The San Francisco call., 1895-11-18
Change in the Architectural
Aspect of the City This
Year.
STANDARD FOR NEW HOUSES.
Brief Abstract From the Transcript
of Loans, Releases and
Transfers.

and in determining the appearance of
city the character of its architecture is
matter of vast importance to owners and
their agents. Though few weeks too
early to give the summaries of building
operations for the year, the quality OF the
architectural Improvements in this City
during 1895, which is OF far more lmpor-
tance, can now be appreciated.
The greatest change to be noted in the
appearance of the San Francisco of to-day
is undoubtedly in its architectural aspect.
1t has one now, and one possessed OF some
good points, too.
The dome of the City Hall is to be seen
from nearly every point of view.
Some of the tall new buildings have
already become familiar landmarks, and
those that are soon to be can easily be pic
tured in the imagination. The new ferry
depot will be part Of the picture.
In the residence portion, especially in
the district known as the Western Addi-
ton, the most marked changes are to be
seen. There a number of houses that will
soon set the standard for all future work
are in course of construction or already
finished. The day of Queen Anne and
Eastlake baywindowed, turreted and
gabled monstrositieS seems to have passed.
Even the eXtraVagant attempts at ''Old
Colonial" appear to be coming into dis
favor In their stead San Francisco seems
to be awakening at last TO an appreciation
OF good architecture.
Simplicity of construction and correct
ness of detail will be the chief character
istics of the work of the next decade if
present indications are any index of the
future.
In fats the problem that appears to have
worried property-owners most has been
how 10 get the greatest number of rooms
into the smallest space, regardless of COM
fort. convenience or appearance. Vacancy
is the fate awaiting such ill-considered
tenements. Emile Pissis, the artist, has
just completed building on Taylor street
which contains, beside his studio, three
flats of such completeness in all their ap-
pOintments that all previous efforts in
this line are eclipsed. The. rooms are not
Cubby holes; the walls are not bare plas-
ter; the woodwork is not grained in imita-
tion Of hard wood; but the whole has the
appearance of quietness and refinement.
These flats are models of the kind that in
the future will command good rentals and
find tenants readily. The prevailing cheap
flats which crowd the City are its greatest
detraction from an artistic point of view.
Some of the many new residences are as
worthy OF admiration as are those of any
twenty years behind the times. The fear
of earthquakes has gradually subsided,
and a regard for sound construction of
enduring brick and stone has sprung up.
Credit is due to Messers. Spreckels, Whit
tier, Crocker and the late Mr.. Gibbs for
breaking down the old prejudice. The
ultimate result will enulrelv change the
appearance of the City.
The magnificent residence OF Claus
Spreckels is rapidly emerging from its
mask of rough stone. Under the skillful
hammer and chisel of the stone-carver the
exquisite decorations are being disclosed.
In ornamentatlon and richness of color
the SDreckels residence excels. it will be
an elegant palace OF the French chateau
style, with which no other residence in
this City can compare, and will stand alone
in silent mockery of the big wooden pal
aces of bonanza dayS
Mr.. Whittieras house is not so important
IN size nor so handsome in appearance,
but it is one of the notable new structures
which, as is also trae of the Park Lodge,
indicate something OF the future.
The residence of the late George W.
Gibbs has already achieved its place in the
estimation of the people of taste.
Downtown the Parrott building on Mar
keJ street speoks for itself, while THE CALI
building on the same thoroughfare at the
corner of Third, the work on whose foun.
dations is proceeding rapidly, points tc
this year as an architectural era.
Ali of these buildings indicate one sure
result, and that is that the day of cheap
building has passed. Property-owners
with large holdings of unimproved rea
estate have begun to consider something
besides quick returns. The majority Of
the oid-style buildings at present standing
in this City fail to bring in a fair return
upon the money invested in them.
LOANS AND TRANSFERS.
There were seventy-three real estate
loans made last week amounting in the
aggregate to S433, 1875. The following alb.
stract from the records shows the prin-
cIpal sums and the security accepted:
BY the Hibernia Savings and Loan Society
S175, $50 TO Addison E. Head for one year a.
61Z per cent, on the Undivided half OF property
Montgomery, east 1876, south 59:414, west
%. etc, and on the undivided half of property
on the northwest line OF Market, 252 east OF
Montgomery and 135:111s south of Sutter
north rs :65s, east 3d. south so, etc.; $15 .000
to Wetmore Brothers for one year at 81 pei
cent, on property on the south line of Bush
So east OF Cough, 55x120; and $13,ouO tc
David Hewes for one year, at 615 per cent, or
property at the southeast corner of Sixth and
Market streets. 53x90; by the California Title
Insurance and Trust Company &c., tc
c. H. and Caroline ]. Harrison for two years
at 614 per cent on property at the southeast
corner OF Pinkney place and Hinkley street
east Tl:6, south 81 70. west 13:113A, etc: and
by Isaac a. Goldman $4,000 TO Emanuel and
Therese Lewis for two years at per cent on
the following property: Southeast line oi
Mission street, 70 southwest of Brazil avenue
75x1S3:6; southeast line of Mission street
175 n ortheast OF Persia avenue, northeast rs
southeast 73, etc., and the northeast corner o1
Persia avenue and Lisbon, 200x30O feet.
The releases placed on record the past
week numbered ffty-five ana represented
$257, ,683. The largest granted were the fol
lowing:
By the German Savings and Loan Society
81, 100 to Jane Robertson on property on the
east line of Church street, 25 north of Twenty.
fourth, 50 :Sx100; by Julia Martin $40, 900 tC
Isaac Martin on property on the east line oil
Montgomery street, 6S g north of California
north 24:4, east 81 IS, south % etc.; by the
Hibernia Savings and Loan Society 500, 900 to
William Perkin on property on the southeast
line of Mission street, rs northeast of Sixth
5OxS0; by the German Savings and Loan So
ciety $50, 900 TO John w Mcdonald on the fol.
lowing property: northwest corner of Eddy
and DeVisadero streets, 62:6xl0O; north line
of Vallejo street, 125 west of Van Ness avenue
25xI37 IS: west line of Devisadero street 6S g
north of Ellis, 81 :412x125; southeast corner OF
Cough and Green streets, 2Sx100; southeast
corner of Cough and Vallejo, 137 :6xl45 q: and
the south line OF OFarrell, 123 west of Devisa.
dero, 52x137 IS; and by the same bank 81 ,OOC
TO William and Celia A. Curlett on property or
the east line of Pierce street, 100 north oi
Golden Gate avenue, 81 :6x105; by the Hibernis
Savings and Loan Society, $50, 900 to James G.
Walker on property on the west line of Powell