The San Francisco call., 1896-08-01
A FENCE ACROSS
Van NESS AVENUE
High Barrier Erected at
North Point Street !.
Crossing. :.
BARRED WIRES ON TOP.
Picturesque Path to the Bay
Shore. Closed Against the
Public.
A PROTECTION TO FORT MASON.
-.
Captain vogdes Built the Obstruction
j: 3. . to. Keep Out Undesirable
Visitors. i
80.
A PROTECTION TO FORT MASON.

On the official map of San Francisco
Van Ness avenue has its northern termin-
alton at point opposite the extreme end
of Fort. Mason. Now the broad avenue
comes to an abrupt stop three or four
blocks nearer to town. 1t has been fenced
and pedestrians may not pass the barrier
without the assistance of ladders and at
the imminent peril of becomming EN-
tangled in various strands of barbed wire.
The fence was almost completed yester-
day across Van Ness avenue. 1t is a SUBJ
stantial affair with supports sunk far down
into the soil and a stout framework Tor the
boarding. The boards themselves go be-
low the level of the ground, so that mo-
body may bore beneath and so defeat the
purpose of the barricade, and they are
carried upward fully eight feet. Above
them the sustaining posts are continued q
distance of four or i've feet. The object of
this additional height of railing is to make
provision for strands of barbed wire that
are to be placed close together with view
of making an impossible blockade.
Permission was given by the Board of
Supervisors to Captain Vogdes, in COM
mand of the Government station at Fort
Mason. to erect and maintain the fence on
Van Ness avenue last. Monday, and i'm
mediately thereafter lumbeg was hauled
to the spot where the fence now stands.
Next day force of workmep from Fort
Mason put in an appearance. Some spent
the day sinking deep. holes IN the hard
earth, others made measurements and cut
up the timber in suitable lengths, and just
as the preliminary work was finished
actual construction began. In. two days
the fence was up and the picturesque ap-
proach along Van Ness avenue. over hum
mocks of sand. and through tangle of
sweet shrubs and flowers that have scat
tered themselves along:the way from the
Fort Mason gardens, was closed. All that
now remains to make the fence absolutely
impossible is to aftix the wire topping
after the fashion of the Midwiniter Fair
boarding.
''The obstruction is placed on the avenue
close to the crossing of North Point street,
on which the abandoned wooden mills are
built. 1t runs clear from the west wall of
the mills, following the contour of the
ground, till it meets the Government res
ervation fence. On the north or bay side
where the ungraded avenue drops do wn-
ward to the shore, there isea wild bit of
scenery that seems to have its greatest at
traction in the contrast with City streets a
block or two away. 1t used to afford an
interesting walk to the shore, and was
largely taKen advantage of. for at tSe
strand there is pleasant stretch OF bluffs
along Fort Mason, and really good yieNs
of the. bay. Sheltered there from the
winds people used to he on Sundays. and
holidays and watch the passing craft that
gave life and moyem emit to the scene
At first.it was thought that the Dolphin
Swimming and Rowing Club, which only
quite recently erected.a handsome club
house at the end of Van Ness avenue,
would be shut ont by the Government
fence.
The club was consulted, however, and
door has been put in the fence to allow
the Dolphins and their friends to pass
through. This door will have a latch lock
similar to the lock on the clubhouse, so
only members of the rowing club can go
beyond the barrier. They are now talking
of building walk all the way to the club
house that will be good path IN all kinds
OF weather.
IL Seems tndt lol year oI moIo VIC
easterly slopes of Fort Mason, reaching
down to Van Ness avenue, have been in
tested by tramps and loafers. Two Of
these worthless characters actually made
their homes in sheltered spot under
huge projecting rock and managed to SUBJ
sist on oranges and other fruits that drifted
into the cove on their way out from the
wharyes Stale bread from the Mason
street dumps helped the soldiers unde-
sirable neighbors to live. Besides on Sum
days crowds would go too far and pull
flowers and trespass on the officers gar
dens that are not surrounded with fenc-
ing.
1t was as a matter of seif-protection,
Captain Vogdes said, that he erected the
fence across Van Ness avenue.