The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-06-29
THE INCOME TOO SMALL
Estimates Made as to the
Grading and Filling In of
the Land.
THE NEW JOCKEY CLUB COURSE.
Work on the Buildings to Be Begun
Next Week and Completed by
October.

The Bay District racetrack will, in all
probability, soon be thing of the past.
For some time past rumors have been
afloat TO the effect that the land included
within its boundaries was to be subdivided
and placed on the market for residence
property. 1t was thought by many to be
the outcome of a personal difference be-
tween Colonel Fred Croker and Thomas
H. Williams, the lessee of the property,
and that Williams had lease that would
render any such movement on the part OF
the owners impossible within the next two
or three years The story had been told
so often the horsemen shrugged their
shoulders when the last rumor gained cir
culation and dismissed it with the remark
that it was the same old fight between
Colonel Croker and Mr.. Williams.
When it was learned, however, that the
latter's lease on the track runs only from
month to month, and that estimates had
been called for by those in charge of the
Croker and Stanford estates relative to the
cost of filling in and grading, the patrons OF
the track and horsemen began to discuss
the matter with all seriousness.
1t is well known to those in touch with
real estate affairs that the property has
never paid anything like an income COM
mensurate with its valuation. When
Messrs. Stanford and Croker bought the
land their intention was to ultimately sub
divide it and place it on the market. The
track being there at that time was allowed
TO remain and nothing was done toward
carrying out their original design.
Now, however, the Bay District I'M
provement Company, by which corpora
ton name the Joint estates are known in
this matter, deems it advisable to get the
land on the market as soon as possible.
With that end in view, estimates were
made on the expense of grading and fill
ing in the depression on portion of the
land of the Bay District grounds.
THE contract has not yet been let to
my knowledge" said Colonel Croker,
Though the matter is being seriously con-
sidered. The property has never paid
an income commensurate with It's ap-
praised valuation, and the only object in
putting it on the market at this time or in
the immediate future is that of taking adj
vantage of the building interest which
seems to be centered in that locality Just
now.
~ do not think the construction of the
Jockey Clubs new track at IugleSide has
any bearing on the proposition TO abolish
the Bay District track. The estates have
long since considered the advisability of
doing something with the property to in
crease the revenue derived therefrom.
cannot say whether IL VIII ne done IN one
month or two months. In fact l cannot
say definitely when it will be opened TO the
market, but 1 have said enough to let you
know that the matter has been under con-
siderauion for some time.
at is merely a business proposition.
If the land will yield a better revenue by
subdividing it and selling it out for resi-
Dental purposes then the estates would be
foolish TO maintain it as a racetrack
There are no obstacles in the way of doing
as is proposed. Mr.. Williams lease runs
only from month to month and can be
Cancelled at thirty days notice"
Warren & Malley have contract with
H. E. Huntington to grade down his sand
hill land adjoining the racetrack, and it is
said they are at present figuring with the
Bay District Improvement Company in
the matter of subdividing the track land
and doing the necessary filling in of the
depressions. AS there is an immense
quantity of earth to be taken away from
the Huntington lots in the process of
grading, they can handle the two con-
contracts to advantage by utilizing this
surplus earth for the fill on the track prop
erty.