The San Francisco call., 1896-05-11

rday.
sion district with what they are very
anxious to have, and that is park of
dimensions commensurate with the needs
of the residents of that section of the
City.
"The people who live in the Mission dis
trict want park" said President Austin
yesterday, ''and the Commissioners think
they ought to have it. They have nothing
but small square, a very small one at
that, Garfield Square, believe 1t is called,
while the people north of Market street
have Golden Gate Park, Buena Vista
Park. the Mountain Lake Park and the
Presidio, to say nothing of Washington
quare, Union Square, Jefferson Square,
Hamilton Square and others.
ain the next fiscal year the Commission
ers will ask for an appropriation for the
improvement of Buena Vista Park. This
is tract of thirty-six acres. ana its only
value for public park is its height and
the grand view to be obtained from the
summit, and If improved it would not be
visited by the very young or by the aged
on account of the heavy climb. Ny idea
is that the City, through the Commission
ers, should be empowered by the Legisla-
ture to dispose of a portion of this tract of
land.
What improvements do we contem-
plate? At present only the laying out of
roads and walks. But, as / was saying, a
portion of that park should be sold. 1t is
too close to Golden Gate Park to make it
popular. Say that twenty five acres in the
center be reserved and the remainder sold.
The price that the land would bring, for it
is most magnificent site for residences,
would be sufficient to allow the Commits
sioners to acquire convenient and hand
some site in the Mission. It has been sug-
gested that the two blocks that were used
for Jewish cemeteries would answer the
purpose, but l do not think so. The peo-
pie who have homes in that district, and
there are many of them, certainly ought
to have park nearer than Golden Gate
Park.
"The height of Buena Vista Park is $40
feet. and it could be made capital site for
a reservoir if at any time the City should
own its own waterworks. A substantial
ornamental structure could be erected
there and on top OF it an observatory could
be built. If not, then an observatory alone
might be erected on the reservoir site. As
a popular park it is not desirable on
account of the lack of water. All the
water would have to be pumped up and
that would be a very heavy expense.
"Some years ago the Spring Valley
Water Company wanted to build a reser-
voir on Buena Vista Park and we were
willing to allow 1t to do SO with this pro.
viso, that 1t should furnish water to Gold
en- Gate Park through two-inch pipe, but
the company thought that was too much
to pay for the privilege, so the project fell
through"
On the subject of appropriations for the
next fiscal year Mr.. Austin said: "We do
not know what the Supervisors will allow
us, but we shall make demand for suffi-
cient to enable US to carry on the work in
Golden Gate Park. We shall ask for
money to build the band-stand in the new
grand court money with which to light
up the park, for people demand it and saw
they must have it, money for the i'm
provement of Buena Vista Park; money
to enable US to plant trees on the west side
of the ocean boulevard to serve as a wind
break and prevent the sands from the
money to build the monumental bridge
over the grand tunnel that has been con-
structed under the main drive. We have
already received estimates for building
this and they range from $4,000 for soft
stone to $50. 600 for granite.
THAT looks like great deal of money
but when the amount of work on it ia
taken into consideration, and that it is to
be built for all time, the citizens, believe.
will be in favor of something that will be
attractive, substantial and worthy of the
City.
s'As / said before, we have no idea as to
what appropriation will be made for the
park, but this do know, l have begged
for money to carry out Improvements that
are needed, but will beg no more. The
Commissioners will show what they re-
quire, will depend upon the generosity of
the Supervisors. and make the best use
possible of what they will be allowed. Yes.
there is one thing we shall ask for, that is
loan. What we have secured has been
very beneficial, and we want more, m uch
of IL ,,