The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-01-22
CHANGE WROUGHT
The Park Clothed in a
Bright Livery.
And New Drives and Bicycle Track
Made by the Army of the
Unemployed.

The recent storm has dealt kindly with
the Golden Gate Park, and the one par
ticular feature of the city in which all
citizens, irrespective of worldly position,
are interested and take pride, has not suf-
fered any but nominal damage by the war
ring elements. Throughout the wide ex-
panse OF ground included in the park the
washes in one or two places can be re-
paired in few hours.
On the other hand the rainfall has re-
vived into active life the wealth of YER
dure. The grass is bright and the par
terres of flowers never looked SO beautiful
as now, after having their thirsty little
bodies cleansed and revived. The shrub
berries as we'll as the heavier foliage are
showing a hundred different tints, and
with day or two OF fine weather. TO allow
the walks and driveways to dry out. the
park will appear much more beautiful than
before AquaruS kicked over his watering
pot and drenched the city.
While very many people plodded their
way across the park yesterday, merely en-
route to the fair grounds, others again,
and they were not a few, strolled around
inspecting the work that has been
done by the little army of the unem-
ployed. Surely no one who has done so
but will say that the money ontributed
BY the citizens. of which about 5000 has
been expended, has been put TO good USE
And the men themselves, with COMPARE
lively few exceptions, have appreciated
the situation, and have proved beyond
cavil that their heart is in the work and
that they are eager TO earn their daily
wage.
An Improvement that will be apprecia-
ted by bIcycists in this tract is being
made. 1t starts west of Strawberry Hill,
at the junction Of the speed road and the
main drive, and will, il the funds permit,
be extended. particularly the main drive.
10 the ocean beach. Roughly speaking 1t
will be then three and half miles in
length and twenty feet wide. The unem-
ployed started in at Broom Point aud have
done con siderable grading, but only COM
paratively speaking. Most of the track
remains to be made.
s. A drive starting from the railroad in
the southwest corner Of the park and con-
Meeting with the roadway built by the
unemployed four years ago. has been
graded and is, so far, complete. 1t is
about 1900 yards long and has width Cf
sixty feet. A drive has also been made
which has its starting-poInt on the road
south of the lake, and cuts the curve on
the south drive. lower driveway,
about one mile in length and forty feet
in width. Is also about twO-thirds CON-
pleted.
A main drive between Broom Point
and the junction OF roads has been
widened from thirty to fifty feet. and
very important work. will. probably, be
commenced this week. This is drive
way on the north and east sides of the
lake, corresponding with the drive on the
south ana west now existing. Other work
has been done, but those mentioned are
the more important About 200 men have
been kept almost constantly employed at
tending 10 fertilizng and doing odd jobs
OF various kinds.
Commissioners that will bave to be solved
in very practical way. The roadways
made and being made by the unemployed
are liable to be damaged, and. indeed, may
be almost destroyed, II they are not macad-
amiZed. Heavy and continuous rains may
wash them away, or, on the other hand. in
fine weather the wind may lift the sand
and deposit it just where it is not wanted.
Ordinarily from five TO six inches of ma
cadam is laid on the roadways, but TO
macadamiZe all the new rOadways in this
manner is recognized as impossible. With
couple OF inches Of macadam, however,
the new roadways would remain in good
condition until the next appropriation per-
mitted the Park Commissioners to COM
plete the work. Meantime. they have not
the money to order even partial macada-
MIXING of the roads, and unless the citi-
Zens contribute about S5000-it will take
fully that-to protect the work that has
been done much Of it will, doubtless, be
rendered nugatOry. To the uDinitiated it
may be said that this is question of
teams. not men. Also that for blasting
the rock to be used it is not likely that
many of the unemployed have knowledge
OF such skilled labor.
The Commissioners have taken the great
est interest in the work done by the un-
employed, and out Of the fund at their
disposal expended nearly $4,000 in barrows.
shovels. etc. These are not, ordinarily
speaking, necessary, and the last time the
unemployed worked in the park the citi-
zens' committee provided the tools, and
later, when relief was discontinued, sold
them for what they would bring. There
are sixty-three park employees, too, en-
gagged in supervising work under the direc-
tons of the engineer. Their pay runs
to over $50 per day and is paid from the
park funds. All this being so the CON-
mssioners are wondering how they can
get the money so that the new work may
be macadamized, made permanent and
thrown open to the citizens for public use.