The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-03-29
Endorsement Comes Even From
the Coast Side of the
County.
WILLING TO ISSUE BONDS
The Committee of Five Preparing to
Secure Plans and Outline Meth
~ DDS of Procedure.


day. Through this region public enthusi-
asm and confidence has been stimulated
by the definite organized and determined
efforts to carry out the plan which have
been begun by a number of leading men, as
described in the CALL this morning.
The operations of the committee of five,
who are to gather information, formulate
plans and select general committee of
thirty prominent citizens from all parts OF
the county, in whose hands the project
will be placed, will be watched with much
interest, not only throughout this county,
but in San Francisco and San Jose, where
interest in the scheme is already great.
90 AT the beginning of the agitation for the
boulevard it was thought by many that il
the project ever got beyond the stage of in
ception it would have to be first taken up
in San Francisco and San Jose and then
San Mateo County might fall into line.
But now San Mateo County has taken it
up independently and started right ahead
with it. No one is discussing what San
Francisco and Santa Clara County may OF
may not do.
The proposition here is for San Mateo
County to go ahead, secure plans for a
grand driveway thirty miles long from the
San Francisco line to the boundary of
Santa Clara County, near Menlo Park,
issue bonds in some amount ranging from
100000 to $25000O, and build the boule-
ward. There is no doubt in anybody s
mind that the two end sections will be
built. The enterprise in this county will
greatly stimulate that of its neighbors.
There is now no question that propo-
70 ~ g., l.
ward will be put before the voters, and that
before long. San Mateo County will be
stirred up from end to end and from bay
to ocean. At this time the prospects of
two-thirds of the voters favoring the bond
issue can onlybe guessed at; but along the
bay side of the county, where three-fourths
OF the population is located, the senti-
ment in favor of it seems so far to be
unanimous and enthusiastic.
The county papers and the active and
leading men of all classes who guide pub
lie opinion strongly indorse it. Among its
stanch supporters are great number of
wealthy and well-known San Francisco
people who reside herea bouts or have prop
erty here, including all the well-known
members of the BurIingame colony and
such men as W. H. Howard, Nat C. Brit
tan, the Spreckelses, Captain All Payson,
Alvinza Hayward, Timothy Guy Phelps
and other large property-owners along this
stretch OF bay shore, who are equally well
known. Everybody who does business or
owns lot along the proposed route of the
boulevard knows that it would greatly in
crease the population, wealth, business,
property values and fame of the county.
If there are any silurians along the route
who will oppose the bond issue, they have
not yet been heard from.
The preliminary anicipations of opposi-
ton from the big but sparsely settled Sec
ton Of the county over the range toward
the ocean are already disappearing from
the minds of the present active promoters.
More rumors of favor than opposition
have foated over the hills. The idea has
taken shape that the districts of which
Spanishtown and Pescadero are the centers
should receive their proportion of the
money raised, based on assessment values,
for their own roads. They need roads over
there badly, and that portion of the
county would be voting on bonds for its
own direct benefit.
Supervisor ]. J. Brown of San Mateo,
who is strongly in favor of the boulevard,
says:
''The people over there have many rea-
sons for favoring the bond issue. Now.
most of the road money is spent on the
county road. But little would be needed
to maintain the boulevard and there would
be more for other roads. The boulevard
would help the entire county. When a
good driveway brings people from the city
and elsewhere easily into this region a
good many more will go in that direction
for both business and pleasure. The side
drives into the mountains would take
pleasure seekers up into the redwoods and
among the lakes and camping places. and
on to Halfmoon Bay and that country"
One OF the influential hackers of the
boulevard is ex-senator ]. D. Byrnes. He
said:
Everybody from all over the county
that l have spoken to is in favor of it.
They even favored it over at Halfmoon
Bay, where 1 was last Sunday. NY idea OF
the boulevard is that it would open the
county and its resources, bring in people,
develop the country and increase property
values. We probably ought to spend $780,
600 on it. | think that it would hardly
increase the tax rate. The boulevard
ought to be built and now is the time The
people will never be SO willing or rights Of
way so cheaply secured"
Arguments in favor of the boulevard
multiply and many considerations appeal
ing to public pride, public spirit, love of
the beautiful, desire for pleasure and the
individual and selfish interests of the
people generally are urged in its favor.
One must pass along the route of the
boulevard, through this park-the handi-
work of nature-to appreciate those a4gu-
ments. The same trip would give an idea
of what the boulevard would be to the life
and pleasure of San Francisco.
From few miles south of the city,
where the western shore of the bay in its
sweep southwark begins to find shelter be-
hind the Santa Morena Mountains, the
plain that extends back from the bay and
the foothills that rise in disorder toward
the mountain range, presents panorama
of exceeding loneliness. Creeks that run
to the bay through tangles of green come
out of wild canyons above. and the great
old live oaks, fantastic and majestic, that
dot the entire landscape for many miles,
ba1o;ro ovar tho roadway below and the