San Francisco

San Francisco is the capital of California, and commercial metropolis of the West coast of America. It occupies the northeast corner of a tongue of land stretching between the Pacific and San Francisco Bay, which, with San Pablo Bay and Suisun Bay - extensions to the North. It forms a handsome land-locked sheet of water 65 miles long, communicating with the ocean by Golden Gate Strait. The city was practically sprung into existence since the discovery of gold in 1847, and is now a spacious and evenly laid-out city, with every modern convenience - electric light, cable tramways, &c. Marble and granite houses give dignity to Government buildings, hotels, theatres, &c. There is a remarkable number of religious sects here. It has a fine park, many free schools, a number of colleges, and a university. As the western terminus of the great continental railroads and outlet for the produce of a rich wheat district it has a large shipping trade. Important industries here are shipbuilding, whale-fishing, sugar-refining, iron-works, &c.

Nearby pages
San Jose in Costa Rica, San Jose the city of California, San Juan, San Remo, San Sebastian, San Stefano