REAL ESTATE AND FINANCIAL SECTION THE SAN FRANCISCO CALL TWENTY-TWO PAGES Prosperity Marks the Progress and Growth of Fair Berkeley BRIGHT FUTURE OF UNIVERSITY CITY Manifold Advantages Possessed by Berkeley for Business and Residence Purposes Wafer Front Offers Exceptional Opportunities for Establish- r ment of Industrial Plants DAVID H. WALKER The. continued and rapid growth of Berkeley is to be expected, simply be-, \u25a0cause that community, in all natural and acquired advantages, stands in the front rank of California cities. Within \u25a0 fpw years its present corporate boun daries will surely contain 100.000 popu lation. Its water front will hum with the sound of large industries. Its great university will annually become greater and more effective,, with widening scope and increasing facilities and funds. Its residential aroas, which arc now the admiration of all tourists and of the people vf Berkeley, will be even more handsomely improved; and from one end of Berkeley to the other and across its extreme width, values will increase with the demand for land for all sorts <«f profitable and agreeable uses. THE PRISSKNT POPULATION The census that is in progress will probably show that Berkeley has not far from 41.000 population. This is *uch an increase that within itself is < ontair.ed the promise of splendid fu ture. Few places on the Pacific coast have been advertised sensationally as tittle as Berkeley. What advance has bec-n made, and the increase has been int«=rtainnicnts that take place sit the Greek theater which is situated in the hills above thn university sxounds proper. TLis is the scene of SCENES IN THE BUSINESS AND RESIDENCE SECTIONS OF BERKELEY WHICH SHOW ITS' COMMERCIAL PROGRESS AND PICTURE I < • , '\u25a0' SETTING ;\u25a0\u25a0. -s , .--'".."' .^ __./•—".' -\, V -'" great musical festivals, of open air dramatic performances In' which lead ing artists appear, of weekly musical entertainments that take place Sunday afternoons, and of functions of various sorts. The athletic events that result from the rivalry of two universities — the Uniycrslty of California and the Stan ford university — the football, baseball and field day contests are attractions that draw thousands frequently to Berkeley and furnish'the population of tlie city with enjoyment. In this some what cursory view of Berkeley, lead ing features only are outlined. Beauti ful Berkeley is a title to. which the city on the east shore of the bay lays claim. No one who ' is acquainted , with the facts will deny - the validity of that claim. COURT ORDERS SALE OF VALUABLE REALTY Choice Property to, Be Offered at Auction L.yon & Hoag will 'hold an auction of real estate Tuesday, May 10, ut noon in the store at 40 ; Post street near Montgomery. The sale is by authority of Frank A. Dwyer, court referee. ' .'. The titles of propertied have -been searched and the bidders will know in advance that' clear, titles^ are offered. Among the properties to be sold' are 2326 ;and 2328 Folsom street between Nineteenth "and Twentieth, a two story residence renting for $45 a month on a lot 60x122:6 feet; lot. running from Twenty-flrsi to Twenty-second avenue between California and Clement streets, In the Richmond district, capable of be ing: divided into eight lots, each 25x120 feet; -lot ,45x66 feet -in Howard street near Fourth; lot 60x80* feet In Howard street near Sixth; 661 and 663 Shotwell street 'near Twenty-first,'; a" two >story house renting/ for 1 . |50, and lot 36x122:6 feet; Oakland; business corner "opposite Point station ,at. Seventh and Pine streets, 105x201 feet." with.building;con taining four >toires and. lodging house that rent for |96:a > ( month;-.Oakland''loi In Thirtieth street; near MJnion, ;25x100 feet. . - These •' properties - a recall off ered at referee sale arid the sale vwill ' be 'ab solute," subject ; to the confirmation of the referee.-. \u25a0 "..- ; «*' -•' ./, v t '\u25a0\-~.-~- :.''*-\u25a0 In 'addition ; to. the properties^ offered at referee ,\sale,", the" following?;.' wilK.be* auctioned: Two 1 lots on Guerrero, street near ElghteentlCeach. 26x100 feet; 425 Fifth' avenuo between Point Lobos and A strert.\ 2sxl2o,; .with two story h/imje of six rooms; -cornerlof McAllister and /Wlllard . streets, ,25x35ffept, with three story- building; •» containing- six ; flats which. rent f.or- 594 a 'montli. FKA^ TAFT, NEW TOWN, TO BE "OPENED" ..:\u25a0\u25a0\u25a0 \u25a0>.-.\u25a0. Party of San Franciscans to Take Part in Formal Cre= aiion of Village Taft, the new- Kern county townsite in the Midway oil section, will be form ally opened tomorrow by ." a large party of investyrs who will leave; the ferry at;\S:2o o'clock tonight, going BOiith- froiTl Oakland to; Tracy. Fresno and Bakersficjd. The party will "ar rive .at Ta ft •at 11 10:301 0:30 o'clock. Sunda y morning and make its return from there at 6:30 o'clock in the evening of the same day, reaching Ran Francisco at !) oVlock Monday morning. '-.-.• j The "new town is located on V the I Sunset.lino of . the Southern. Pacific and Santa Fe' railway companies.: The" maps of the new: community ha ve/be.en" ac"-7 cepted^by the -county supervisors and already . streets, have iri. *_ It adjoins the, town ,of Moron, /which has a population 0f. 2.500. Title in the new towir will^be. given , to investors di rectly from the .United States;govern ment.; through ; the Philippine oil ; and gas company, the to'wrislte, promoters. Water /pipes have 'been laid/ \u25a0 the streets will; be oiled and rolled, .con crete curbing !put In and sewer, ; gas," electricity and,- tGleplione r . service .pre pared^ for.. building;:restric tions call' for brick,, stone; or concrete, no,. wooden or 'galvanized: iron ;.struc : tures "being > permitted \u25a0 within certain lines, ' - :'•- .':'•_\u25a0 "' : \u25a0 ' ADDS 13,000 ACRES* . V TO 35,000 ACRE FARM A. large, deal, has 'been* closed, by i the "country/; department v ;'of^« Baldwin' ' & HotveU.: involving: 13,000": acres in/ Sari Luis ri Obispo«_county,' 'ahout i 15 --miles \u25a0east . of ; Paso'-Robles. 1 ; .The c purchaser 0f.. -Uie- property,\ss ;th_e^C.. I 'W.i; Clarke company. The*-; purchaser "owns /-about 35.000 acres 'adjacent UoltliislpropeVty.' "'This is the second; transaction iinj. San lAiis 'QbisiMV; county .^land^ .?,whlchl»has' taken- place 3v\ithiiS; : the/-lalpt;month'^the \u25a0 Yon v " .Schroder), ranch;" 1 consisting, of, about' 30.00.0 :• 'ore's, '\u25a0. liavi ng . been ; sold ; by; baron voniJcbjroUcr/to ;!.", W/'liellhiaii, NORTH BERKELEY SITUATION UNIQUE Picnic Grounds and Poppy Fields Become Favored Spots for Investment R. C. NEWELL : The present situation" in the Fair mount Park, Thousand Oaks, and Re gents Park sections of North Berkeley isunique. It has been: regarded up to the present as a rather ', inaccessible though beautiful country, suitable for Sunday picnics, the thousands of hol iday makers giving mute but eloquent tribute to the beauty of 'Thousand Oaks by; niaking it the destination of their Sunday rambles. But all'this is changed with |he. rapidity pf magic. Where golden poppies and modest vio lets bloomed for the special delectation of the nature /lover,' wide gleaming streets wind- invitingly over the hills." The clank of 'the steam-shovel and, the rattle' of the air; hammer along 'the railroad lines . are at. once . heralds of new life. Tho ofncials of "the; Southern Pacific have looked over this district, . noted the fact that it lay directly in the path silong which.; Berkeley is compelled to grow; saw the: inspiring view, the neighboring University of California one and a- half miles away, and said; "Here is the place where the growth of Berkeley must logically go." This was three years ago and since that time $3,000,000 has been appro priated for this" work. . Station sites have been bought," franchises secured, plans are complete and the lines of track almost laid for a suburban sys tem the liko. of which, can not be found on \u25a0 tho coast.- Three lines, parallel, until they , reach , Solano 'avenue* or Ninth street between Fairniount Park and Thousand Oaks, between Regents Park. Nos. 4, \u25a0 6 arid :S, through Sunset Terrace,' form ' two >\u25a0 complete double track loops, on each -• of which electric trains ..will maintain a 20 minuto schedule. This . means a train • every five or six !miniites, ! which Is far su perior to the service* enjoyed by the business centers of Berkeley, Oakland or Alameda. ". . ./"".. ' '4 . \u25a0 It also means' a new business center in Albany >n - Main street from .the main , Une .of tracks of .tlie, Southern Pacific through, Sunset Terrace to the rlght-of way. of- the 'Key; Route, 1500 feet east- of San Pablo avenue, . ami possibly farther. . f • ,>Thc greatlncrease in ; values enjoyed by in vtstora in : Claremont was. caused by the extension 1 of the' Key Route.to the Claremont -hotel. - "Only .'one' ferry line. is. responsible.: for: the -.phenomenal rise from' s4o>per"fbot- in 1906j,t0 $100 per.-fb'ot in ; 1910. %--=./; ." , .-Fairniount 7 park and -Thousand Oaks have.three Southern, Pacific lines, v/hich wilK be running: within. six months,. arid. i,there r is,a Key Route iline /: beside*;, that, must r bc' runningvinslde of two years, according to'the terms of, its' franchise^ • ; The j rise v ,in , val ue at Piedmont from l!) 06 to 1910,. "while iri^inany' cases 100 per cent, startirig:at.'s3s. per,:foot, falls short .of the rtremendouß Increase of 'Claremont: by j just i the Idifference" of a ferry train service. Route CQUNTRIf LAND NEAR BERKELEY We ; have * located v many ;i people.' on ; :subdiyislonis : of (Contra -Costa County jrancbesi '< and l;have > now.-sonic" .ve'ryc Icholce.property.'f In, lots': ffqm^3itb"4o; "acres,; at' ; much 'belowHlie^prevalling' ' "market- price/;' Fi ne 1 s'ahdyJloam,' su it-*'- '; for .. almonds.^t grapes. : : .,: apples,': -p« a r s, x?y c ge tabl es, j "^ wal n v ts ) • '« and^ chickensr Nearj railroad ,'andi market. i i,v; { 2I!»4, Center I street;- Berkeley^. - -\u25a0 ', line is planned -through Piedmont, it lias never been started, and it is safe to say that when it does run Piedmont values will jump another 100 per -cent almost in a night. ' ' Ferry service from San Francisco to a suburban property increases its buy ing public by. the . population of. San Francisco. The greater the buying public the higher the price will . go. The highest values are; at ,the : center of population; the nearer suburban properties are brought .to that' center by transportation the higher, the j values Will rise.": • - ' * • '->'-;\u25a0- -\u25a0.->*:.• . , : - : . • '. ;; . : The' object , of this .article .is to point out -the promise of the Thousand Oaks and*- Falrmourit park section of North Berkeley. '• It has. the same class of street work that has made Adams point. Piedmont and Claremont famous. .It is exactly the same distance from- the state university- as 'Claremont,- and 'its farthest lots are not more -than- three blocks from the finest, electric suburban lines in California." ->"- • -. - '', . All of the known .causes of- suburban values are ; here 1 united— view,- edu cational advantages, . transportation, building restrictions,' street work and natural-beauty— and- the result-can only be "a tremendous growth In an incred ibly short 'time. • ' * \u25a0. " rr-f SALES REPORTED BY SOL GETZ & SONS Richmond, and Sunset Figure in Week's Transactions. ' -. \u0084 • Sol Getz & Sons,; lnc., report the fol lowing sales: .Lot ITOxIOO. at the southwest corner of. Judah IJ) street hij-I Thirty-fifth avenue. Sunset dis tritt, to Thomas F. and Charles A;Mahpf ; Lot 60x100. In the north line of Ania (A)" Htrwt, CO feet west of Thirty-third aTenue, Rich mond district, to John \u25a0 L. Hughes. ' I>ot_oox7S. in the oust line of Forty-ninth ave nue .tOeean- boulevard), 137:6 feet south of Qnlntara (Q) Btreet,oceansldc district, to Ben jamin A. Curtail. • - , \u25a0 Lot 2T>xICK), In the northTrest - line of Madrid street, 1 1.1 ' feet northeast of BrazU avenue. Ex celsior homestead association, to Margaret Kelly. Lot 25x12u. in the east line of Forty-eighth avenue. lo.:6 feet south of Law ton (L) street, Oceanside district, to Arthur E. Nathanson. rx>t = 20x120. In the oast linn of Forty-fourth avenue. 100 feet south of . Judah (J) street, Oceanside district, to K. M. Borman. \u25a0 Lot 25x120, In the west line of Twenty-third avenue., 125 feet south of Irvine (I) street, Sun set district. : to Frederick M." Hlller. \ \u25a0.' Lot 2.1x100,; in the north -line -of 'Yerba (X) street. 107:6 teet west of Thirty-ninth avenue, rarksid* district; to Ell Webb. 4 Ix>t 23x120. in the' west line of Thirty-third avenue. • ;S."O feet south' of Geary street (Point Lobos avenue), Richmond district, to Kathryn H. Spalding*. \u25a0\u25a0:: .' . -\u25a0: Lot\ftOxl2.":ll. in the north' line of Sloat boulevard -(Market street). 200 feet west of Thirty-ninth avenue, to Kristlna BJorman. \u0084 L0t . 50x1 20. sln tbe west . line of Forty-seventh aventie.-100 fpetsoutb of Judah (J) street, Sun set district: to Edward Stocklln. . , "Lot 32:6x100,. at. the southeast corner of Irvlnjt ( I > street; and < Twenty-fifth avenue. Sunset dls trfrt. to Kriotlna Bjorman. , • l . - - - \u25a0-, Lot '23.80x120. in the west line- of Kin tli ave nue. S-"5:6' Teet ?outU .of Motaga (M) . street. Sun- Bet district, to Dennis M.= Coghlan. \u25a0•: - — s \u25a0: Sol Getz"&. Sons have opened another branch "office -"at Lincornway (H- street) and .. Twentyf fourth 'avenue.Jn "tfie Sun set;district; to, accommodate Ti-ould be purchasers .of .lots in their Sunset tract. "WE SELL THE EARTH" j Elmwood Court ! \u25a0 ' ' r ' r ' "-"' "' '"-^" " ::: " \u25a0"\u25a0"""" -•'\u25a0>' \u25a0-\u25a0\u25a0.-\u25a0\u25a0. : \u25a0'-\u25a0-- :,\u25a0::•.\u25a0, :-."\u25a0:: \u25a0 ' MM — ', / _ ;- t ,-\u25a0-_-_- .\u25a0-.,.' 1" \u25a0\u25a0'•iv.T: r ..-- . .-,': ..:,;,, .. : , . .-.. \u0084. .\u25a0., - -. TTr^^ / .f - i For a home or investment- the few. remaining lots in this .!; ] , !;•\u25a0"\u25a0 tract offer "exceptional^ opportunity:- $833}', .: "'\v'ork;and^sidewall:s*completc.-'' , ;..^; ..^ \u25a0..\u25a0'. ; ! JIJSTER. (S» BAIIU) |! j ; iill^i&^NTC^'St^-:.; ,\u25a0• :;i .\u25a0; : , ;, : vBERkELEy".;i; ; MANY HOMESEEKERS FAVOR NORTHBRAE Beautiful Residence Site in Berkeley Is Rapidly Being y Builf Up BERKELEY, May 6.— To the activity of the railroad companies no less than to the beauty of this new residence district. is due the boom which is now on in Northbrae. Although the greater number :of those who have already bought are first -of all seeking out Northbrae -as a -site • for their own homes, many of -those .who first pur chased'a lot :on which to build have chosen others as an investment. " The Northbrae boom is beneficial to the city in' general, for among the hun dreds; of people who have been at tracted to. these properties many have Bought, in other sections and the real estate" situation is more gratifying now than -it -has ever been. -Perhaps the most remarkable feature. of the Xorh brae activity.is that a large number of the lots sold in that section have been purchased by Berkeley "residents. ; Perry T. Tompkins, general manager of^thc Mason-MacDufße company, re- ports' that more than a dozen houses are either being planned or under con struction in. Berkeley heights and that for several days past from six to eight lots a day have been sold. "Although this last month has been perhaps the most lively In the history of Berkeley real estate* it is just the beginning of what Is now taking the shape of a regular boom," said Tompkins, "and this summer promises most ex traordinary business In Berkeley resi dence property. There can be no doubt in the mind of any one who spends a few hours in Berkeley, that It Is the coming residence city of. the Pacific coaat. \u25a0 "Many people who have come out to Berkeley from Oakland and from San Francisco after an absence of a year or so have expressed their astonish ment at the transformation of the northern part of the city."; Beautiful houses: have sprung up, and gardens with millions of roses are in bloom where what seems but a few months ago wore, cow pastures. "During the last few weeks we have sold- two houses in • Claremont and 11 lots fn Claremont and Claremont "court. These : were very and brought big prices, but I predict that any of the lots in ,the " Northbrae properties will be worth: so per.'cent 'more than any of these In one year-_from today." \u25a0'. PAGES 11 TO 22 BANK CLEARINGS SHOW PROSPERITY Oakland Shows Larger Increase* Than Other Coast Cities and Realty Sells Well There is no better Indication of tho prosperity of a community than its* bank clearings, and Oakland durinje. the last three months has increased her bank clearings over those of last year by a greater percentage than any other city on the Pacific coast. During January. February and March. Oak land's average of increase was more than 70 per cent — for the month of March alone It was more than 81 per cent. The increase in San Francisco, Los Angeles and Seattle averaged from 22 to 25 per cent, and none of these cities even approached the ! record made by Oakland. Another indication of business con ditions is the activity of the" realty market, which during the last 60 day* has eclipsed all previous records, la speaking of the matter. E. B. Bull, manager of the Frank K. Mott com pany, said that February. Starch and April had been by far the biggest months in their history. "The sales that we made in Grand avenue heights in February and March and those that we made in East lawn in April brat all the records of our office," said Bull. "Last Sunday at the opening of our Eastlawn properties we entertained one of the biggest crowds that ever assembled at a tract opening in Oakland, and our sales went well over the $100,000 mark. We find that Oakland properties are not only beinsr purchased by local people, but that hundreds of outsiders ar« tak ing advantage of conditions and secur ing all the property in Oakland 'that they can afford to boy. There is no question that this city has a wonderful future, and this fact Is beginning to be appreciated not only throughout California but throughout the eattro country. "Our chamber of commerce Is re ceiving hundreds of letters from all over the United States inquiring about Oakland properties, and scores of these people who have visited Oakland have either made purchases in local realty or have left with the intention of do ing so in the very near- future. "Never in" my experience have 1 seen such a demand from outside sources for Oakland properties. This demand is not confined to business real estate, but is extending throughout the suburban districts into the various residential tracts that are now being placed upon the market. The shrewd est investors are putting their money into these outside districts., and It seems to be the consensus of opinion that Oakland's greatest development in the next 10 years will be in tho In crease in value In residential holdings. Blocks are now being sold not only by ourselves but by a number of other real estate concerns in Oakland that ought to double In prices within the next few years. "The development of the canal, the world's fair and the general upbuilding: of the Pacific coast will have a ten dency to increase the population of Oakland very materially, and this will create a demand for outside residential properties, and the value of the choicest properties will- unquestionably bo greatly enhanced." . «' . ELM WOOD COURT LOTS HAVE SPLENDID VIEWS Juster & Balrd of Berkeley report that business is picking up. and that the prospects in Elmwood Court are particularly encouraging:. Nowhere In the city are the transportation facili ties more convenient. A comparison of prices on this property with that of other land in the vicinity shows that a nice profit can be made by simply buylng one of these lots on the in stallment plan and then selling at the prevailing rate in the neighborhood. Balrd said that considering the style and class of homes being built in Hlm wood Court, and the great future of Berkeley, it was not improbable that within four or five years the property would be worth at least $75 to $100 a front foot. Any one who takes the trouble tc go on the ground and see the match less view of £an Francisco bay and the Golden gate on one hand and the beautiful Berkeley hills on the other can not fall to realize the future pos sibilities of the property. FRANCIS FERRiER GENERAL AGENT North Gra^mont THE CROWN OF BERKELEY "Why not buy a lot in this' tract for your future home? . . Last of the Hillside property in Berkeley. EAST TERMS XO TAXES XO EH'TEBEST Houses and Lots All . Over Town ; If you arc thinking of coming to Berkeley, see FRANCIS FERRIER :*•-;'. Phone Berkeley 331 / 2 1 05 S HATTUCK ATE.