The San Francisco call., 1896-04-06
The Advantages to a City of a
Fine Boulevard
System.
STRIKING
ILLUSTRATIONS.
Encouragement for Buyers of Coun.
try Property The Weeks
Record.


ments the near future has in store is all
matter OF conjecture. Many men whose
judgment and opinions are held in high
esteem would not have predicted several
years ago that the market would be as dull
as 1t is now. And it may SO happen that
while an early improvement is not looked
for circumstances may combine to bring
about change for the better sooner than
anticipated. When an Improvement does
occur there may be many eager buyers for
various properties at much higher prices
in many instances than such properties
would sell for now. Those who buy on
the present market will reap golden har-
vest for their good judgment and fore
sight.
STREET IMPROVEMENTS.
Good streets do more to enhance realestate
values, possibly, than any other single influ-
ence, and it is gratifying to note the vigorous
fight that is being made by the Merchants AS
sociation to have the cobblestone pavements
replaced by bitumen. While it is to be hoped
that the association will be successful in its
efforts in this direction. there is still another
line of what may properly be classed as street
improvements to which but comparatively
little attention has been given. 1t is the mat
ter OF establishing boulevards and drives and
in properly caring for the numerous little
parks or squares scattered about the City
The value to the residence portion of any city
OF improvements OF this character can scarcely
be estimated. San Francisco people have up to
the present time been slow to appreciate the
desirability OF beautifying the City and of
making the different small parks as attractive
as possible.
Larger and older cities realize the impor-
tance OF such features, not alone for the charm
that they add to the city's appearance, but
also for the ADVANTAGES they offer in promot-
ing good health by affording places for out
door exercise-good breathing places, so to
speak. OF late years London has purchased in
property upon which improvements were
located, and has converted such places into
parks. In New York City and Chicago mil
lions of dollars have been expended in estab-
fishing parks and boulevards, and to cap the
climax New York is about TO expend the enor-
nous sum of $20.0O0,OO0 to establish mag
nificent boulevard four and half miles in
length along the Hudson River. OF this sum
1t is estimated that So 900 900 will be required
to purchase rights of way.
These eXamp pies serve as striking illuStra-
tons of the value attached to improvements of
this kind by older cities and San Francisco
people should begin to realize tn g Importance
of making move to inaugurate similar i'm
proyements here. start, but very slight
start, however, has been made in this direction
by the recent action of the Board of Supervisors
in declaring Van Ness avenue, Lombard street,
Golden Gate and First avenues boulevards.
But declaring thoroughfare boulevard does
not make 1t one in the general acceptance of
Tile WOTu. III S0OulQ De DeauJlneQ Dy planting
trees, shrubbery, plants and flowers along its
borders and in the center as well, if the width
Will permit. In most cities all boulevards are
placed in charge of the park commissioners,
ana are cared for by them in the same manner
that the parks are cared for.
In the case OF Van Ness avenue, which affords
the greatest opportunity for adornment be-
cause OF its width, there is no great activity
manifest TO commence planting of trees, etc,
and otherwise beautifying that thoroughfare
as it was hoped would soon be done, because
SuCh imDrOVementS will tn ba for bxv
property-owners along the avenue MANY
unique and handsome plans have been sug-
form the avenue into one OF the most charm
Ing drives in the country. The expense ofsuch
improvements, however. would be consider
able, and it will doubtless require q great deal
OF hard WORK to prevail upon all the property
holders TO undertake the enterprise.
1t is a matter that many think should be
taken up by the City, and the expense paid out
OF the general fund in the same manner that
the expenses for mantaing Golden Gate Park
are betrayed. When the Merchants Associa-
uon shall have succeeded in having the cobble-
stone pavements replaced by bitumen thew
can find field for additional useful effort in
endeavoring to build up park and boulevard
system in this City
Corbett road is at last being graded macsd
amlZed, curbed and put in good, passable con-
ultlon. For years the property-owners have
agitated the question of opening Corbett road,
and nave at last succeeded in getting the
thlng in such shape as will enable the work to
be done. There has always been considerable
dispute regarding the lines and grade of this
street, and after the present contract under
whlch the work is now being done, was let
the Board Of Supervisors appropriated $3.50 for
the purpose OF paying the surveyor to investi-
gate ana determine the proper lines ard grades
OF the street, when this was finally done and
resolution passed by the Board of Supervisors
omclally acceptIng said survey. The houses
and fences Infringing upon the street. are all
oelng moved without objection. The work is
now being done, and the question of the grad
Ing OF Corbett road will be finally settled
A RfJ0t 0ty1S AZ, tC Cyh apr,,@
Ing the work with as much dispatch as DOS
sible. This will afford when finished con
tlnuous drive 10 Ingleside, and from there to
the ocean beach, connecting with the boule-
ward which is now being constructed along
the ocean beach from the Cliff House south. q
distance OF about three miles. The WORK on
the ocean beach boulevard is progressing rap
idly and will be completed in about fifteen
days.
The grading of Alamo square, bounded by
Steiner, Scott, Fulton and Hayes streets, wifi
be finished in about thirty days. The contract
was let by the City to A E. buchanan some
time ago for $4949.
COUNTRY PROPERTY.
Those firms that are engaged in handling
ana pushing country property and in colon
1zing lands are doing much valuable work
toward building up real estate values in the
City. The State of California offers unexcelIed
inducements to set tiers, and those who locate
In the State now and embark in any particular
pursuit, either agricultural or horticultural
will be able to profit by the experiences OF
oSAS.S a. CIV "ioC SiiouSh W w So Many
costly stakes have been made in both the
culture of fruits and in handling them. but
each year finds these errors being corrected
more and more, and now there is little or no
risk taken by any one who will embark in
fruit culture in this State and will apply to
that undertaking the same care, ttention and
business principles that he would to any busi-
ness venture.
Wine-growing is gaining in favor daily as a
profitable occupation and much encourage
ment for those engaged in this industry is
found in the recent purchase by A. Schilling
d Co. OF 100000 gallons OF wine at 20 cents
per gallon. The last large sale made by the
Wine-growers Association was but for Is
cents per gallon, and it will thus be seen that
the outlook for the future is much improved.
REVIEW OF THE RECORDS.
There were ninety-two mortgages recorded
last week, aggregating $685., ,O24. The princi-
pal ones were:
By the German Savings and Loan Society for
one year al per cent, $4,000 on property on the
cas-. side of Mission street, lS5 feet north of
50x245; by the Hipernia Savings and
Loan Society, for one year at 61a per cent S. OOO
on property on the north line of Pine street l4S
feet east of Cough, 41xl37:6; and by the same for
one year at 61a per cent, $4,000 ON property at
the southeast corner of Grove street and Van Ness
avenue, 46xl05.
The releases granted last week numbered
aggregating $1S1 ,345. The largest
ones recorded we're:
By the Hfberpia Savings md Loan Societv s1a