The San Francisco call., 1896-03-23
A Site in Golden Gate Park Is
Selected by the Memorial
Committee.
FOR THE OCEAN BOULEVARD.
Chief Engineer Sullivan Thinks There
Ought to Be an Engine Com
pany at Sutro Heights.

Yesterday forenoon General W. H. l..
Barnes, Edgar de Pue, Commodore Con
O'Connor, Rupert Schmid, the sculptor,
and Park Commissioner Irving NJ. Scott.
accompanied by Superintendent McLaren,
went over the central portion of Golden
Gate Park in search for site upon which
to place the bust of General u. s. Grant,
procured by the Grant memorial CON-
mittee.
The visitors came to the conclusion that
the proper place for the bust would be at
point north and west of the cider press,
near where at this time there is clump OF
eucalyptus trees. If placed there it can be
seen by every one who drives around the
grand court and by all who visit the
museum.
There are great many curiosities in
plants and flowers" said Gardener Hol-
brook, q graduate of the Kew Gardens of
England, who has charge of the conserva-
tory, as he pointed to number of plants
on bench in one of the hothouses, and
which looked like young acacias. 1--WE
call them Mimosa pudicia, or the sensitive
plant. 1t comes from Mexico, and is so
sensitive that slight touch causes the
leaves to close as tight as clam" In
proof of this he touched several leaves
with one of his fingers and they closed,
remaining in that condition for about five
minutes, when they returned to their
former appearance. He then blew across
them, and the leaves closed and dropped
as if they had been sun-withered. These
will be placed on exhibition in about two
weeks.
1--WE have also," he added, "a fine as
sortment of most dellcately shaded and
transparent specimens of the caladiuln,
commonly called the bleeding heart, which
will also be exhibited. One of these is a
wonder. 1t is called the caricature plant,
from the fact that each of the many spots
on the leaves bears a resemblance in carl
cature to men, women, animals and birds.
No two spots are alike"
Some Of the spots shown bore strong
resem blance TO Jimmy Swinnerton's bears.
Another is good grotesque picture OF
Mayor Sutro.
A magnificent flower will be placed in
the main conservatory this week. 1t is also
from Mexico and is called La Flor de San
Sebastian, because it flowers in that coun-
try on San Sebastian's day. 1t varies from
light purple to lilac, and is extensively
used for church decoration. Another rare
plant that will be placed on exhibition is
the bee orchid OF Java.
On account Of the painters strikel work
on the interior of the new lodge in the
=
union rates, and have conceded the de-
mand as to the card SYSTEM" said Super
intendent McLare1, ''still the men are
taken away"
Not being able to spare the teams at this
time the work of placing the top dressing
on the new bicycle track will be delayed
for two weeks.
The tunnel under the main drive was
finished on Saturday night and now the
Commissioners are to determine whether
the bridge to be built over it shall be of
concrete, granite or blue stone, such
as was used in the building of the
lodge.
working the ocean boulevard, and have
completed it for a distance Of one mile,
will place the fine rock on it and then roll
it. The Park Commissioners will to-day
commence to plant bunch grass on the
west side of the bou.evard,- its entire
length, to prevent the ocean sand from
drifting. The planting will be fifty feet in
width.
The tree-planting in the grand court is
nearly finished, and within two weeks this
part of the park will be decidedly at
tractlve.
Chief Engineer Sullivan was visitor to
Sutro Heights yesterday afternoon, and as
he viewed the many buildings that have
been erected there OF late, he said: 1T is
really TOO Dau CQaC IueIe lS no pTOCocClOn
against fire here. 1t is true that there are
hydrants, connected with an 8-inch main
of the Spring Valley Company, but while
they have 6O-pound pressure, they are
practically useless as it is next to impossi-
BILE to get engines out here. There is so
much property at stake here that there
ought to be second-class engine out here.
This is a matter that should be considered
before it is too late"
1t is probable that the chief will recon.
mend the locating of an engine company
in that district.
At the Haight-street ground there was
not very large crowd, but Professor
Markeberg went upin his balloon at IS 10
o'clock and made successful ascent, car:
rying up with him basket containing two
homing pigeons belonging to Mrs. Otto
Brewitt OF Alameda. The birds were freed
at an elevation of 1000 feet, and after cir
cling around for few moments they took
their fight eastward. On one occasion
these birds were set free from the top of
the electric tower, and they reached their