The morning call., 1891-01-04
A REUNION.
New Years Day Pleasantly Spent
at Sutro Heights.

Mr. A dolph Sutro entertained at dinner
about thirty-fve friends, including heads of
the various improvements he has in hand,
on Thursday last, it being Mr.. Sutros GUS
tom to entertain all his employees on New
Years day.
The dinner was excellent, running through
many courses and occupying three hours.
Aiterward DR.. George W. Merritt rose to
propose the health of Mr. Sutro, and paid
some very hearty and deserved compliments
to the several gentlemen who, by their skill,
have aided Mr.. Sutro in his great work of
retaining, laying ont and beautifying
Sutro Heights, complimenting Mir. Stubo
for his management of the water works.
Mr.. Hugo Lachenicht as gardener, Mons
Joseph Abraham as architecte du jardin,
Mr.. Harrison for his excellent work on the
sea-Wall, baths and quarries. Mr.. Flanagan
as nurseryman on the San Miguel Rancho
Mr.. Sweeney as superintendent of outside
lands.
Mr.. Sweeney in replying to the doctor
caused much amusement and interest by
saying; II profess to know trifie more
MI. Sutro IMAM most folks here, because Mr..
Sutro, myself and two mules were the first
to try and Subdue the clouds of sand that
were roaming around and over this point
ten years ago l said to 'subdue,' but the
sand came pretty near subduing US, mules
and all, for what we did one day was
tolerably we'll undone next morning. How
ever, help was pretty rat hand, and Mr..
Sutro made the biggest strike of his life when
lie struck that clay bank over 10y the con-
seryatory. On finding the clay we got some
help ana in short time had the whole sur
face OF this now beautiful park covered
with clay. After that We Sowed in barley;
in two weeks the grain was up. good and
strong; then tree planting went on bravely.
MIR. Sutro is stuck alter mules, but for get
ting The best Of sand clay takes the cake
In walking through these grounds now
often wonder what some OF those gentlemen
who drove from town and poked fun at US
greenhorns' for attempting to make a gar
den out here think now as they drive
through one of the prettiest places under the
sun. assure you, ladies' and gentlemen.
TINS was hard-looking spot ten years ago"
Mr.. Sntro said: ''Mr. Sweeney is quite
right; this was hard looking place when
we commenced work. We had lively time of
1t, assure you. AS to my being stuck
alter mules, L acknowledge a weakness to-
ward mule-ne is most interesting and
curious aninal-is indeed quite study. l
have had occasion to devote a good deal of
thought to the animal, as he played quite an
important part in building the Sutro tunnel
and L had over 200 employed at one time. |
hrst chose horses to work in the tunnel, but
iound them comparatively stupid, for the
least llttle thing touching the head of
horse, or should his ear be tickled by the
falling of piece of loose gravel or sand he
at once Jerked his head upward and knocked
out his brains against the caps or roof Of the
tunnel; 1t was then | studied mules and
found that when mules ear was tickled he
at once dropped his head and lodged any
threatening danger. With this discovery,
ana the Tact that five mules could thrive on
| the feed OF three horses, felt compensated
Tor any time l devoted to the question Of
mules"
Mr. Suiro also said that in the subiugation
| OIL SAND nOtIlnp is hnttpr than tha nlnDfipp
| OF seagrass. 1t is almost incredible the
amount OF labor saved and the addition
gwen to value of sand lots by planting this
grass as has been done by the Park COM
| mlssloners and himself. lie hopes soon to
see "a concerted action of owners, and all
SAND lots north and south of the park plant
| ed in this grass.
In Speaking of the prospective future of
San francisco he said: You hear on
every hand that this city is destined to have
a population of one million within the next
| generation. believe it will contain more,
but long before it reaches those figures
sand lots will be scarce indeed. People
may say TO you in looking over the waste Of
sand, W no would buy these?' They said
the same to me only few years ago, but
have sold property to the same people at 900
| per cent advance since that time. Why. if
Tour people occupy each available lot In
population. 1t is not likely will be here
twenty-five years hence to see the values of
really, but can form pretty Shrewd guess
of what they will be. Property here is
cheaper than in any large city il. the world
We talk OF property on Market street at so
much front foot, say $4,000. l have known
business property sell in London for $1,000 a
square foot"
Speeches were made by Messrs. Morbio.
STUDIO, Harrison. Flanagan and Abraham,
body feeling that 1891 came in quite a COM
| Portable and Well-dispOsed Youngster