As Vesuvius is to Naples, so is Tamalpais to San Francisco, though the menace is missing, the crater no longer shows the signal cloud of sullen fires. Its extinct volcanic summit rears itself 2,590 feet above sea level, as one looks across the bay from the city. Up its slopes runs a railway that is a marvel of engineering construction. It’s quite the popular thing to hie away to the eyrie tavern on the crest of this mountain, there to be alone with the sea and sky and one’s thoughts. Gertrude Atherton’s latest novel was written amid these surroundings. Around the base of this mountain are sheltered slopes on which are the homes of San Francisco residents; across the bay, by Oakland, Berkeley and Alameda, the home district runs.
EVERYONE HAS HEARD OF SAN FRANCISCO’S CLIFF HOUSE AND THE SEAL ROCKS—HERE, EVERY HOLIDAY, GAY CROWDS PICNIC ON THE SANDS, BATHE IN THE BREAKERS AND WATCH THE SPORTIVE SEA LIONS
“TO-MORROW WILL BE FRIDAY”—GREEK FISHERMEN MENDING THEIR NETS
UNION SQUARE—SAN FRANCISCO, THE CENTER OF THE BUSINESS SECTION, WHERE RAPID RECONSTRUCTION HAS ALREADY PROVIDED THE NUCLEUS OF THE NEW CITY
Heading northerly, crossing San Francisco bay, the road skirts the eastern shore passing Selby’s where gold quartz is transformed into bullion; the Mare Island Navy Yard, the naval center of the coast; by big grain-shipping warehouses and across Carquinez straits. The train at this point goes upon a monster ferry that carries it over the swift inflow of the Sacramento river. Here at Benicia is the government arsenal, then comes the duck country—the famous Suisun marshes. Across the straits from Benicia shows the summit of Mount Diablo, 3,849 feet, meridian base for this region. Near by, are the fruitful San Ramon and Alhambra valleys. Close by is Byron Hot Springs, a famed resort for invalids. Along the shore of the Sacramento river is Stockton, famed for its manufactures, also the towns of Vacaville, Woodland and Winters, all of them thrifty and rapidly growing centers of California’s fruit industry.
THE FERRIES THAT PLY ACROSS THE BAY OF SAN FRANCISCO FORM A CHARACTERISTIC PICTURE