The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-07-06
WAS SUFFICIENT MONEY.
Executive Committee ReSpon-
sible for the Shameful
State of Affairs.
McLAREN MAKES A PROMISE.
One Good Result of The Calls
Expose-The Tracks Are to
Be Removed.

Who is 70 blame Tor the SnaneIu1 CoHuI-
ton of things at Golden Gate Park, as ex-
posed by THE CALL yesterday morning?
Primarily, the director-general of the
late Midwinter Far. This is not The
CAMS answer, but the only answer that
comes after a deal of inquiry and lnvestl-
cation. The responsibility for the shame
full exhibition of debris now ittering the
site occupied by the Midwinter Fair rests
upon the executive committee.
"And, of course, that means on Mr.. de
Young" said Alexander Badlam. who was
secretary of the committee, ''for De Young
ran things to suit himself, and never told
anybody what he was going to do or why
he did thus or so.
Mr.. de Young is in Europe, but he has
left representative behind him-Colonel
T. Prudence Robinson, he of baseball fame.
1t is Colonel Robinson's duty to clear the
old fair grounds of their unsightly and In
conveniencing accommodations of debris.
Colonel Robinson is derelict in his work.
1t begins to look as though the park
authorities would have to step in and clear
the grounds themselves if they want them
cleaned.
"And we most certainly do want them
cleaned" says Superintendent McLaren.
rIn the end, I suppose. We will have to
clear up the grounds. According to our
contract with the executive committee of
the Midwinter Fair the grounds should
have been restored to US in perfect condi-
ton months and months ago. Yes, We are
getting very tired of waiting. There was
no contract signed, but there was verbal
understanding between gentlemen which
we supposed would hold as good as any
writing. 1t is a shame, of course, and we
keep prodding up the responsible persons
as much as possible, but all to no avail.
You see the piles of ruins and rubbish
strewed all about, you see parts OF the
buildings standing yet, and you don't
really know how hard it is to find anybody
who is responsible for it all.
But if it is hard to fix the responsibility
for the shameful condition of the old site
of the Midwinter Fair, it is not so difficult
a matter to place the responsibility for the
existence of the spur railroad tracks that
now disfgure the park and mar one of the
favorite drives.
The Southern Pacific Railroad Company
is responsible for that. Since the end OF
December they have been operating these
spur tracks without a semblance Of author
ity from the Supervisors. On the last day
of last year the temporary franchise under
which the park branch operated expired.
This temporary franchise was in the form
of a resolution of authorization passed by
the Board of Supervisors-or rather two OF
them, the first passed July 81, 1893, and the
second passed November 10, 1894.
1t was not without creating good deal
of suspicion that the Southern Pacific Rail
road finally forced its way into the park in
spite of the opposition of a good many
people who feared that once tentacle Of
the octopus should be fastened on the park
nothing could remove it.
So it was not without a good deal of ap
prehension, and only after very careful
consideration of all the limitations that
could possibly be engrafted on the fran
chise that Mayor Ebert finally signed the
document that opened the doors of Colder
Gate Park to the Southern Pacific Com
pany.
This document, with all its restrictive
clauses and the conditions it imposed
upon the railroad company, was known as
Resolution Gill (third series). 1t reads a:
follows:
WHEREAS, 1t has been decided by the citi
zens' committee of fifty, called by his Honor
the Mayor, to hold an exposition in this City
from and after January !, 1894, to be known a.
the California Midwinter International Exposi
ton; and whereas the executive committee
created by the general plaRof said citizens
committee has organized and has obtained
from the Board of Park Commissioners site il
Golden Gate Park for the location of said expo
sition: and whereas, IL will be necessary to have
the railroad track OF the Southern Pacific Rail
road Company extended from the spur of the
track OF said company as now located at point
at or near Lakeville in the City and County o
San Francisco, to point on the line of the Parl
and Ocean Railroad track, as now operated be
tween Tenth and Thirteenth avenues, where
said proposed track can enter Golden Gate
Park for the purpose of carrying the lumber
and other materials to be used in the erection
of the proposed buildings on said site, as wei
as the carrying OF exhibits to be placed in sale
buildings;
Now, therefore, the special privilege is here
by granted the Southern Pacific Railroad Com
pany, railroad corporation duly incorporated
under the laws OF the State of California, it
successors and assigns TO at once construct
railroad track, and to maintain the same fo
the peIlOQ o. one year from ana dIler the Is
day of September; 1893 from point at neal
Lakeville in this City and County, and connect
ing the same with the spur track of said com
pany now at that point to a point on the lint
OF the Park and Ocean Railroad Company
track between Tenth and Thirteenth avenues
to be designated by the Board of Park Commits
sioners of Golden Gate Park, and thence int
the park, subject to the rules, regulations anC
requirements of said Board of Park Commits
sioners, and to that end said Southern
Pacific Railroad Company, its successors anC
assigns, is hereby permitted to use such part
and parcels OF the streets interesting the Out
side Land blocks of the City and County of Sal
Francisco may afford TO said company thu
most convenient line for the location of sucl
proposed track, and are hereby accorded tn,
privilege of using for the period herein men
toned the great highway, if the same SHOULD
prove convenient and suitable for such pur
pose, for such distance as it may be necessar.
TO traverse the same between said Lakevill,
and the present track of the Park and Oceal
Railroad Company. This privilege is granted
upon the express condition that SO far saiC
railroad route may lie upon premises within
the jurisdiction of said Board of Park Commits
sioners it shall not be used or occupied unit
said company, its successors or assigns, shall b.
thereunto authorized and empowered by ordeI
of the Board of Park Commissioners.
The cars to be run on said proposed tract