California-Sir Francis Drake-The Spanish Galleons-The Franciscan Missions-Indians Converted and Dying-The Russians and the Hudson's Bay Company-Conquest by the United States-Discovery of Gold-The Great Immigration -The Vigilance Committee-Building a Town Site-The Bay-The Golden Gate--The Docks-Exports-The Italian Fleet-Clipper-ships-Local Manufactures-Telegraph Hill-Spanishtown-Lone Mountain-Kearney and Montgomery Streets-The Great Hotels-California Street-The Millionnaires-Gambling-The World-City-The Chinese-CustomsThe Six Companies-Chinatown--Pagan Worship-Asiatic Festivals-The Christian Propaganda-The "Hoodlum "Theatres-Woodward's Gardens-Libraries--Local Authors-Newspapers-Art-The Primitive Godlessness--The Rising Churches-Mission Dolores-Charities-The Hebrews-The Climate-The Trade Winds-Flowers and Trees-A New Race-Earthquakes-Oakland-The Mountains-Golden Gate Park-The Cliff House-The Fortifications-The Dawn of Local Pride and Power.
BOUT midway between Central America and Alaska, and on a line drawn from the Sandwich Islands to Quebec (nearly equi-distant from either of those points), there is a notable break in the American coast-line of the Pacific. A deep and narrow strait cuts through the ironbound shore, and gives entrance to a spacious gulf, whose waters penetrate for many leagues into a rich and beautiful country, prolific in grain, wine, and gold, and blessed with a climate of wonderful serenity. The peninsula formed by this gulf on the east and the Pacific Ocean on the west is nearly forty miles long, with an average width