The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-07-08
THE RUINS At THE PARK,
The Commissioners Must Pay
for Clearing Away the
Rubbish.
IT WILL COST QUITE A SUM.
The Executive Committee Does
Nothing-The Southern Pacific
Tracks Remain.

It seems to be a settled fact that the
Park Commissioners will be compelled to
remove the ruins and debris of the old
Midwinter Fair buildings
"Of course the executive committee OF
the Midwinter Fair promised to return
the grounds to us in satisfactory condl-
tion," said Park Commissioner Austin.
''You can see for yourself whether they
have done so. and of course it now rests
with us to clean up things as rapidly as
possible. We have made pretty fair pro-
gress already l think. Where the athletic
grounds and the track were everything is
now in good shape. There is good deal
to do yet, but we are short OF funds and
can only work just so fast at this task."
The Park Commissioner spoke rather
alphabetically, as though there might be
some blame resting on himself and his col
leagues in the eyes of the public.
The members of the executive commit
tee promised upon their honor to return
the grounds in a decent and sat-
isfactory condition and that promise has
been broken. Most of the cleaning up that
has already been done has been performed
by the park management. 1t has cost the
public a pretty penny already and it will
cost lots more before the task is complete.
ut will take the best part Of a year yet,
/ suppose, to clean up all the ruins and get
things around again TO their proper state,
said Mr.. Austin.
''Of course, it isn't right that we should
be compelled to do this work" said both
Commissioners Austin and Rosenfeld,
Yesterday But we have no legal re-
course. 1t is either leaving things as they
| are or cleaning them up at the public ex-
pense. We have chosen the latter course.
! It's the most expensive one and it makes
US pay out money for work that should
have been done by the executive commit
tee but YOU wouldn't have US leave the
grounds as they left them?''
HIts a shameful sight-the wreck and
rubbish left by the executive committee OF
the MidWinter Fair. Where the executive
building was now there are several piles of
broken staff, lath and plaster, odd bits of
canvas, piping, bricks and rubbish of all
description. Most of the plaster is in a
pulverized condition and when a stiff wind
blows over the rubbish heaps the pulver-
lied plaster and brick dust wanders off and
covers the green trees with layer of gray
stuff, covers the garments of pedestrians
who happen to be within reach and makes
life very unpleasant for all.
Right in front of the ruins of the Admin
istration building are the ruins of the big
fountain. To the left is the now tumbling
band stand and several old kiosks. To the
right several more crumbling and broken
kiosks; also several piles of lath and
plaster, old bricks, old canvas, bits OF
debris OF all kinds-and the Southern Pa
ciic Railroad tracks.
These have no right in the park now at
all. There is not the semblarce of author
ity for keeping these tracks there now.
And what is worse, it is the intention of
the Park Commissioners to permit the
railroad to keep these tracks there. Mr.
McLaren, the superintendent, said yester-
day that portion of his interview had not
been printed in The CALL the other day.
II did say that | would have the tracks
taken away in ten days, but added that
would have them relaid in some other part
of the park"
I'VE pay the Merchants Association
from $500 to $1,000 a month for its street
sweepings," said Mr.. Austin. "They are
invaluable to US, and we could not get
them here so cheaply were these spur
tracks taken away. Then there is lot of
loan we need. There is none to be had
near at hand, and only by the railroad can
we have it brought up from Baden"
So the tracks are to stay there for an in
definite time without the shadow of
authority. If they can stay there a year
without legal permission why cannot they
remain there forever?
In ten days the tracks will be shifted be-
low the south drive. There is about three
months work there, and after that some
body may intervene. Somebody ought to
do so in the interest of the public If the
tracks are a present convenience or neces-
sity to the Park Commissioners the South
ern Pacific ought at least to be operating
under some legal and limiting authority.
That would not interfere with the useful
ness of its tracks.
But the public will always regard those
railroad tracks in Golden Gate Park with
suspicion. Even at the cost of some in
convenience they should not be permitted
to remain there-certainly not without
some manner of authority.