The City of San Francisco.

Thames Star, Volume IX, Issue 3043, 15 November 1878, Page 1

The City of San Francisco.

The American business agent of Mrs Scott-Sjddons, writing from San Francisco on September 2nd, gives the following description of that city :—" San Francisco, at a-city, is not nearly so handsome or so well laid out as Melbourne, but here the discrepancy ends. .Everything ii life. The streets are thickly laid down with tramways, running in every direction to all parts of the city and suburbs, sometimes as far as six miles, the fare for this distance being 5 cents., and. the comfort is considerably in advance of omnibus riding. Wages here are very high, and everything is fearfully dear in proportion. I was asked for an edition of Mark Twain's • Innocents Abroad,' four dollars and a half (18s). I had frequently heard a great deal about the • Palace Hotel,' but I must confess that when I beheld it my astonishment knew no bounds. One is not prepared for its stupendousness. It would be vain to attempt a description oPit; suffice it to say that' it if wren stories high, and occupies a complete block, thus, having a frontage to four streets. The rooms are simply sumptuous., There are four elevators constantly- running, and though you live ' up among the angels,' you have not the slightest difficulty in getting to or coming fromyour room. You touch an electric bell at whatever landing, you may be on, and ikt elegantly, furnished .elevator, lighted by gas, appears, and you ascend. All the servants of the hotel are negroes and Chinamen, numbering 287. There are 50 coloured waiters in the spacious dining hall, which accommodates 1000 guests, and the effect at dinner, when all are seated, is very fine. The hotel is built so that all the rooms terminate in balconies, forming a quadrangular court in the centre, which is really magnificent. Standing at the bottom of this court, the appearance of the rows of terraces is beautiful, each being supported by white pillars, and being lighted up at night by ' electric light, so as to,give it the aspect of moonlight, the effect is complete., Most of the ' housemaids' are Chinamen, and it is extremely amusing to ccc them perform their various duties." - . .• .