The morning call., 1893-04-16
GOLDEN GATE PARK
Unemployed Men Visit the
Superintendent.
AND THEY ASK FOR WORK
What They Were Told-Park Commits
sioner Stow Tells What lie
Would Have Done.

Beautiful spring was out In all ner glory
yesterday afternoon and Golden Gate Park
was thronged with people.
Happy children made merry in the play
ground; the promenades and drives were
full of pleasure-seekers, and the benches
around the big bandstand were all occu-
pied.
Nobody seemed TO have anything to do
but to get all the enjoyment the opportuni-
ties offered.
Around the main entrance to the park, on
the corner Of Oak and Stanyan streets. there
was another crowd, but those composing 1t
were not on pleasure bent.
The music, the flowers, the birds and all
the rest OF the park attractions had no
charm for them. for they were some Of the
unemployed men of San Francisco in search
of work.
Some 500 of these men were there, most
of them middle-aged, with a few young
men and quite a number of graybeardS
thrown In.
They were there pursuant to a call which
had been issued by the executive committee
of San Francisco's unemployed, and their
object was to ask the Park Commissioners
for work.
committee consisting of w. NJ. Wiley.
l.. G. Fry and j. p. OFerrall was selected
TO wait OIL the Commissioners.
When they arrived at the superintend-
ents Office. however, they learned that none
Austin and Hammond being out of town
aud Mr.. Stow being somewhere around the
park.
So the committee interviewed Superln-
tendent McLaren and told him that the un-
employed had formed an organization which
they represented and that the In iDpressiOn
prevailed that the $4,000 donated last year
by G. 7. Hunting on TO the park improve
ment fund was allowed to remain on de-
pOst, whereas in their opinion the money
should be used at once so that unemployed
men might have something to do.
Mr.. McLaren told the committee that they
were In error, because half of the Hunting
ton money had been expended during the
last winter In making the Improvements on
Strawberry Hill, for which purpose the
donation had been made.
The superintendent also explained that
with the means on hand 1t would be impos-
sible for him to employ any more people
just now.
Then he explained to the committee how
the Commissioners had long ago inaugu-
rated system OF rotation in the employ
ment of men. That is, they change their
force every twenty or thirty days, to give
others who are in need of work chance.
Residents and men with families are
always put TO work first. aud 10 that
manner very large number Of needy
wOTkingmen find partial relief during the
year.
The committee then left with the assur-
ance that they would try to fiud some means
to have sufficient money subscribed for
park improvements, to enable the Commits
sionels to put them to work.
Mr.. McLaren asked the committee TO pre-
pare list of names and send 1t 10 him, so
that he may know whom they considered
entitled to work first, when an opportunity
offers itself.
Immediately after leaving the superin-
tendenps Office, the committee at an I'M
promptu meeting held on Stanyan street.
informed the waiting crowd of the result
of their visit, and asked everybody present
to enroll their names on the list. which is
TO be sent to the superintend ent.
The meeting then adjourned.
Chairman Stow of the Park Commission
was found shortly afterward promenadiug
along the main drive and studying the
habits of the park frequenters as he does
quite frequently.
Il do not know how the impression got
abroad among these men that we are hold
ing the Huntington money back" said he,
when as matter OF tact we have been
using il ever since October and have now
only half of the original amount left''
Then Mr.. Stow, who seemed to be deeply
interested in the employment part Of the
Park COMMISSIONER duties. explained that
the commission had established rule thrse
years ago during distressing winter season
to keep The working force during the sum-
mer down to the absolutely necessary num-
Der, SO that in the winter months, when
there is no work in the country, they may
have money for the employment of extra
men.
With reference to what use the commits
sion would have for large number of men
just now, provided the money TO pay their
wages would be forthcoming, Mr.. Stow
said that any amount of work could be
easily found for them.
''The improvements | would recommend
and which / shall mention in delatl in my
amended report now in PREPARATION" he
explained. will include the transformation
OF the valley west Of Straw berry Hill into
a magnificent forest.
The widening OF the drive running
south OF the valley to sixty feet and the
construction Of footpath running parallel
with this drive, and in straight line to the
beach.
Besides this | would recommend the
building Of bicycle track, because the
wheelers men aud women are becoming
more numerous every day, and they are
certainly entitled to recognition"
Another pet project of Chairman Stow Ia
the construction of a long winding prone
made through the proposed forest In the
western valley.
This promenade should, he said, be for
pedestrians only, and should be made SO
very attractive as to encourage tine health
full exercise of walking.
BY the time Mr. Stow had elabor-
ated on these projects. Superintendent
McLaren's office was reached and the latter
related his experience with the committee
OF the unemployed.
In course of conversation, the statement
was made that there is difficulty in securing
surface soil for the park grounds.
For years the Commissioners have baen
trying to get the Supervisors to let them
have the street sweepings. but for some
reason or another every successive board
has ignored the request, although during all
that time the sweepings, which could be
utilized to fertilize the park, have been
dumped into the bay. where they do abso-
luteiy no good.
Five carloads of sweepings would reclaim
an acre, and without much trouble and ex-
pense, it is claimed. ten carloads could
easily be delivered in the park daily, 40
that about 600 acres of land would be re-
claimed annually.
Superintendent McLaren Is constantly
looking Tor surface soil. meeting luckily
Nth considerable success.
He has quite recently obtained a large
quantity from the Spring Valley Water
Company, which he is now using In CONCERT
Valley, whittier the bandstand will soon he
removed. and he has also made arrange
ments 10 have the surface soil from Alamo
Square. which is now being graded. carted
Into the park, where 1t is piled up as reserve
stock.