The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-03-17
THE ENTERPRISE Is THE NATURAL
ATTENDANT OF THE VALLEY
ROAD.
AWAITING DEFINITE EFFORT.
IT Is URGED THAT IT WOULD
DIRECTLY PAY IN DOL
LARS ALONE.

momentum every hour. 1t is daily more
strongly stamped with public and press
approval in San Francisco, San Jose and
every town between the two cities.
In San Jose at a meeting of the Board of
Trade and elsewhere the plan has been
enthusiastically Endorsed. In all the
pretty towns that jewel the main highway
down the west line of the bay it is talked
of enthusiastically. In the city every
progressive citizen speaks of it in the
strain that Nathan Dohrmann, president of
the Merchants Association, spoke of it yes
terday. Not only are the many San Fran
cisco people who live or own property
down that way for it, but SO is every one
who takes pride in the city's progress.
So far, 1t remains magnificent idea, but
even as such it wakes people up, and the
spirit that attends such things makes
people more ready to clean their front
yards. 1t must remain magnificent idea
merely until some definite effort is started
by persons or organizations, and some
definite plan that will meet general APP
proval is set forth.
The enterprise promises to reach that
stage soon, for there is streak of life and
progresSiveness from the Golden Gate to
the Garden City. Probably the new valley
road stirred up that life and ambition. 1t
has stirred up the life and ideas of the city
generally. Through the region south of
this city the people believe that the new
road is going that way and that it will do
great things for them. The boulevard is
the natural complement of the new rail
road and is regarded as the next most de-
Sirable blessing.
The residents of the towns below the city
believe that with railroad competition,
more and later trains and cheaper fares,
an attractive highway would more than
anything else help stimulate the popula-
ton OF their region with suburban and
permanent residents, multiply visitors and
increase properly values. The opportunity
to drive in and out of the city over a mag
niticent boulevard would make much
stronger the invitation to seek the delights
of suburban residence offered by con-
Venient railway communication.
Two main motives actuate the people
who are spontaneously expressing ap-
proval of the idea and readiness to help it
through. One reason is the business one
that it would increase the value of every
foot OF property between San Francisco
and San Jose, and greatly hasten the des-
tiny OF that Incompatible stretch OF foot
hills and plains which promises to some
day rival in richness ana beauty the banks
of the Riviera. The other motive is found
in the pride, esthetic taste and enterprise
of the people interested
The latter motive prompts many to urge
that it should be more than an ordinary
well-built highway, that it should be built
for the future and made worthy of the
region it threads. Therefore they want a
boulevard in fact as well as name. They
want IL wide, skillfully macadamized and
set with trees.
The San Mateo idea connects perfectly
with San Francisco ideas that have been
frTTNf lasrgl Nr, n
residents OF San Mateo County who have
shown an active interest want the boule-
ward to leave the Mission road at about
Baden, swing toward the ocean just south
OF the county line and then run to con-
nectlon with the park boulevard system,
either by the new ocean boulevard or by
the way of Ingleside, and, perhaps the
Alsmhouse. The idea of boulevard south
OF the park to Ingleside, at least, and per-
haps to the county line, has, independent
of the county beyond, been at various
times urged by Adolph Sutro and others
interested IN the region south Of the park.
Such a pleasure drive seems certain of
realization SEINE day and the cost will in
crease with time.
Such a road would probably go for some
distance through the MERGED ranch, owned
by the Spring Valley Water Company.
THAT is magnificent idea and one 1
heartily approve said Charles Webb
Howard yesterday. sit would increase the
value of property at both ends and along
every foot OF the route. The Spring Val
ley company does not want to encourage
settlement near its water supply, but we
are with anything of that sort the public
wants and we would freely give half the
right of way through the MERGED ranch"
Mayor Sutro fayors the scheme without
qualification, though he has formed no
ideas as to how it could be carried out.
~ have been talking for ten years about
such project and especially south of the
park" he said yesterday. eve have
drives east and west, but none north and
south. We ought to have broad boule-
ward leading into San Mateo County, with
sheltering trees on the side toward the
ocean. | talked about it with Mayor Pond
and urged 1T before his time. 1t is a
splendid idea if it could be carried out. If
the boulevard is built | would favor the
city doing its share in whatever way it has
the power to do. Perhaps it would be
necessary to establish an assessment dis
trict."
The region between the center of the CITY
and the point two or three miles south of
the county line where the county road
begins to afford pleasant driving and at
tractlve surroundings presents the biggest
and most expensive problem connected
with the plan. For most of this distance
south OF the park a new road would be
needed Southwark from Baden and Mil
brae the highway is now fairly good.
The Mission and San Bruno roads are the
only outlets to San Francisco by land,
except the trains, and their difficulties and
unloveliness make the city an isolated one
except for milk and vegetable wagons. Hog
and dairy ranches, hills, ruts and rough
places stretch for some miles beyond the
connecting streets, paved with racking
basalt blocks and cobble-stones, and no one
is apt TO endure the ordeal in a buggy for
pleasure.
The boulevard planned would practically
begin with Golden Gate avenue and afford
a route full of pleasant variety. In fact, it
would afford long drive, rivaling in time
any in the world. Leaving Golden Gate
avenue there would be a brief stretch of
park beauty and then gentle rise to an
inspiring view of the boundless ocean.
Speeding southwark toward Ingleside and
Lake MERGED, hills near and far soon to be
populated and dotted with attractive
homes, would give interest to every turn,
while the sound of the distant surf would
family reach the ear. Lake MERGED would
greet the eye, nesting below the highway,
and then, speeding on to the southeast, the
dull hillsides would become interesting
for the pretty mosaics the vegetable gar
dens in the region of Colma work into the