The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-04-14
LOST OPPORTUNITIES.
Irving N, Scott Talks for General Boule-
- ward system,


Irving N. Scott Talks for General Boule-
ward System.
Every consideration urges the early con-
struction of fine driveway from the park
southwark, and none stand in its way. A
road leading out of the city and unoccu-
pied by cable and trolleys is an absolute
necessity.
On sheltered boulevard running north
and south one would largely avoid the
westerly winds, and this and the scenic
attractions of such drive would make it
an exceedingly popular one Besides
affording a delightful drive within the city
limits it would make the lovely region
along the bay to the south accessible from
the city.
The proposed improvement is in the line
of progress. To make the city great we
must add to the conveniences, amusements
and beauties of it, and not devote every
thing to the simple making of money.
Nearly all the cities of the East are str1lo.
Cling with. boulevard problems now. These
problems have been brought to the front
by the encroachments of trolley-lines on
existing thoroughfares, which leave few
streets or driveways unobstructed Chi
cago is spending more than 100000 a
year on her parks and boulevards, and she
keeps them free, not only from streetcar
lines but every kind of heavy business
traffic Baltimore has projected a boule-
ward to Washington, forty miles distant
1t is proposed to make 1t a broad and beau
.tiful driveway with a reservation along it
for an electric road, that will make the
time of trip to Washington thirty-fve
minutes, but the road will be wholly off the
boulevard and will be separated from the
driveway by rows of trees.
Co. Iic fav11 flfh 10
wards, and few cities in the world have
such magnificent opportunities IN this re-
gard. This feature OF the city should have
been intelligently seen to years ago, and
the sooner this matter attracts general at
tentlon and is taken hold of the sooner the
public will be able TO save something that
Will be of everlasting benefit Ali at
tempts in this line in the past nave been
defeated by private interests from the
time Frank McCoppin tried to have the
park panhandle extended to Market street
To the present time. [ have for five years
advocated the dedication of streets for
boulevards on which no street railroad of
any kind should be allowed to run, and
tried to accomplish this end through the
new charter. Some consideration should
be shown to people who wish to drive, and
the beauty of the city should be guarded
and fostered. In the past the people
did not realize the enormous multiplied
ton of street railroads, occupying every
parallel street running north and
south, or some appropriate streets,
would have been reserved for driveways
running across the city from north to
south and from east to west. Public
opinion had been educated to the belief
that rapid transit lines on a street made
property more valuable because business
Is increased, and there has been no agita- |
IIot Ia IaVor OF saving to the city opportu-
hllles that were priceless. The future will
snow TO the public Of San Francisco how
much 1t has lost by being Indifferent to
the CITY s interests and by listening to the
false charges OF loud-mouthed agitators.
Ials city Should have q boulevard ex-