212

 

CROFUTT’S NEW OVERLAND TOURIST

 

Steam cars run regularly between the
city and San Francisco, every half-hour,
fare 15 cents; by commutation tickets
much less. These cars run through the
center of the city of Oakland, and not on
the track used by the Overland train, until
the long pier is reached below Oakland
Point. When the road was first built, all
trains run through the heart of the city,
but subsequently a road was built on piles
over the shoal water on the edge of the bay,
skirting the city front, reaching the old
track on the pier, half a mile below Oak-
land Puint, and at thzs time, all Overland
trains take that track.

Leaving East Oakland our train runs
along over the water, affording a very good
view of the bay on the left, and on the
right, Oakland, and mountain to the back
of it. Two miles further and the train
stops at the station for

OQakland—the county seat of Ala-
meda county, has a population of 40,000,
and is the second city in size on the Pacific
coast. Few cities in the world have ever
increased, with as good, healthy, substantial
growth, as has Oakland within the last
seven or eight years. According to the
census of 1870, the population was 11,-
104,an increase in eight years of nearly
thirty thousand.

What Brooklyn, New York, is to New
York City, so is Oakland to the city of San
Francisco. The name of the city is sig-
nificant of its surroundings, as it is situated
in an extensive grove of evergreen oaks,
with orchards, parks, gardens and vine-
yards on every side. Nestling amidst this
forest of perpetual green, can be seen,
peeping out here and there, the magnificent
villa of the nabob, the substantial resi-
dence of the wealthy merchant, and the
neat and tasteful cottage of the “ well-to-
do” mechanic, who have been attracted
here by its grand scenery, mild climate,
and quiet surroundings—being free from
dust, noise, or the bustle of a large city de-
voted to business.

Oakland is lighted with gas; has broad,
well-paved streets; is abundantly supplied
With water; supports several horse rail-
roads; three daily newspapers—the T'rib-
une, Times, and the Democrat, and is pro-
vided with just a score of churches. The
Masons, Odd Fellows, and many of the
tther fellows have halls and hold regular
meetings.

Public and private schools are ample.
The higher educational institutions com-

prise the University of California, the State
University School, the Female College of
the Pacific, the Oakland Military School,
the Oakland Female ‘Seminary, and the
Convent of “Our Lady of the Sacred Heart.”
The University of California is at Berkley,
four miles distant. It is constructed
throughout of brick and iron—they say,
earthquake and fire-proof.

Near the university, towards the bay, is
located the State Asylum of the Deaf, Dumb
and Blind. It is a massive stone building,
three stories high, 300 feet above the bay,
and commanding a very extensive view.
Oakland, besides its attractions, asa place of
residence, has become one of great impor-
tance as a manufacturing city. In the city
and suburbs are located great numbers of
all kinds of manufactories, some very ex-
tensive, giving employment to hundreds of
people. oWe have it from the bestauthority,
that there are $4,350,000 invested in the
manufacturing business, the annual pro-
duct of which amounts to an enormous
sum. The Central Pacific Railroad Com-
pany completed a road called the Berkley
Branch, and opened it for business, January
9, 1878, which commences at the end of the
pier at West Oakland, and runs north and
eastward around mountains of the Contra
Costa Range, and in full view of San Pablo
Bay, to Martinez, 35 miles from San Fran-
cisco. The principal stations on this route
are Berkley, 11.08 miles from San Fran-
cisco; San Pablo, 17.55 miles; Martinez,
30.09 miles. When the line from Martinez
is completed via Benecia to Fairfield, as
referred to on page 202, it is quite possible
the Overland trains will be changed to this
new route, making a saving in distance of
56 miles. (See map, page 201.)

The principal hotel at East Oakland is
Tubbs’; at Oakland, the Grand Central. At
Oakland Point, from which the long pier
is built out into the bay, are located the
extensive workshops of the Central Pacific.
Their yard, and grounds occupy 120 acres
of land.

Leaving Oakland, our train:speeds along
through the edge of the city for about half
a mile, then gradually curves to the south-
ward running out to meet the main Oakland
pier, which it reaches, 1.4 miles from Oak-
Jand, 1.6 miles from the Oakland end of the
pier, and 2.1 miles from the end ofthe pier |
to the westward. Down this long pierrolls
our train, directly out into the bay, towards
the setting sun, to the ferry-boat, which
conveys passengers over the waters, 3.7