The San Francisco call., 1897-07-13

OIleI1ns sues lot the proposed park and
zoo in the Mission.
III re were seven of them as follows:
By n chlesinger-The two blocks of land
tl3.o acres) bounded by Eighteenth, Twenti-
stn, En- doolores Dolores and Church streets. Price,
BY Charles W. Pope-33O acres of the San
Ppiguel p Rancho bounded by, Corbett road and
Balboa boulevard, SunnySlde and Hamburg
avenues. Price, 1926. 600.
BY bovee, Toy d Sonntag-55.11 acres front
ing on silver and Crescent avenues, near Mis-
sion street. Price, S175 900
BY Crocker Estate Company-93.56 acres on
the san Mateo County dividing line and front
ing on Amazon avenue. Price, $235,oo0.
By A. T. Green & Co Sc acres fronting on
Mission street, between Channel street 6nd
crescent avenue. Price, $260000.
BY the bay View Land Compsny-95 acres
known as The Bay View Tract, bounded by
kallroad avenue and the Paul Tract on the
east, by the Wheeler Tract on the south by
Third avenue south on the north and on the
west by San Francisco Bay. Price, $40, 600.
By Baldwin & Howell. agents-Flve tracts.
No. l, 994 acres, price S275, 900; No. .. S36
acres, price $40 900; No. 3, "A. so acres, price
$4,000; No. 4, sos acres, price $17, 500i No.
., D acres, price SO 600; making total OF
14413 acres, price S3S7, 500.
The property extends from Thirueth street
10 sunny Side and from Stanford Heights 10
the Fairmount Tract
In offering this property Baldwin & How
ell submitted mum ber OF elaborate maps
tire tract and the proposed method of lay
ing out the grounds. In submitting their
otfer they had this TO say
We base our claims for preference over other
properties upon the fol- owing grounds:
Flrst-Fhat Its location Is such as TO com
mend IT, Tor the reason that II IS accessible
and C IN be easily reached by the present sys-
TEN OF team and eectric roads
Second-Tnati ii is easy OF access by present
graded and well-traveled roads, and tnAt other
avenues oil approach feasible and can be
constructed With httle expense.
Third That il commands the outlet from
the Mission district 10 Golden Gate Park and
Balboa boulevard, and that beautiful drive
" ay can be constructed through 1t connecting
these points with 4 comparatively small out
lay OF money.
Fourth-1hat the property by reason OF its
topography is peculiarly adapta bic for park
and geological garden.
Fllth-1hat there are nun Der OF springs
at different elevations on The tract, and that Il
wafer supply can be obtained with little or
no expense, the value of which TO the City
can be reasonably estimated at between $500
and $500 per month.
SiGth-That the price placed upon the prop
erty Is fair ana reasonable. In this connec-
ton the only exception We make is the five
(0l acre tract IL the southeasterIy corner OF
me properly known as the Gum Tree Grove"
the lowest price VIII ca we have been ab!e 10
induce inc owners 10 accept for this property
being $50. 900. AS stated iR our written offer,
however, the City Will be given two-year
option on this land, and ii The price appears
unreasonable the property can be condemned,
or ii a ght OF way is required through it
such can be obtained b. condemnation.
II would be difficult matter 10 find any
where tract OF the same area presenting SO
maLy natural advantages as this one !or park
and geological purposes. Accessibility, eli
maze, soil, water and diversified landscape
are features so apparent to any one who makes
an examination ot the property mat us selec-
tion for a new pleasure-g round in the Mission
ought to be assured, II merit IS to be the basis
OF competition.
-oFr rl,ic ho Il
scribed as follows: A Ligh hlll the summit of
which is about 600 feet above City base,
rises, sentinel-iIke, at the extreme northern
boundary of the tract. This may be reached
by footpaths which can be constructed on
comparatively easy grades. The view from
the top of the hill is we'll worth the eXertlou
of reaching it. The ocean may be seen a. the
southwest the San Bruno hills and valley TO
the southeast the City Oh the north and east.
The beautiful bay OF San Francisco appears
almost at The base OF the hill and stretches as
far north and south as the eve Can see. In the
distance plainly vis bic, are Oakland, Berke-
ley, Alameda, Sausalito, with the Contra Costa
range. Mount Diablo and Tamalpsis in the
background.
The slope OF the hill is toward the south-a
warm, sunny exposure-and while its sides
may be steep and abrupt in places there are,
nevertheless, many available plateaus upon
which may be located cages anu houses tor
animals, lakes for water fowl, casinos, rustic
pavIlions and resting places, from which may
be obLained Charming views OF what can be
made at a comparatively small expense the
most unique and picturesque geological gar
den in the world.
At the southern end of the tract is another
hill much lower, however. than the one a the
nortn, sloping gradually to the valley below.
lmmed lately to the west rises abruptly high
ridge of hills, which protects the lower part OF
the land and constitutes q bulwaIk agalns.
the prevailing winds OF the summer season.
The lower portion of the property is therefore
surrounded by hills and is most beautiful
valleys natural amph .tneater narrowing TO
a Wild and picturesque canyon as you ap-
proach toward the north. Through this can
von and valley flows lslals Creek, hiied by
rains in the spring and winter and fed by
perennial springs The water Is naturally
low in the summer time, Dat measurement
oI IL now flowing over the small nam recently
constructed shows that between 3o,OOU ana
40 900 gallons every twenty-iour hours are
running 10 waste. Therefore, by constructing
a higher asm the creek can be Kept nearly full
all the year.
10 the number OF springs on 1t from which
can be obtained without great outlay, q supply
of water almost suthclent 10 serve the puI-
poses of the proposed park. There are be-
tween $500, 600 and 100000 gallons OF
water q month now available. This amount
can be increased by developing the springs:
water means n saving TO the CITY OF between
$500 and $500 month, as against other prop
critics which without water supply, the
additional vaIue Wnicn tnis lanu Hae may 10
readily appreciated.
The tact that the trees and SHRUBS planled
on this tract within the past SIX months nave
NJ made such remarkable growth is evidence
that it VIII require but few years to ciotne the
hilIsides and every space where toliage is ne,
cessary in a manner that vii! beautiiy ana
protect the property. The soil in The valley,
the canyon and all the lower portions o1 the
tract ana, in fact, on many OF The plaleaus, Is
a deep sediment upon which grass, mowers,
trees and shrubs can be quickly grown ana
easily maintained. Even on the rocky places
the trees planted within the past six months
show a growth which is strong ana conclu,
sively demonstrates the adaplability OF the soil
for the growth OF such species OF trees ana
shrubs as may be required.
At this time of the year the nils are parcneu
and brown, and one finds it dlfhcult 10 appre
ciate the fertility of the soil and tie beauty OF
the landscape unless 1t has been seen ana
studied in the winter and the spring, Whe3
the hIllsides are clothed in verdure ana
covered with wild flowers.
II is gratifying to know that lne stfuggie
against nature experienced III bringing
Golden Gate Park to the perfection IL no" en-.
JOYS will not have 10 be repeated on this
property. No costly outlay for loan ana 1er-
tilzers will be necessary. The SOIL, as aireaay
stated IS rich, and, with cultivation, tne es-
tablisAing of windbreaks, groups OF shade
and avenue trees and palms, ana clusters OF
shrubbery, will be but matter OF very ieW
years.
The selection of the proper varieties OF trees
and shrubs IS a matter OF detail easy loI