On August 5, 1775, the little packet San Carlos sailed through the Golden Gate
bearing Don Juan Manuel Ayala, Lieutenant of Frigate of the Royal Spanish
Navy—first of all seafaring white men to enter Vizciano hypothetical Bahia del
Puerto de San Francisco. Were it possible for him to come again, he’d find things different
now. A great empire has grown up around the Golden Gate—and they’re
building across it the longest single-span bridge in the world. This is how Ayala
might see it from the plane Flying A, high above Marvelous Marin.
Down in front and to the right are supply docks. Above them crops a massive concrete
block that will pin down the weight of cables and their great load. On Lime Point, dwarfing
the lighthouse, is Marin Tower—all 746 feet of it.
Reaching out from San Francisco’s Fort Point is a long trestle. At the end of it they're
laying a great, elliptical concrete fender to protect the pier that will hold the other tower. It
will be in water about 100 feet deep—the first bridge tower to ever stand in the
open ocean.
The big concrete pier with the arch in it will support the southern approach to the main
span. Just back of it, and in a hollow, the cable anchorage is already built.
Ayala could see the part of the Presidio, Crissy Field and Fort Baker—and back
and right, two prosperous residential districts, in the Richmond and Sea Cliff.
Away to the right is Lincoln Park, western terminus of the Lincoln Highway that goes clear
to New York. Up on the heights, looking to the West is the famous Palace of the Legion of
Honor. And at the edge of the picture are Land’s End and Point Lobos—where
the famous old Cliff House used to be.
Swinging up and left is the Beach and the Great Highway. San Francisco plays there on
warm days—and other times, too. That horizontal black strip is Golden Gate
Park. Ayala might also see how beautiful it is. Beyond it is the Sunset district, beyond that,
the Coast Range.
The pictures shows two marvels of creation—one by Nature, that is
finished—the other by Man, that is just begun. All westerners are proud of
Nature's creation, the Golden Gate. Maya they be equally proud of Man’s
creation—the bridge that will span it.
The ingenuity, skill and resourcefulness that go into the development of better petroleum
products are in their way as spectacular as building with concrete, steel and wire.
Flying A Gasoline, Cycol Motor Oil, Avon Lubricant, and “Associated” are symbols of our
achievement, we maintain a corps of engineers to expertly advise the most efficient use of
Associated products. A letter will bring their help.
ASSOCIATED OIL COMPANY
