The San Francisco call., 1897-02-09

termined to secure the best results for their
expended money. This discrimination has
been shown in the beautiful homes, sbe a utltui
streets, splendid and unexcelled system OF
sewerage, and IN fact in every branch OF pub
lie improvement
Regarding municipal ownership he deals
entirely with the lighting and insurance
propositions, after expressing nope that
the city will buy the motor company
plant. He says:
Gas and electricity are .vying with each
other for supremacy for lighting purposes.
The city electric light plant is q step IN the
right direction, and as IT gains IN customers
our taxes for street lighting service Will Dc re-
duced until by another year hope TO be able
10 say that our taxes Tor lighting the streets
have been wiped out. A feature OF the electric
lighting will no doubt be inaugurated, allow
ing each private consumer TO burn one lamp
at mis- entrance tree, thus lighting the street
in front of his residence ana obYlatlng the
necessity OF street lamps, and at the same time
beautIfying the street on which he lives. Gas
costs 81 per 1000 feet Tor lighting, or 81 rs
per 1000 feet for heating, and is apidy COM
ing into general use. A reduction OF the price
will be the next welcome step, either by COM
petition or by municipal ownership and con-
troll.
The efficiency of our Fire Department with
the facilities a hand compares faYorably with
any Ill the State. The losses frCm fire have
averaged about $4,000 per year, which is about
10 per cent OF the premlu m paid for insurance.
have thought that Alameda as a munich
palty mig insure all the property within its
limits and the extra premiums would pay for
well-equipped fire department. This prin-
ciple would apply only to residence cities
The public library and tidal canal are
handled III fashion that will receive the
support of the entire city, in the following
language:
The new City Hall is large enough to fulfill
lts requirements for all time to come. The
next municipal improvement will be free
library building on the lot already owned by
the Library Board. This will add TO the at
tracuveness of the City Hall and will be
great stride in the literary advancement of
our city. One OF the Improvements that viii
be most welcome is a postoffice buil ding for
Alameda. 1t will be appreciated by the peO-
pie. BY far the most important permanent
Improvement to be realized is the mpletion
structon, connecting Oakland harbor with
San Leandro Bay.
This work, with the dredging and filing on
the north side of the city, has been under way
some to our people. When completed 1t will
give deep water 10 all points that side of
the peninsula and afford great opportunities
for the building of warehouses; Wharyes and
factories. In the near future allstreets should
be opened to the water at both ends and
should be provided with wharves and storage
facilities. The proper location for the great
grain wharves and warehouses is at the west
and north sides OF the city.
In closing, he says:
l am opposed to the building of anv bridges
across the estuary. The only proper way to
develop TIE sections bordering upon the estu-
ary is TO give shipping unobstructed access
and TO do this a tunnel large enough for
trains, electric cars and pedestrians should be
constructed under the estuary. On The south
side l would like to see q bukhead con-
structed from High street to Pacific avenue,
making a wide boulevard and forming one OF
the chief attractions of the city, at the same
time bringing into market sufficient property
TO pay fOr the Improvements.