis and emporium of the
Pacific Coast, and with its vast natural resources,
broad avenues of trade, and the commerce of the world
knocking at its, doors, its continued growth and
prosperity is assured. The climate is mild and
healthful, a very even temperature being maintained
throughout the year. The city proper occupies the
north-east portion of the peninsular. From the top of
Telegraph Hill, the extreme north-eastern point, a grand
and picturesque view is obtained. Southward the city
spreads out in a sea of buildings, intersected with
streets, teeming with life and animation of business
bustle and confusion, from which the eye wanders in
relief to the surrounding scene of harbor, with numerous
craft of steam and sail riding gracefully on its placid
surface, islands standing out in bold relief, the
romantic oak-shaded nooks and hamlets around the shores,
overlooked by green carpeted hills, the Golden Gate
through which the waters of the Pacific flood and ebb,
and still beyond, the vast expanse of ocean. It is
regularly laid out, the streets crossing each other at
right angles. Elegant and palatial residences, with
tastily laid-out grounds, adorn the city, and handsome
and substantial structures grace the business
thoroughfares. In the suburbs are beautiful parks and
gardens for pleasure resort, and points of interest to
delight the eye of the sight-seeker. Golden Gate Park,
the most prominent one, covers a large area of ground,
beautifully laid out, with walks, drives, and gardens,
containing flowers and plants of every description and
variety, trees and shrubbery, hot-houses conservatories,
etc. A fine ocean view is obtained at the "Cliff," which
is reached by an excellent drive. The numbers of seal to
be seen on the rocks a short distance from the shore
form an object of attraction at this resort.
The
public buildings, notably the City Hall, Mint,
Appraisers' Building, and Sub-Treasury Building compare
favorably with any of the larger cities of the Union.
The
public school system is a pride of the city, and is not
to be excelled by any in the United States. The report
of the superintendent of common schools for the year
ending June 30, 1881, shows the number of schools to be
62, having an average attendance of 29,092 scholars.
There are also a large number of private schools and
collegiate institutions of high character. Churches of
all denominations, creed, and sect are maintained, and
secret, benevolent, and social societies of every order
and nature have been organized. The public libraries
will bear comparison with any in the older cities. The
Free Library, recently established, is a credit and
ornament to the city. It has commodious rooms lighted
with electric light, and promises, in number of volumes
and completeness of appointment, to rival any in the
Union.
A
Chamber of Commerce and Board of Trade are established,
and two Stock Exchanges, a Produce Exchange, and a Grain
Exchange are among the institutions of the city. In
manufacturing industry all the various branches are
represented. Iron and brass foundries, smelting works,
woolen and flour mills, wire and cordage factories,
glassworks, sugar refineries, etc. A network of street
railroads afford cheap transit in every direction. Five
of these are wire cable roads, a feature of the city and
a model mode of public conveyance. Two gas companies
supply the city with gas, and night is turned into day
by the subtlety of electric fluid supplied by the
Electric Light Co. Excellent water is distributed
throughout the city for domestic and city purposes by
the Spring Valley Water Co. Rapid communication is
maintained by the aid of the telegraph and telephone.
The fire department, which includes a telegraph
fire-alarm, is a model of perfection unsurpassed by any
in the world. The apparatus consists of twelve steam
engines and tenders, eight hose carts, and four hook and
ladder trucks and several steam engines, hose carts, and
hook and ladder trucks in reserve. A Fire Patrol is also
maintained by the Board of Underwriters. The commerce of
the city is rapidly increasing.
The
foreign imports for the year 1881 amounted to $40,365,61
9 and the exports to $47,369,193. The amount of exports
by rail during' the same period was about $50,000,000.
The public is informed of the current news of the day by
newspapers published in the English, German, French,
Spanish, Scandinavian, Italian and Chinese languages.
Communication is maintained with bay and river points by
ferries and steamers, and with various inland towns by
rail. Two transcontinental railroads, the Central
Pacific and Southern Pacific, afford rapid communication
with the Eastern States, and several steamship lines
maintain communication with various ports in California,
Oregon, Washington Territory, Alaska, British Columbia
and Mexico, also with Panama, Honolulu, Hong Kong,
Yokohama, Sydney and Auckland.
City and County Officers, M C Blake,
Mayor; W H Bodfish, John McKew, John Shirley, John H
Carmany, Henry Molineux, George Torrens, George B
Bradford, Charles A Fisher, Oliver Merrill. Henry B
Russ, N C Parrish, and John F Kennedy, Supervisors; J C
Stubbs, J S Bacon, Julius Bandmann, E J Bowen, James H
Culver, T B De Witt, Horace D Dunn, W B Ewer, H M Fiske,
B F Sterett, David Stern, and B F Webster, School
Directors; Henry Brickwedel; Auditor; J H Widber,
Treasurer: John W Cherry, Recorder: David Wilder, Clerk;
Alexander Badlam, Assessor; John H Grady, Tax Collector;
John Sedgwick, Sheriff; L E Pratt, District Attorney: J
F Cowdery. Attorney and Counselor; Robert J Graham,
Superintendent Public Streets; John W Taylor,
Superintendent Public Schools; W P Humphreys, Surveyor:
F L Weeks, Coroner; W M Leman, Public Administrator; J L
Meares, Health Officer; R H Sinton, License Collector;
Patrick Crowley, Chief of Police; Joseph L Tharp,
Registrar of Voters; David Scannell, Chief Engineer Fire
Department; John Curran, Superintendent Fire Alarm.
Superior Court,
Thomas K Wilson, Department No 1; J F Sullivan, No 2; J
M Allen, No 3; J A Waymire, No 4; John Hunt, Jr, No 5;
MA Edmonds. No 6; O P Evans, No 7; F W Lawler, No 8; J F
Finn, No 9: Charles Halsey, No 10; T W Freelon, No 11;
Robert Ferral, No 12; Judges.
Police Court,
Hale Rix, Department No 1; Simon Rosenbaum No 2; Judges.
Justices Courts,
J C Pennie, J H Ryan. E Gilson. F M Clough, and J D
Connelly, Justices.
For names of merchants,
manufacturers, etc, see Classified Business Directory.
San
Juan Capistrano,
Los Angeles Co. (See
Capistrano P. O.)
San
Luis
Obispo P O
San Luis Obispo County an
incorporated city and county seat of about 2,700
inhabitants, is situated in San Luis Obispo Valley, 200
miles by water south-east of San Francisco, and 9 miles
north of Port Harford, its seaport, with which it is
connected by rail. Its site was formerly occupied by the
old Mission of San Luis Obispo, founded in 1772 by the
monks of the Order of Saint Francis. The city is
pleasantly located and well laid out, and its shaded
streets with handsome residences, whose flower-laden
gardens fill the air with sweet perfume and please the
eye with floral beauty, give it quite an attractive
appearance. The business portion contains a number of
fine, substantial buildings, occupied by wealthy and
responsible firms, who carry on an extensive trade. Two
good public schools are maintained, having an average
attendance of three hundred and twenty-five scholars.
The religious denominations
organized, some of which have handsome church edifices,
are the Presbyterian, Episcopal, Methodist, Methodist
South, and Roman Catholic. The secret and benevolent
societies represented are the Masons, Odd Fellows,
Knights of Pythias, Ancient Order United Workmen,
American Legion of Honor, Order of Chosen Friends, and
Good Templars. The San Luis Obispo Water Co supplies the
city with an abundant supply of good water brought from
a branch of San Luis Creek.
The fire department consists
of a hook and ladder and hose companies, in addition to
which are twenty hydrants located at convenient points.
Two excellent weekly journals, the Tribune and Mirror,
zealously advocate the interests of the community and
furnish the current news. In the valley and surrounding
country are excellent agricultural and grazing lands,
farming, stock-raising, and dairying being the principal
industries.
A company has recently been
incorporated with the object of extending the San Luis
Obispo and Santa Maria Valley Railroad. When this road
is completed, it will afford direct rail communication
with the southern and coast counties, and be a material
benefit to the section. Stages leave daily for Soled ad
and Newhall, connecting with the trains of the Southern
Pacific Railroad. Weekly communication is maintained
with San Francisco, via Port Harford, by the Pacific
Coast Steamship Co.
Officers, A
C McLeod, Mayor; George S Brown, A S Whitsel, J N
McGuire, P S Finney, and A C Eemick, Councilmen; P A
Forrester, Clerk; Z A Pico, Assessor; E P Rogers, Tax
Collector; L M Noah, Treasurer; C J Woods, Police Judge;
Thomas Tanner, Marshal.
Academy of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Sister Raymunda
Cremadell prioress
Adams F, attorney at law
Andrews J P, president Bank
of San Luis Obispo
Arana H, saddle and harness
maker
Bank of San Luis Obispo, J P
Andrews president, W E Stewart cashier
Barneberg J liquor saloon
Bayer P, blacksmith and wagon
maker
Becket J F, sup't schools San
Luis Obispo Co
Blackburn & Frederick,
proprietors Cosmopolitan Hotel
Blochman A & Co, general
merchandise
Boll M, shoemaker
Booth A R, druggist
Bouldin K V, attorney at law
Brewster & Russell, harness
and saddle makers
Brown & Castro, livery stable
Byer Bros, billiard and
liquor saloon
Canon W S, proprietor Central
Hotel
Capp J, restaurant and liquor
saloon
Carpenter Ezra, surveyor San
Luis Obispo Co
Cassner N, watchmaker and
jeweler
Castro & Pico, liquor saloon
Castro & Ramirez, cigars and
tobacco
Central Hotel, W S Canon
proprietor
Constine Louis, dry goods,
clothing, etc
Cortesi T E, furniture and
upholsterer
Cosmopolitan Hotel, Blackburn
& Frederick proprietors
Costa F, barber
Cummings A H, wool
Dana E G, treasurer San Luis
Obispo Co
Davis S A, wagon maker and
blacksmith
Deleissiguez A, butcher
Dempsey William, proprietor
Eagle Hotel
Dennis J D, druggist
Devoto G, general merchandise
Dorsey M F, carriage painter
Doyle & Crenshaw, publishers
Weekly Mirror
Dughi G, dry goods,
groceries, and liquors
Dunbar & Elliott, liquor
saloon
Eagle Hotel, William Dempsey
proprietor
Eagle Mills, Pollard & James
proprietors
Elliott John J, baths
Fashion Stable, A H Hecox
proprietor
Felts J M, books and
stationery
Fisher .J F, gun smith
Fleugler Emil, bakery
Forsyth D, carpenter
French Hotel, L Pegot
proprietor
Frost J J, liquor saloon
Gambal H, liquor saloon
Garcia & Dutra, billiard and
liquor saloon
Gaugler Brothers, furniture
and undertakers
Gerken J, shoemaker
Geyer A, manufacturer jewelry
and engraver
Goldtree Bros, general
merchandise
Goodman H, merchant tailor
Goodrich J A, books and
stationery
Graham D Mrs., millinery
Graves Ernest, district
attorney San Luis Obispo Co
Green K, merchant tailor
Gregory D S, attorney at law
Hanson & McGuire, stoves,
tin, sheet iron, and copper ware
Hardie A M, assessor San Luis
Obispo Co
Harrington D, harness and
saddle maker
Hassan Stephen, candies and
fruit
Hasse C, barber
Hays W W, physician
Hazen J M, machinist and
agricultural implements
Hecox A H, livery and feed
stable
Hendricks A J, liquor saloon
Heyd Louis, tailor
Hildenbrand J, shoe-maker
Hogan John, carriage painter
Holmes R R, photographer
Johnson D M, livery stable
Kalisher I, cigars and
tobacco
King Charles O, Imperial Egg
Food
King Nathan, clerk, auditor
and recorder San Luis Obispo Co
Knapp J P, proprietor San
Luis Obispo Hotel
Knight S C, house and sign
painter
Krebs E, druggist
Kuhl W, watchmaker and
jeweler
Lange W H, sewing machines
Lasar E & Sons, general
merchandise
Laughery H, proprietor
Laughery House
Lehmer Louis, boarding and
feed stable
Lima J P, proprietor
Luzitania Hotel
Loewenstein J, merchant
tailor and furnishing goods
Loobliner H, general
merchandise
Maggi G R, groceries and
confectionery
Martin Luther, liquor saloon
Maxwell E L, Crystal Palace
Saloon
Mayers D L, dry goods and
clothing
McAllister A, general
merchandise
McCabe George W, blacksmith
McCaffrey T A, wines and
liquors
McGuire I N, proprietor
McGuire House
McMurty Louis, superior judge
Medeiros J C, barber and
cigars
Mehlmann H, liquor saloon
Meyer William, liquor saloon
Motz G, furniture
Motz H, carpenter
Nelson W H, dentist
Nichols G B, physician
Noah M, cigars and tobacco
Norton T, physician
O'Sullivan J J, boots and
shoes
Oaks W J, sheriff San Luis
Obispo Co
Ortega J C, insurance agent
Osgood H M, watchmaker
Parkhurst R, physician
Pattison T, stoves, tin, and
hardware
Payne & McLeod, livery stable
Pegot L, proprietor French
Hotel
Phillips C H, real estate
agent and notary public, and agent Pacific Coast Land
Bureau
Poage S C, attorney at law
and notary public
Pollard & James, proprietors
Eagle Mill
Prefumo P B, general
merchandise
Rabe John, dentist
Rackliffe L, general
merchandise
Ready Phil, horse-shoer
Remick & Orr, butchers
Rodgers & Helm, carpenters,
contractors, and undertakers
San Luis Obispo Hotel, J P
Knapp proprietor
San Luis Obispo Tribune,
Tribune Printing Co, publishers
San Luis Obispo Water Co
Sandercock W, wood
Sauer A, groceries and
confectionery
Schwartz & Beebee, lumber,
doors, windows, blinds, lime, cement, etc
Scott John, attorney at law
Seaton J H, physician
Sebastopol Brewery, Wiegand &
Co, proprietors
Simmler J J, postmaster
Sinsheimer Bros, general
merchandise
Soper W H, firearms
Spencer W H, attorney at law
Spinney J C, confectionery
Staniford George B, agent
Wells, Fargo, & Co, and Telegraph Coast Line Stage Co.
Starkweather & Ellis,
shooting gallery
Steele Bros, butchers
Stewart W E, cashier Bank of
San Luis Obispo
Telegraph Coast Line Stage
Co, George B Staniford agent
Thomas Manuel, boarding and
feed stable
Tommasini G & Co, billiard
and liquor saloon
Tourres Auguste, restaurant
Tribune Printing Co,
publishers
San Luis Obispo Tribune
Tullman Otto, billiard and
liquor saloon
Venable Mc D R, attorney at
law
Vollmer Ed & Co, general
merchandise
Weekly Mirror, Doyle &
Crenshaw publishers
Wells, Fargo, & Co, George B
Staniford agent
Wiegand & Co, proprietors
Sebastopol Brewery
Wilcoxon J M, attorney at law
Williamson A, stoves and tin
ware
Woods C L, notary public
Young E J Mrs., millinery
West Coast Gazetteer
Source: Disturnell's Business
Directory and Gazetteer, of the West Coast of North
America, W. C. Disturnell, Publisher, San Francisco,
California, 1882
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