The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-04-14
CALIFORNIA rs TO EXCEL.
The Driveways of European and Eastern Cities
Will Be Eclipsed.
ALAMEDA DE LAS PULGAs,

ALAMEDA DE LAS PULGAs,
San Mateo County, April IL.
Editor Coll: Many of the Oldest cities in our
country have their fine driveways, and no less
is this true of Europe, but California is to excel
in this direction, as she has in many others.
A boulevard with the Garden City for one
terminus and the great Golden Gate. with its
park of HOO acres, for the other, taking in on
the way sold oceans gray and melancholy
waste" cannot be paralleled on this planet.
The residents of these parts areIhighly pleased
that so worthy paper as the CALL is espousing
this cause. We are delighted too to see such
men as Mr.. Britain leading off i'll this matter.
OF our own tree will and accord we hereby state
to you both that we are willing and glad to
give the ten or more feet required for the
widening of the Alameda de las Pulgas for
boulevard purposes We have frontage of
some 900 or 1000 feet, and reside here on the
Alameda now. Our neighbors all unite with
us in this willingness to give the land Tor this
purpose. The Alameda is sixty feet wide now
and we think 100 feet none too wide for q
driveway such as is projected.
No one can ever know the beauties of this
section or the perfection OF TINS climate uil he
has lived here. The natural attractions of the
Riviera, the Appian Way, nor OF the Champs
Elysees are to be compared with those of this
foothill route. The parched deserts OF Arabia,
SYRIA and adjacent countries send out their
deadly simoons, influencing at certain seasons
many climates on the Mediterranean Sea. In
Italy her malarial marshes work the same OBJ
Srive Would be- available the year round.
There is not month in the year that you
cannot have sweet peas .and roses. 1t IS the
home OF the orange. the lemon and the lime,
and if you come here will show you trees now
bending with their yellow Jumps of vegetable
gold" The fig, pomegranate and Isabella love
this climate and evidence 1t yearly by their re-
sults We have no "melancholy days." no
"wailing Winds" no "naked woods no 'mead-
ows brown and sere." We have eternal spring.
In what other climate can you gather violets
and pansies on Xmas day? 1t is no uncommon
thing TO see parasols ana 1ans IN use IN the
winter months.
Referring to this vicinity the unexpected
beauty by sudden change of scenes is height
ened by the fine nebular effect. Lowell says:
sky above,
Where one white cloud like a stray lamb doth
move.
That the boulevard viii enhance values is
Ger tain. Villa tracts will extend five and ten
miles back from this great artery, connecting
with it by splendid drives. The soil and rock
formations are such that the best of road can
be easily made. The most enchanting retreats
are not on the main thoroughfare. This will
give rise to the subdivision of many large
tracts, and we all know the profits that arise
from that kind of business. We are the for
tunate possessor of two parcels OF land here,
one some 1000 feet from the Alameda, and we
expect to sell them OIL IN 4O-foot lots II the
boulevard comes.
1t is the property owner who will profit most
by the boulevard. Then let us have 1t. There
is no time like the present. Land will never
be cheaper. Now is the time: Think what it
will do for these valleys. 1t will dot them with
homes, churches, schoolhouses; checker them
with orchards and gardens. The drone of the
bee on his morning chase and the piping of the
lark will give place to the sound of human
voices and the ringing of bells. 1t will put
Mateo by the sea, ''the open sea-" twill bring
sightseers and home-seekers who will come to
know our boulevard as one of Americas won
ders. 1t is bigger card for our county and
for the three concerned than the Valley road
Then let us be up and doing let each one ex-
press his desire to it built; let all come for
ward and work for it,
There is one spot on the Alameda de las
Pulgas where you can stand and overlook the
bay, get a good view of Mount Hamilton and
see nine counties. No greater scenic route lies
in the State.
Do you suppose New York, Boston, Chicago
or London, If such prospect presented itself,
would let the effort of achieving so great a
thing rest uninterrupted on the hilltop of sue
cess? No; but by their united efforts and with
all the gold of Ophir they cannot climb it
(climate).
Dear CALL, 1 hope to hear from others
through your columns whom this subject will
interest and profit greatly. @. BMs