The San Francisco call., 1896-05-12
Progress Demands the Extinc.
tion of the Beautiful Kirk
ham Canebrake.
GRIEF OF THE OLD GARDENER
A Strong Protest Will Be Made
Against the Proposed Opening
of Fallon Street.
OAKLAND OFFICE SAN FRANCISCO CALL, |
AN2 RrAnl-r-nrr Inrr II {

OAKLAND OFFICE SAN FRANCISCO CALL,
90S Broadway, May IL. !
The old gardener who for thirty years
has looked after the beautiful grounds of
the Kirkham estate is heart broken at the
prospect OF seeing his life work ruthIessly
spoiled. For whole generation the old
Scotchman has faithfully tended the mag
nificent canebrake, which is the finest in
the State, and now the old enemy of na-
ture-the march of vilization-demands
that common highway be made right
through the old gardeners idol.
In 1882 General Kirkham, since de-
ceased. General Keyes, also now dead, and
Mr.. Bacon decided to the city the title to
the land necessary for the continuation of
Fallon street whenever it became neces-
sary to open it. The Council considers
Fallon street from Eighth to Eleventh,
and nave introduced the initial step to-
ward having the work done.
The street, when opened, will pass
throush some of the prettiest gardens in
Oakland. twill be run close to the creek,
there being fully $50 feet OF upland east of
the street on the Kirkham place. All of
this is covered with flowers, shrubs and
trees. The csnebrake on the Kirkham
place, which is on the direct line of the
street, will have to be removed. The Ba-
con residence faces the east, and the street
when opened will pass the front of the
| house. On the property are some roman
| tic old oaks, which will tend TO make the
street one of the prettiest in the city.
The property-owners do not think the
| time has yet arrived when the street should
be opened, and have employed ex-Mayor
| w. X. Davis to try to persuade the
Council that the beautiful places should
not be cut up.
1.-The matter will not be taken into the
| courts" said Mr.. Davis, "for believe the
| Council will see the justice of the protest
and postpone action on the street opening.
The pith of the matter is here. We do not
| deny the deed given by Generals Kirkham
and Keyes and Mr.. Bacon to the city in
1882, which conveys to the city the title to
the street whenever it shall be necessary
| to open it, but we DO not believe that it
should be done until the street is opened
clear through to Twelfth street.
when the Eighth-street bridge was
being built and the street opened through
! the Kirkham property to the eastern end
all the hoodiums and people of vicious
character used to congregate there, and
we believe if Fallon street is opened only
part of the way through it would be an
other trysting-place for them"
Due to the whistle Ordinance.
CAL-, IA OOTOueT
jury brought in q verdict tonight that in
ferred that city ordinance, passed about
year ago and known as the celebrated
| "whistle ordinance, was responsible fol-
the death of Mrs. Rose Lima, who wa:
killed this morning at the curve off Sew
enth street, where the Berkeley and over
land tracks curve onto the mole.
After hearing the evidence the Jury re
turned a verdict exonerating the trainmer
I ana recommending that the ordinance bt
amended so as TO make it imperative fol-
all trains to whistle when rounding tn,
curve. 1t was shown that the train wa.
| only fifty feet off when it came in sigh
and that it was impossible to stop it il
time. The witnesses thought that if th,
train bad whistled the woman's life nigh
have been saved.
May Have to Meet Bonds.
The Eighth-street bridge matter cam
up before the City Council tonight. En-
gineers Holmes and Nusbaumer, who hav
surveyed the bridge for the East Oakland
electric road, reported that it needed re
pairs, but was quite safe. Thee ouncil de
cided to inspect the bridge next Thursday
Councilman Towle caused a surprise b.
stating that the municipal bonds amount
ing $4,000 may have to be provided 70
in the next tax levy, as the decisions O
the Supreme Court had DESTROYED con
fidence In their reissue. An election wa
held last fall and 1t was decided TO re-issu
the bonds, but there are grave doubts a
to the legality of the procedure. The
matured last year and have not been calle
. in owing to an agreement with the ban
that is at present holding them.
Rutherford Succeeds Edwards.
DAVID Rutherford was elected at tc
nights meeting of the Board of Educatio
: to succeed Colonel Edwards, who resigne
last week. Rutherford was School CT
rector four years ago. The board awarde
the contracts for text-b books and author
lied forty-tive changes in the books tha
will in future be used in the High Schoo
"The Cottage" to Go.
OAKLAND, CAL, May 1.-THE troubl