The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-03-17

come through the stretch of rolling green
foothills to their wilder charms.
This stretch of plain, now of enchanting
loneliness for its perfect climate, thousands
of magnificent live oaks, fine estates, wealth
of flowers, orchards and vineyards and
its pretty towns, must grow more attrac-
tive every year and remain one of the chief
show regions of this part of California.
Reaching San Jose there stretches away
to the east the fine Alum Rock road and
the costly and already famous highway up
the mountain to the Lick Observatory, af-
fording one of the most inspiring rides in
the world.
There is thus offered, it is urged, an op-
portunity for driveway of unparalleled in
terest, over every rod of which any citizen
would be proud to take visitor. Many
declare that nowhere else could a visitor
be given a more effective realization OF
what California is.
Members of the Burlingame Club have
set forth the magnificent opportunity for
coaching that such boulevard would
afford and the stimulus it would give to
carriage driving. 1t would not, however,
be alone or mainly for the rich who ride in
chaises and red coaches. 1t would be as
keenly and frequently enjoyed by people
who could just afford a few hours in a
buggy behind horse that didn't mind
trotting once in a while. In fact the dusty
feel life worth living.
1t Is already suggested by many that a
large portion of the expense would be
borne by property willing to aid
the magnificent enterprise.
One of those who approved of the idea
was Nathan Dohrmann, president of the
Merchants Association.
sometimes ! rub my eyes to find if am
awake when | see the recent spirit of pub
lie enterprise" he said. at seems like an
epidemic, and year ago, when our asso-
citation started so simple thing as clean
ing the streets, the city seemed stagnant
and we went to work against heavy odds.
IL would like to see the magnificent en-
terprise pushed through and so would
every merchant in the city. If it can be
done it would be great improvement, but
1t seems to me that ii would cost more
money than could be raised without bonds
| would enthusiastically favor it, though.
Many people would settle along its route
and property values would rise greatly.
am sure the Merchants Association would
favor ii and the Half Million Club might
take hold of it. A general effort might
carry it through. Every dollar of its cost
would be returned many fold. Such a
thing would create entirely new features in
the life of the city. There would be coach
ing parties and drives TO roadside inns, and
many new opportunities for enjoyment.
Ihe TACT Is one would now be shaken to
pieces reaching pleasant drive from the
city. For twenty years | have made fire.
quent trips to the East and to Europe, and
have come back realizing that where ma
ture has done so much man has done
nothing. The public seems to think there
is no need for supplementing nature by
building roads, except where business re-
quires it. People who have not travelled
abroad have no idea how much money is
spent elsewhere in such improvements. In
Germany and in England nearly every
road is good enough to be considered a
boulevard. Seven years ago l was mem
Der of club formed in Alameda, where l
live, to do for Alameda on small scale
what such thing as this would do for this
side of the bay. We macadamized the
streets, established good lighting and sew
erage, and ii became model and attrac-
tive town. I believe that work increased
property values from So to $40 front foot
and the population has nearly trebled
That is an illustration incidentally peril
nent to the boulevard enterprise"