The San Francisco call., 1896-04-20
REALTY MARKET REVIEW,
Opinions of Real Estate Men
About Street Improve
mentS.
a BOND ISSUE THE THING
Considerable Opposition to Tax Levy
for Such Purposes at
Present.

There is to be a conference between the
Board of Supervisors and committee of the
Merchants Association on Thursday, the 23d
inst, to see if arrangements cannot be made
toprovide in the next tax levy for sufficient
sum to replace the eobblestone pavements on
the downtown streets with bitumen or some
other modern pavement. 1t is also possible
that the question of Tepaving Market street
will also be discussed witha view to ascertain.
ing whether it is best TO include this thorough
fare in the list of principal streets to be re-
paved.
The undertaking of improvements of this
character on any extended scale would OF
course add to the tax rate. AS real estate
brokers come more generally in contact with
property-owners than any other class they are
perhaps better qualified to Judge whether such
action on the part of the Board of Supervisors
would meet with general approval at this par
tlcular time or not.
A CALL representative interviewed a mum.
Der of the leading brokers on the subject Sat-
urday, and the majority seem to disapprove OF
undertaking these street improvements at the
present time. Instead, study of ways and
means to reduce the tax rate is recommended.
The question of bonding the City for paying
for these and other improvements seems to
meet with general favor, but in most instances
1t was regarded as unwise to bond the City un-
til new charter can be adopted which will
permit the expenditure OF money raised in
this manner in differentway than it is under
the present form OF City govern ment.
A. s. Baldwin of the firm of Baldwin Ham
| mond said:
am a member Of the Board of Directors OF the
Merchants Association and approve of their
town streets. 1 do not know that they have in
view the repaving of but about fifteen or twenty
not be over $4,000 OF $50. .OOO and this would not
aou very mucn TO the tax rate. In regard to Mar
ket street think that 1t ought to be repaved
| either with bituminous rock asphaltum. The
latter would be better tn an the former.
very superior quality Of asphaltum is obtained
| IN san Luis Obspo County this State, that is
being used extensively in Eastern cities and is a
strong competitor of the Trinidad asphalt. don't
know why it has never been used here, unless the
owners of the deposit satisfied with their East
ern market and don't care to make the effort that
would be necessary in order to secure the intro
duction OF their product here. However do not
think Market street should be repaved until first
| class sewer and conduit is put in 1t is only a
question of time when this work will have to be
done, and no pavement should be laid until it is
done.
Thomas Magee OF Thomas Magee & Sons said :
think it would be all right to levy an additional
tax OF from $o0,0 600 to $4,000 per year for the
purpose OF gradually repaving the streets that
have cobble pavements. But to undertake to in
augurate improvements Of this kind on an exten-
slve scale and thereby increase taxes materially
would be ruinous TO real estate. / think there is
no necessity for the requirement. Of Market street
at present. 1t fs good enough and in any case do
not favor laying a biuminous or asphalt pave
ment on that thoroughfare for itwould be menace
70 uraying ano heavy teaming which is principal
part of the traffic there.
Wendell Easton of the firm of Easton. Ed
ridge d Co. said:
The downtown streets Of the City are in many
places in miserable condition and should be re-
paved am in favor Of having 1t done gradually,
but don't think any extended plan of street i'm
proVements such as would cause material in
crease in the tax rate should be undertaken at
thls time. The trouble is that San Francisco has
waited too long before commencing this much
needed work. If, however, it can be carried on
!uulclonsiy even under the present system am in
| favor rof the work being commenced Market
street needs repaving worse than any other street
| In the City. IL should be paved with bitumen OF
asphals
There has got to be great deal of work done un-
derground first, for the system of the Cty is
awretched one, and must be remedied before long
NO extensive street Improvements should Re m ade
till the sewers are first put into proper conditon
The ideal plan for accom- mplishing ali these i'm.
provements would be 20 bond the CITY, but to do
this the present form Of government should be
changed, so that the money raised by bonding will
be properly expended and the best results attained
George d. Toy of the firm of Bovee, Toy &
Sonntag said:
cannot say that approve Of the proposition OF
the Mercnants' Association to endeavor to per.
suade the Board of Supervisors to include in the
next tax levy sufficient amount to replace the
CORNERSTONE pavementS downtown with bitumen
or asphalt. Our taxes already too high and
don't believe that the present Board of Supervisors
which Is VIGOROUSLY the most extravagant one the
City ever had, needs should be given encourage.
ment from any source TO undertake improveme nts
lucreaSe III IL is intended
the property.owners should pay one-half the ex-
penSe OF laying new pavements on the streets in
Question It would not be so Objectionable. But to
ask the property-owners generally to pay for the
paving OF a few certain blocks Is unjust.
Mr.. Sonntag of the same firm said he fully
concurred in what Mr.. Toy said and added:
The only proper method OF procedure to secure
well paved streets in San Francisco is to vote to
expense and to leave the expenditure Of the
money to board OF public works to be appointed
under the supervision of competent and reliable
engineers: This Is a plan have advocated for
years and am confident that it will have to be
| adopted before San Francsco's streets viii be
paved in the manner that they ought to- It is
only fair that the succeeding generation should
pay FOR some OF the improvements of the City that
they Will enjoy and be benefited by even more
than we who are here now will be.
Herman Shainwald OF the firm of shainwald,
Buckbee & Co. said
/ heartily in favor of street improvements
and know that they needed badly in MANY
localities. am, however, decidedly opposed to
adding to the next tax levy to pay for such inn.
proyements. II would be wiser to try and devise
means to cut down the tax roll. There is but one
sensible plan for providing for such improvements
ficient to cover the of all improvements tc
the accepted streets that may be deemed neces
amount to as much as is now charged from wear
to year in the tax roll for making these stree,
improvements. 1t is only just that the next gen
Grafton should pay for portion OF the improve
ments of the city.
G. H. Umbsen of the firm of G. H. Umbsen &
Co. said:
am decidedly opposed to the proposition to pro.
vide in the next tax levy for repaving the down.
town streets any others, for that matter These
improvements, am willing TO admit should be
made. but not at this time. Taxes should be re.
duced rather than raised, and the only way to
make street improvements necessary to be made
Is to bond the City to pay for them. It thus
spreads the payments over period of time and is
more just and equitable all around.
J..J O'Farrell OF the firm of O'Farren & Co.
said:
am opposed to any proposition for street i'm
provements that will cause an increase in taxes
In fact, think that street improvement should
be curtaed until the new charter can be adopted
and under which street Improvements will be con.
Quoted in more satisfactory manner Provision
may be made in the tax levy for certain street i'm
proven but the money is often diverted in
other channels. An instance Is the case of the
levy of 900 for improving Folsom street. The
money was collected but Is said to not be avail.
able, having been used for other purposes No:
think it unwise to encourage the levy Of taxes for
street improvements under the present condition
OF affairs.
VIII E. Fisher of the firm of Will e. Fisher g.
Co. said:
am decidedly opposed to the increase Of taxes
for any purpose. Our taxes are already too high
SO high, in fact, that it discourages Investments
here of outside capital favor the contemplated
street improvements and would like 10 see them
made but it is an injustice toward property