The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-08-11
SITE FOR THE COLLEGES,
A Question Which Is Puzzling
the Members of the State
Committee.
Doctor Beverly Cole and MIR. Beckett
Express Their Views in Favor
Of His Offer.


the Committee having in charge the selec-
ton of a site for the Affiliated Colleges of
the State University meets, some day dur
ing the coming week. Ever since the ap-
preparation was made by the last Legis-
lature of $250,O0O for buildings for the
colleges the committee appointed to look
after the matter has been seeking a site
wherein the buildings could be erected.
Some eighteen or twenty sites have been
offered, but as many involved purchase
money, and as there is no appropriation
for the buying of site, the commi ttee
looked upon such offers with a "glassy
eye" as the slang phrase goes. Now it
has settled down to about two PROPOSE
tons.
One is the offer of Mayor Sutro to give
twelve acres of land on J street. near
Fourth avenue, adjoining a similar sized
tract upon which he will erect his library
building, and the other is the proposition
to locate the library on the three square
blocks bounded by Fifteenth, Sixteenth,
BRYANT street and Potrero avenue For
this property $780, 600 is the latest offer
made, and if the same is accepted the pur-
chase money will have to be raised by sub
scriptionS.
It is between these two propositions that
the committee is divided and so close is
the feeling that it is doubtful lust how the
matter will go. DR.. r. Beverly Cole, the
chairman Of the committee, is unqualifiedly
in favor of accepting Mayor Sutro's offer.
at is in my opinion, " he said, "a goner-
Gus gift, and taken in connection with the
fact that his magnificent library, which
alone represents a fortune, will be located
next door to our college buildings, it
should be accepted. l will not say but that
the Potrero site would be more advan-
tageous, because of its nearness to the
City and also to the County Hospital, but
then the City is growing rapidly westward,
and it is to the future that we must look.
Then again here is a site offered us for
nothing, and if we take the other we
would be obliged to go around begging for
money to purchase it with.
at is aquestion whether we could raise it
or not. Even if we could, though, there
will be an outlay for the erection of en-
bankments and grading, not to take into
consideration the smallness of the prem
Uses in comparison with the Sutro tract
and the bad location. 1t is no place for the
college building down in that swamp hol-
low, anyhow. AS to the extent of land
since making tour through the Eastern
States | am convinced that it is too small.
For such a purpose we cannot have too
much ground around the building as in
time extended quarters Will necessarily be
required. Then, again, speaking of the
Potrero land, there are Hampshire and
York streets running through it.
"Can those streets be closed? The ques-
ton involved is one which requires serious
attention. In accepting the Sutro tract
we have no difficulties to contend with
and all the money we would have to ex-
pend is in the erection of the buildings"
F. A. Beckett, another member of the
pnT wa - al
that DR.. Cole said regarding the Sutro
tract. He has been holding conferences
with the Mayor on the subject and has
gained several concessions which NAV
have some weight with the committee
when the matter comes before it for con-
sideIation.
when 1 spoke to Mr.. Sutro," said Mr..
Beckett, II found that he took great in
terest in the matter and that he was
anxious to cooperate in every possible
way. 1 told him that while his gift was
one to be appreciated still there should be
some appropriation made for the support
OF the library which he proposed to locate
on the tract. He thought that the sugges-
ton was a good one and made out an
agreement that if we accepted his offer and
located the Affiliated Colleges on his tract
he would give three blocks on the north side
of street in trust for the benefit and sup
port of the library. One of these blocks
is worth $3.50, 600 and the whole represents
$500, 900.
Taken in connection with the library
and college tract, the total valuation is
over $5O6,OOO. But aside from monetary
considerations, 1 think that everything
should be done to keep that Incompatible
library of Mr. Sutro's in this City, and here
is our opportunity. Also, Mr.. Sutro has
agreed to give us all the red rock we require
for macadamizing the roads in and around
the tract, and for any other purposes for
committee will accept the proposition"
Notwithstanding DR.. Coles and Mr..
Beckett's hopes, there is reported to be a
feeling among some members of the COM
mittee in favor of the Potrero site, and
when the matter comes up for settlement
the discussion will be warm, and the out
come is something that can only be
guessed at.