The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-07-04
BE


Preside will furnish water, gas and, in the
future even fuel for the soldiers.
On the heights and along the valley
boundaries of the coast, battalions OF
trees-great American pines will be planted
to break the force of the ocean gales. This
work has already commenced, and, in fact,
three of the barracks. the water plant, sew
eral new roads and other leading details OF
the scheme of the War Department have
already been completed or are well under
way.
A description of one of the double bar
racks that has Just been finished will ap-
ply to the other six remaining to be COM
pleted.
The front elevation herewith gives an
idea of the size of the structures. 1t con-
tains two stories, with a basement and at
tic The frontage is about IA feet, the
depth 40 feet and the minimum height
fifty feet 1t stands upon stone founda-
tion-the stone being obtained from the
Government quarries at Angel Island.
The entire cellar and area floors are COW
cred with concrete. The walls are built of
we'll burned brick. and the facings are of
pressed brick. The trimmings on all the
five walls above the roofs are terra Gotta.
The basement contains twelve storerooms.
On the first floor there are two soldiers
dormitories, each 46x50 feet; two mess
halls, each 33x3O feet; two kitchens, each
% :6x34 feet; two rooms for commissioned
officers, and two company offices.
The second floor has two large dormi-
tories, each 46x40 feet. and two smaller
ones about 40 feet square each. Here are
located barber-shops, tailor-shopS and
reading-rooms for the men. In the attic
there are seven rooms, which for the pres
ent will be nsed as storerooms.
Each building will accommodate two
companies, or about 100 men.
Three of the seven double barracks are
under way. Authorization to commence
the others will be given soon. They are
all to be located several hundred feet north
of the old barracks buildings.
At present there are thirteen wooden
buildings used for officers quarters. Some
of them were only recently built and will
be allowed to stand awhile longer, but the
others have to go. In their place will be
built twenty brick and stone buildings, at
all aggregate cost of over 100000, and they
will be located on the sites of the present
quarters.
The building plans of the Improvement
scheme also include the construction OF at
least six substantial stables.
Two of the new stables will be for the
Light Cavalry horses, two for squadron
horses and two for the draft animals. The
cost of these buildings will aggregate
$50, 000, and they will be located short
distance east of the present stables. where
the sites are now being graded prior to
laying foundations. Finally there will be
several supply-st0reS and outhouSeS, cost
ing perhaps, from $1,000 to $4,000.
The sanitation will keep pace with the
high character of the other improvements.
A perfect sewerage and drainage system
with ocean outlets will be constructed at
cost of possibly $50, 000-these figures be-
ing subject to material decrease or increase
as the plans finally adopted affect the
cost.
The erection of the new buildings and
the tearing down of the old ones will ma
terially affect the ground plan of the post.
An immense ravine fronting the new
barracks site is now being filled in. The
cost will go up into the thousands. When
the ravine is filled and the old barracks re-
moved, the parade ground Will be double
its present size.
Then. in the list of expensive improve
ments is the tree purchasing and planting.
When this has been accomplished the Pre-
sidio will look thereafter like a forest,
with broad roads cut through and open
spaces for buildings and for the accom-
plishment of military evolutions. Already
a contract is about to be let for Sc 900 pine
trees. 1t is required that the trees be
good, healthful two-year-old pines, raised
from seed planted in 1884" This army
of pines will be received at the Preside in
the months of January, February and
March OF next year, and Will be planted in
single file along the outer boundaries of
the Preside and along the neighboring
hills.
Following is a tabulated statement of
the principal improvements contemplated.
Estimated
Improvement Cost.
Seven double barracks, at cost of
$4,000 each. $3.50 900
Twenty brick end stone buildings, for
officers ....................... ......... 100000
SIX brick and stone stables. ............. 10000
Water-works plant Completely .......... 10000
Tree planting. -................. $4,000
Road improvements (under way) .......... 5000
FENCES and gates ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 10000
Parade ground Observation-Disclosures. 10000
sewerage system. Observation-Disclosures. 10000
Iotai .....................$b11,0 900
To these splendid figures, for a full
comprehension of the magnitude Of the
work should be added the cost of the great
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