The morning call., 1894-07-17
MODERN IMPROVEMENTS.

The Mills building and the CrOcker
building are to be folio wed by the Parrot
building, which In some respects VIII
eclipse both, and will be the finest edifice
of the kind in San Francisco. 1t will
compare not unfavorably with the most
splendid creations of modern architecture
in New York and Chicago.
The frontage on Market and Jessie
street will be 275, and its depth will be $50
feet. Thus it will cover an area of 81, $50
feet To light the center of this vast pile
Of masonry there will be a we'll sur
mounted by a dome a hundred feet in
diameter and a hundred feet In height,
which will prevent any of the rooms being
dark. So large a body of light will easily
throw its rays hundred and fifty or sixty
feet in every direction. The building as
at present planned is to be seven stories in
height on Market street
The chief feature of the Parrott build
ing will be the conversion of the first and
second stories Into bazaar of the oriental
type, which will be divided into depart
ments. each containing certain class of
goods. The design is to rent those stories
to a company or syndicate, which will
Sublet them TO dry-go0ds men, grocers,
hardware men. fancy goods dealers and
the like; and, in case 1t is desired, the
syndicate will stock the various depart
ments within certain limits. In case de-
partment does not pay it will be assumed
that the ability of the sub-lessee is at
fault, and he will be required to make way
for a successor. 1t Is assumed that on the
average the departments will yield profit
enough to give moderate dividend to the
stock holders in the syndicate after paying
the rent stipulated by the Parrot estate.
Il is Teck0ned that consumers would
rather supply all their necessities In one
place than scatter their custom all over
the city.
1t will be interesting to watch the pro-
gress of the experiment. There are ex-
amples, such as the Bon Marche in Paris,
where such baZaars have proved a sue
cess. 1t is true the Bon Marche has been
conducted with consummate mercantile
ability. With less able MANAGEMENT it
might easily have been failure.
Investment in mammoth buildings seems
to gain favor with the rich. The invest
ment does not yield high rate of interest.
Perhaps, after paying taxes and insur-
ance. these great edifices do not yield a
regular income of over per cent. Some
of them do not.return net. But the
property is always there. 1t cannot be
destroyed by panics or wiped out by en-
bezzIements. 1t may not be as good so far
as income is concerned as well selected
railroad corporation bonds, but it is not
liable TO vanish or shrink.
The next monumental building 10 San
/ Francisco will probably be on Van Ness
avenue, whose opening TO Black Point is
the most interesting improvement now in
progress. This cannot be long delayed.
A huge hotel, embracing an opera-hc use
on the ground floor. aud within easy access
of all parts of the city by cable or electric
roads, would be in order at the present
time, and with capable administration
would probably yield fair interest on the
investment. We have never made enough
of the avenue. 1t is a natural promenade,
or alameda-wide, airy, and easily reached
from the residence quarters, while the
I park is too far away. Yel no one chooses
il as promenade. When ladies want to
exhibit their pretty dresses and to meet
/ their friends they wander down TO Kearny
! street and crowd the narrow sidewalk of
| that shopworn thoroughfare. In an older
city men, women and children of all
classes in society when they take their
walks abroad flock to the street which
most nearly resembles our Van Ness
avenue. Here they see their friends, lovers
accidentally meet, and men compare notes
with their acquaintances. With a little
attention avenues of tall branching trees
might be induced to grow on both sides of
| Van Nass avanue and water-cartS could
keep the dust under control. At present
our best avenue is an example of neglect
and a scene Of desolation.