10
Traffic Problem at City's Gateway Grows Greater Daily
ELEVATED ROAD
NOW SUGGESTED
Architect Would Place Car
Tracks and Footpaths on
Great Colonnade
The congested condition existing at
the foot of Market street is something
that has Jcng called for a remedy.
The Call has obtained the statements
which appear below from Harbor
Commissioner Stafford, Architect
Willis Polk and Thomas Magce on
the best way of solving this problem.
Suggestions from all other public
spirited citizens on the same subject
will be welcomed and printed in later
issues:
ADVOCATES ELEVATED IIOAD
By THOMAS MAGEE
I am thoroughly convinced that now
is the time to take up the problem of
Improving the foot of Market street.
Th<» congestion of traffic demands it
and moreover we ought to be preparing
a sightly entrance to the city in view
of the- coming Panama exposition.
First impressions are lasting. At pres
ent It is a poor opinion that strangers
lnuFt hold as they emerge from the
Orry building and behold the city for
the first tim<\ By building an artistic
bridge at the foot of Market street
utility and beauty both would be
«?rved and the visitor arriving here
would at once think well of a city of
People who showed sach taste and en
terprise.
.Pan Francisco is going to hold the
exposition -without any doubt.
The qeettion now. is how to take care
of the tides of traffic along East street
and up and down Market street and at
the 6ame time beautify this point of
entrance to the city.
As chairman of a committee which
had this and other harbor improvement
matters under consideration some time
ago, I gave a good deal of study to this
subject.
An elevated structure to carry pedes
trians and streetcars is necessary. To
do this would require joint action by
both the city and the state, owing to
the state's control of the water front
tide land. The plan I favor is an elevated
Joop over the site of the present tracks,
or approximately so, and rising from
the street by a 4 per cent incline, be
ginning at the east line of Spear 6treet.
From the level of this raised platform
passengers would pacs directly into
the second story of the ferry building
and to the upper decks of the boats.
The plan also provides for stairs to
ascend from both sides of Market street
to an elevated platform on the outer;
side of the outer loop, over which pe
destrians coming down Market street
might pass over. East street and into
the ferry building at the same level as
the streetcar passengers, thus separat
ing these two lines of travel and re
moving both from the interfer*nce of
teams and the proposed crossing of the
belt railroad on the street level under
the elevated structure. At the same
time the vehicular traffic along East
street would be free from interference
from the constant succession of electric
oars, which would pass overhead on the
raised loops. v
A part of this suggestion is to widen
Market street from East to California
etreet on the north side and from East
to Spear street on the south side. At
present from the curbstone to the body
of the streetcars is a distance of 16
feet, and I suggest that not les« than
20 feet be added. I assume that there
would be a platform blx feet wide from
the body of the streetcars on the outer
side of the loop, and that it would be
gin with the ascent and continue
around the loop. This would reduce
the free roadway on either side from 16
to 10 feet, and to avoid accidents and
•congestion there should be a free road
way on either Bide of the street at least
30 feei wide.
ARTISTIC AXD PRACTICAL
By WILLIS PO3LX, AECHITZCT
The time has come -when something
ought to be done to relieve the conges
tion at the foot of Market street. It Is
lust as important to do it in an artistic
\u25a0way as in a pracical way. It ought to
be done on big, liberal Imes, in keeping
with the epirit of the city.
Some kind of monumental architec
ture at this point is just as essential as
-a merely practical solution of the con
gestion problem.
The arch and peristyle which I d«
eigned is Just a suggestion. 1 do not
cay It Is entirely practical. But some
thing big and imposing is needed.
If something like the colonnade were
adopted, either for ornamental or for
the carrying of elevated tracks and
footways. It would necessitate the tak
ing of considerable ground now occu
pied by email, unsightly buildings.
There ought to be a broad semicircular
open space extending back to the west
side of Bteuart street two-thirds of the
way to Mission street and almost to
Merchant street. This would involve
the cutting off of the southwest corner
of Merchant and East streets and the
corresponding corner on the opposite
side of Market street where Sacramento
and Commercial streets come in.
This would Elve sufficient space for
carrying out the arch and peristyle
plan and be large enough for all time.
We should have an area here that
would give a feeling of space and blg
n«ss aa- well as ease of access and a
handsome appearance in general. If
property should be condemned for ad
<sltiona4^room it ought to be done now
before it becomes more valuable.
Paris is now just voting $800,000,000
worth of bonds to carry out the Baron
Haussman plan for beautifying the
city. This plan was formulated in the
time of Napoleon IIL Even the present
appropriation will not complete It; a
hundred years more may be required to
do that.
•San Francisco ought to plan for her
future development on broad and lib
eral lines, as other great cities are do
ing. The Burnham plan affords a good
working basis for the present and fu
ture beautif ying of the city.
The entrance to the city deserves
epecial attention. The moral effect of
the first impression upon newcomers
and visitors counts for a good deal. If
they first set foot In a great rotunda
they say: "What a magnificent city!"
Or if they find themselves in a con
gested spot, or in a space with ugly
overhead iron bridges, they will say:
"What a horrible city!" and go away
with that impression.
I worked several years on my arch
and peristyle plan and spent thousands
of dollars in surveys and detailed plans.
This plan calls for a colonnade the
came height as the front of the ferry
building. The plan provided for an ele
vated corridor for foot passengers mid
way between the ground and the roof
of the colonnade. The peristyle form is
just a suggestion to combine the beau
tiful and practical. Just how it could
be brought about Is a matter for seri
ous consideration.
To erect such an arch and colonnade
now would not only dwarf the ferry
building, but be hard to Join' to ft. It
seems to me as If the ferry building
would have to be reconstructed to com
bine any , degree .of usefulness . and
fccauty, with an overhead system of ap
proach to the ferry, and carry out the
arch and peristyle effect.
I think it is time to stop adopting
makeshift plans and do something on
broad and liberal lines that will pro
vide for the future as well as take care
of present needs.
INTEREST OUGHT TO BE AROUSED
By W. V. STAFFORD,
President Board of Harbor Commissioners
I think it wise to get popular interest
aroused at this time to form some plan
to handle the traffic around the foot of
Market street.
In view of the ever increasing busi
ness of every description we must not
overlook the necessity of providing for
the connection of the belt railroad from
the north to the south sides of the har
bor. There will be an imperative de
mand for this connection in a year or
two. ;.'-•» - - -;. V-'.N. !
It is time now that the public interest
should be awakened to the necessity
for a comprehensive scheme to take
care of the heavy dray Ing traffic, belt
line, streetcars, automobiles, horses and
hacks to meet trains, and last, but not
least, . the ever ; increasing army of
pedestrians. Any scheme that fails to
cover every phase of the problem In not
worthy of consideration.
It' must be admitted that an overhead
system has disadvantages. But an un
derground system, through the made
land at this point, would have to be
constructed with extraordinary skill.
Probably it will be necessary to con
sider the extension of the present ferry
building along the original linos, mak
ing it SO feet longer at the ends and en
larging the present projection in the
center. ;
An overhead trolley and footway sys
tem may prove the most practical way
to solve all the problems, giving an un
interrupted East street for all jother
kinds of traffic
SALA & SAL A REPORT
MAY A BUSY MONTH
Exposition Will Boost Mission
Property, Says Businessman.
Sala & Sala, the real estate, firm of
Mission and Eighteenth streets, report
a very brisk month, having closed a
number of sales during May. f A. G.
Sala in speaking of the conditions in
the Mission said:
"There are a good many wise specu
lators who are looking over Mission
property, especially the vacant- land
lying In the outer district, with the
intention- of buying up blocks at a
time and subdividing into small home
steads. These people are just waiting
to find out definitely if San Francisco
Is going to have the great fair, and
If so the Mission will be the location
for it. so now it is up to us San Fran
ciscans to boost and' boost hard, and
especially the Mission property hold
ers, as Mission property will be more
in demand and more valuable."
The firm reports a very good month
in its renting department, 34 fiats hav
ing been rented durjng the month. The
sale of the . following property is re
ported: Lot-situated in the west side
of Angelica street south of Nineteenth;
buyer. George Lennefelt; sellers, A. H.
Haun and A. Lippert; private terms.
Lot in the east side of Lapidge street,
175 feet north of Nineteenth; buyer,
Edward K. Pearson; seller. Paola
Arata; Pearson will begin erecting six
flats on this property right away. Lot
in the west eide of San Carlos street,
185 feet north of Nineteenth; buyer,
Berent Martin; seller.y Elmo B. Lleb.
Lot in the east side of Prospect^treet,
75 feet north of Henrietta; buyers, T."
and A. Kelly; seller, W. Jackson. Lot
and improvements In the north: side of
Seventeenth street west of Hattle;
buyer a client of the , office; seller,
George Maimrold; price, $6,000.
They also report having the follow
ing eales ratified ; and the title being
searched: Lot in the west side of How
ard street, 135 feet south of Twenty
fifth; buyer F. Strizlnger; seller, .B.
Davidson. Lot in the west side of
Howard street, 155 feet south -of
Twenty-fifth; same owner; buyer,. W.
Joyce; this property was sold In con-
Junction with F. R. Webb & Co. Lot
and improvements located in the east
side of Capp street between Eighteenth
and Nineteenth, 45x122, consisting of
four flats; buyers. E. '& E. Carlson;
seller's name withheld. ... "" •
EtTRGLASS STEAL OFFERINGS— Two burrlara
entered. the "Home of Truth," 1109 Franklin
street, early yesterday morninp and took from
* tray on the offering table in the room of
Edward Trezevant, the leader of the sect ' a
" $5 gold • piece, \u25a0 and about . $2 . In . sllrer from a
drawer la & table in the lower; hall.- <..»-•
THE FRANCISCO; CALL, SATURD^
HOW THE FOOT OF MARKET STREET COULD BE BEAUTIFIED BY AN ARCH AN
MANY LEASES MADE
DURING THE WEEK
Good Demand for Stores, Offices
and Land to Improve for
Business Purposes
Baldwin & Howell report consider
able" activity in leasing, and among
other transactions have closed a lease
for Charles Holbrook of one of the
stores and basement in the new five
story and basement building now. in
course^of construction at Bush and
Market streets. The tenants, Koerber
&. Osborn, will pay a rental ) of more
than $20,000 for the term of the lease.
Other leases are under negotiation in
this building, among those closed being
the "Western ; pipe and steel works, a
large manufacturing corporation, which
will establish Its offices, occupying con
siderable of the second floor, in the
Holbrook building on a lease for five
years. ,
Other leases have been consummated
from the estate of Charlotte F. Clarke
to the New York lubricating oil com
pany of a two story and basement
building at 836-837 Turk street for a
term of years. Incidental to the clos
ing of a recent sale the same firm has
made a lease of. the Ainsworth apart
ments at 1240 California street for a
term of five years on private terms.
Baldwin & Howelf* have also leased
for Hubbs & Coffin to West, Elliott &
Gordon the store and basement at the
northwest corner of Hayes and Octavia
streets, for a term of years, being the
premises which have been reconstruct
ed after damage, by fire a few months
ago. They have also leased to George
P. Baldwin the store and basement at
516 Hayes street in the same premises.
The total of these leases amounted to
$15,000. They have also leased -for
Frank Smith to T. Maher store at the
southwest corner of Fifteenth and Va
lencia streets for two years at. 51,440;
for M.F. Emerson to Moeller &
Schwlnd store in Powell street south of
O'Farrell for six years at a rental , of
more than $30,000; for Annie N. Farrell
to Peter Berent, premises at 207-209
Fourth street, being store and base
ment in the Netherland hotel, for a
term of three years on private terms;
R. J. Hancock to Louis Figear, store,
corner, Sixth and Natoma street' for
$1,500 for .the' termrMary E. Russell
to A. F. Wells, store, 676 .McAllister
street; Henrietta' S. Clarke to Chris
Lepetich, store and , basement," north
west corner of Geary and Larkin
streets, five years for $4,500; A. Koer
ber to Otto Freese and Peter. P. Freeae,
southeast corner Ellis and : Devisadero
streets on private terms; A. FJFitschen
to G.C. Wright, store in Railroad ave
nue for four years on private terms;
for Hale Brothers to G.K . Joyce, store,
1355 Fillmore street, for $7,250 for the
term; for Mary A. McKlnley to P. Goye
rlche, 1334-40 O'Farrell street for a
term of two years; for Hoffman & Rob
inson to P. Dicks, premises 2360 FilU
more street for four- years \u25a0at $2,000,
and to Ed Sharon, premises 2362 Fill
more street for a term of four years.
.'A' number of leases of lots for bulldi
ing purposes have been closed by Bald
win '& Howell.f among : them' being- the
property .at the- southwest r^cqrner* of
Twelfth and \u25a0 West Mission ': streets
owned -by the McKee ; company/ to the
California pottery ; company for- a ; term
of five" years. The- rent will aggregate
about i s4,4oo; --also;* lease J. : !»., Kidweli
to -Joseph Baumgarten, • southeast cor
ner of Ellis and Webster streets. 80x50,
10 yearsVonv private^ terms ;f ; e«tatevof
JJ O.* Reis to ;Symon: ; Brothers lot'in
Kentucky " street, C\ 225 V. feet " south >- of
Twentieth,-. two "years: for $1,200; Cleve
land Forbes : et al: to"' George' M.- Flax
ner, east ; side \of Stanyan" street^ south
of .Waller,- 10 years /on Vprivate : terms.
K. Schlegel to ,O. S.iSarsi,ilot in south"
side of t Oak /street : west of \u25a0, Franklin;
M. B. Angus* to- J. fa .TippetjLiotTin
south - sid«; of "Jackson street," 63 feet
east-of Front. ;• «'v ';\u25a0 .-.; \u25a0",':'-: .-."-.. -.;••" if-
\u25a0 ,The same i firm has also : rented '\u25a0 apart
ment ?-.' No.;". 1 -.in > the ! Presidio s ,Ter race
apartments 'i: f or/MacDonalds &; Apple-,
garth to A. C. Craven on; private ; terms.
NEW YORK PANIC
Continued - From Pnpe 0
question has been taken up by the
producers* -agency. Storage and mar •»
keting facilities are the pressing prob
lems. It will require an outlay of very
great proportions to provide ample
storage. However, there can be no
marketing on a scale commensurate
with the merits of the fuel until this
has been done.' A hopeful Indication is
the decision of the government to use
petroleum on the smaller craft of the
navy. -
. .Impending developments of great size
Include the completion of the Stanislaus
power project. It is announced by the
United Railways investment company
that" thtl?-enter prise will be in operation
during the month, bringing to the
United Railroads sufficient power for
Its lines, leaving "a. surplus ,f or which a
local market will be' found.
The demand for big ranch holdings
for subdivision has been further illus-.
trated by the sale of the Oakwood stock
farm in the San Ramon valley and the
Rickey holdings in California and Ne-
CITY COMMENDED
A word of special commendation
comes to San Francisco from Gerald R.
Brown, who has charge of \ the real
estate department of the Equitable life
assurance society. The company has
placed $4,000,000 '.. on- San Francisco
property. Brown i has recently, coriv^
pleted an Inspection of the Equitable' a
realty loans in the west, and upon his
return to New York expressed his com-,
plete' satisfaction with what he ob
served in San Francisco. He Is quoted
by the Wall Street Journal as express
ing'wonder at San Francisco's ability
to rehabilitate itself. He learned that
of the ,200,000,000 and upward expended
in building operations only $12,000,000
had been borrowed in the east. ,He
found realty values appreciating
throughout .the west, but particularly,
in San Francisco.-
MANY SALES REPORTED
v FOR MONTH OF MAY
- Thomas -E. 'Hayman reports the fol
lowing sales made during the past
month: . '"-«-
For William W. Yaccr and Alfred M. Yager
to A. S. Johnson, lot 35.x134«0, in the west side
of Cole street, 125 south of Halßht, together
with lmproyements of six apartment flats, known
as Nos. 631-037 Cole street, at price' of Jlti.OOO.
Iloward ' D. Kibbe to Mendell Weisbleet. lot
60x137:6 feet, in the r north side of Geary
street,, 67:3 feet east of Devisadero, 1 together
with imprOTements of four, six and sereu room
flats, known as Nos. 2172-74-76-78 Geary street,
at a price of $16,000. .
For Heilman & Koenig, lot 25x100 feet, situ
ated In the south side of California street,
107:6 feet ivest ' of Seventh avenue, together
with Improvements of two flats, known as • Nos.
4539-41 California street, at a price of $8,300.
For Heilman k. Koenijs to a client, lot- 26x100
feet, together with improvements of two flats,
known as . Nos. 4529-31 California street. I situ
ated in the south side of California street./ 56:6
feet west of Seventh avenue, at a price of
$8,500. • v " r-,-~ • • \u25a0 '.
- For Heilman & Koenlg to-a client, lot 25x
82:6 feet, situated in. the west side of Second
avenue. 25 feet south of H street, together with
improvements consisting of two flats, known as
No*. : 1209-11' Second avenue, at a price of $7,500.
For Bauer I construction company to a client,
lot 25x120 'f«et, together with improvements,
consisting of two flats, situated In the west side
of Tenth \u25a0 avenue. \u25a0 150 feet north of California
street, at a price of $7,500.
For Neil Donovan to a client, lot 22x72:6
feet, situated in . the west side of Lexington
avenue, 130 feet south of Twentieth street, to
gether with improvements, consisting of two
flats, known as Nos.' 326-328 Lexington avenue,
at t a \u25a0 price of $6,500. \u25a0 ' . \u25a0:
\u25a0 For W. L. Heminga. lot 23x120 feet, situated
in; the west side of Eleventh avenue, 50 feet
south '-of Lake street, together with improve
ments, consisting of six room residence, -at.a
price ot; $6,250. -\u25a0 \u25a0 .$~ : "\u25a0 ' -'-'\u25a0 '" -'\u25a0\u25a0"''\u25a0\u25a0\u25a0 "' '' \u25a0\u25a0\u25a0':
- For J. L. Rogers, lot 25x120 feet, situated
in' the west side of Second avenue between Point
Lobos - avenue and \u25a0 A street,' together with ira
provements,' consisting of residence, at a price
0f : 54,500.- -: ,••\u25a0•.' -: %\u25a0:- .' rw — v ;\u25a0- \ I :
;\u25a0'\u25a0- For f; W. W. Felton. lot 50x120 feet, in the
west , side of Twenty-second ' avenue, - 100 feet
north •. of California street. ' terms private.
PAVING CONSTRUCTION
BEGUN AND PROJECTED
-Paving ':\u25a0 construction ha« ; begun in
Mission : street /, from :\u25a0} Fourteenth : to
Twentieth, 1 and : on • H ; street, ; Lincoln
way,;' from . First \ to'* Seventh avenues. v - :
/\u25a0.The -board of -public 7 : works \will call
for \u25a0 bids* for.' paving.' of ' Stockton ; street
from Sacramento\to • Pacific | on- June l lo. r
' 'iThe'board:of jpublicVworks has rec-"
ommended (the \\ construction \u25a0-.; of the
Stockton i street i ; tunnel . to" " the j; super
visors,'' aridlthe § matter 4 is < now: in? the
handsiof the latter. -
SCHOOL BUILDINGS
ALMOST COMPLETED
Many^Structures Soon~ to Be
Ready for Occu
: pancy
Considerable progress Is being made
in the construction and remodeling of
school buildings throughout the city.
On the Lakevlew primary, Capitol and
Holloway streets, the lathing is com
pleted, the -rough plumbing in the base
ment is finished and the heating and
ventilating apparatus is installed.
On the Holly Park primary the base
ment cement work is nearly finished,
the first story frames about completed
and. the roof slate 95 per cent done. In
the Hancock grammar the second story
tile partitions are completed, the first
story -partitions a little more than half
done, the roof finished and -the heating
and ventilating well advanced.
TheJ changes, in electrical work on
the, Madison primary are under way and
the condemned. part of the yard recti
fied: ..;. :\u25a0:,;' "\u25a0\u25a0•- • \u25a0 \u25a0 '
. The Sutro. grammar, in Twelfth ave
nue, between California and Clement
streets, is practically finished, the pu
pils''desks and seatsr are being deliv
ered and the building is ready for dedi
cation. ' ' >
On the McKinley primary, .Fourteenth
and: Castro, .the marble panels of the
frieze are nearly finished.' The build
ing has progressed slowly on account
of change in interior. v
Work Is advancing on the Denrrian
grammar, "In 7 Pierce street between
Hayes and Fell, the grading of base
ment and yard being under way and
the flreprooflng to start in a few days.
In the Sheridan primary the first and
secondstory, walls are' being tinted and
the. woodwork stained and waxed.
For the Spring Valley grammar,
Washington street between Hyde and
Larkln, the following contracts have
been awarded:
OeiierHl, Caldwell & C 0.... $64,301
Structural steel and iron, Brode Iron
work s 17,850
Vacuum '. cleaning ". system, . American air
cleaning company..... 840
ll»'atinjr and ventilating system, F. P.
Walsh \ . . - 9,703
Plumbing and gas fitting. William S.
Snoot & Son .......'.." 3.730
Electrical work. W. S. Hanbridge 1,440
Plastering, Michael Kiernan 6,400
The general drawings are completed
for the Cleveland school and are out to
contractors. The plans and specifica
tions for' the Franklin school are^ com
pleted and-will go to'contractors today.
The preliminary plans are completed
for the Harrison and Visitaclon Valley
schools. .. - i-'~z*
DRYDOCK DEVVEY WILL
BE RAISED THIS MONTH
WASHINGTON, June 3.— The big
floating drydock Dewey, which recent
ly sank to the bottom of Subig bay,
at Olongapo, will be raised. June 20, if
all- goes well, according to a cable
gram .received today at the navy de
partment from' Captain Mertz, in charge
of the naval station .there. .
. .' .- Wlrarf \u25a0 Xeyer bee^ there! Bet-
; ter po • down tomorrow."- 50c \u25a0• for " :
round trip :if .- yoa' get ticket to- '
' day. ; of « ns. •? . \u25a0:-\u25a0. \u25a0 \u25a0 . •\u25a0-,-\u25a0 \u25a0\u25a0_:-'. ,
\u25a0'- BOOKLET FKEE \" '
BALDWIN ; & HOWEIX,
- 318»Kearny,Bt.,'S. T. '
PERMITS FOR MAY
LARGEST OF YEAR
The building permits for May were
the largest of any month this year, to
taling $2,447,076, made up as follows:
. . Amount.
Class A. one building $300.000 1
Class B, two buildings.. 166,000.
Class C. 39 buildings 1,001.399 :
Frames. 223 buildings 810.000 :
Alterations, 197 : 79,002
Total ..." {2,447.078
The total for the year to June 1 is
$10,008,015. . as against 111,735.687 for
the same period of last year.
The largest building permit issued
• - . . - . -
' J^^ OPENING f^^}
\ FARMER CJr Th#**/\crP* i
*"^ . . . *»\u25a0\u25a0\u25a0\u25a0- m» i— w »^bJ
18,000 Acres Best Land and Water
In San Joaquin Valley $150 Per Acre \
| PATTERSON IRRIGATED FARMS~I
The attention of homeseekers is directed to these 10-acre units
cut up from the famous Rancho del Puerto, better known as the
Patterson ranch, and actually constituting 'the very cream of Stanislaus
county, the banner county of the San Joaquin valley. No man or
woman looking for land can afford to ignore thi3 opportunity, which
is one that never again .will be -presented. There is juit so much of
this land and no more. _~ I
Patterson Soil Needs No Encomium
'Its past record is known to be enormous, and its future possibili- '
ties have no limit. All you need to know is that with its wonderful
! soil, producing everything that grows in this climate, it how ha 3
unlimited water, distributed by the best and most perfect irrigation
pumping system lin the United States. The plant cost $250,000, and «
isiill paid for. One share of the stock is sold with each acre. Until
the present crop is harvested it goes free with the land, equivalent \
to handing back $30 to : sso an acre. This is a consideration worthy ;
of instant action. . \ - i
Whether you wish land for fruits, walnuts, alfalfa or !
dairy— no matter what, your farming intentions may be, \
Patterson irrigated farms will make for you > ;
THE BEST INVESTMENT ON EARTH
Excursions 1 !
Every Saturday and Sunday San Franclaco. Cal.
and private parties by appoint- '
ment any day. • Farni3 v
10 ' acres and. *up with water Name
stock on 6 years' time, $150 p«r Address i... ]
during the month of May was for St.
Mary's hospital, to cost $300,000.
Chief Building Inspector Horsan
states that there has been a slight im
provement this year over last year at
the same season in the larger class of
buildings. The outlook shows that thia
tendency will be kept up. :\u25a0.-.•-_--:
Among the larger buildings which
will be begun thi3 month are the Mor
riss theater in Bills street near Stock
ton; a five story apartment to cost
155,000 for J. Soboslay in the west aide
of Stockton, street north of Sutter; a
five story apartment for I* H. Seley
and the McNutt apartments.