The Wasp — 1896 — page 714: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page features two portrait photographs of prominent San Francisco figures with accompanying biographical text. The main content discusses San Francisco's real estate assessed values from 1861-1872, noting they increased substantially but remain below actual market value due to what the article calls the "present depression." The portraits show "The Late James Phelan" (lower left) and "Our Public Administrator" (upper right). Phelan's biography identifies him as a merchant-financier and California pioneer involved in banking and real estate development. The article appears to be informational rather than satirical, documenting these civic leaders' contributions to San Francisco's development and financial infrastructure during the post-Gold Rush era.