The San Francisco call., 1897-06-11
Representative Citizens Ar
que Before the Street
Committee.
Colonel O'Byrne Characterizes
Public Squares as Public
NuiSanceS.
Or. Anderson Says They Are the
Great Necessity of the
Poor.

The Street Committee of the Board OF
Supervisors yesterday entertained large
delegation of representative citizens rep
resenting the Mission Improvement Club.
They came to plead the cause of the Mis-
sion parks-some for the ZOO" which
contemplates larger park, aud some for
the small park and very much against the
1900"
There we're some thirty persons present
who waited patiently in the outer room
for over an hour for their opportunity to
be heard. When finally the sergeant-at-
arms threw open the door and called tor
the EMISSION Zoo" they all filed III.
William NJ. Bunker began the pleadings
in behalf of the purchase of large tract
of land at some point in the big stretches
toward the sea beyond the Mission proper.
He said he had no special site to desig-
nate, but believed that many eligible bids
would be offered when called for, and de-
clared that now when land was so cheap
opportunities would be offered that might
not return. He said the esta blishment OF
q geological garden in San Francisco could
not be urged as luxury but necessity.
He said that the building of the Santa Fe
into Los Angeles had diverted some of the
trade that had before that time belonged
to San Francisco in the south. The build
ing OF the Northern Pacific and Oregon
Short Line into Portland, Tacoma and
Seattle had diverted some of the trade
from this City on the north. San Fran
cisco, he said, must do something to re-
trieve itself He suggested that the estab-
Hshment of such geological garden as is
contem plated would go far toward that
end in furnishing an attraction to visitors
from all parts of the country.
Colonel O'Byrne made an eloquent plea
b. H.. =
that public squares were little less than
SO many public nUisances, being chiefly
used as trysting-places for the Iewd and
dangerous classes; menaces 20 the young;
they were especially dangerous when
near schools where children were liable to
their baneful influences
I. +. Hagerty and DR.. Jerome And erson
made the speeches OF the afternoon in be-
half of the small park. Mr.. Hagerty IN
sisted that the small park was really the
peoples park, affording resting and
breathing places where they were really
needed.
He denied the truth of Colonel
OBvrne's argument as TO the menace to
good morals in the small park. He said
that all the cities OF the world supported
him in this statement. The cores formed
by the intersection OF streets, which were
lily adapted for buildings, should be
turned into beautiful brea thing and rest
The geological collection could be placed
in Golden Gate Park, where it belonged.
The taxing of the people for the purchase
of larger park at this time he SAID would
be great outrage.
DR.. Anderson spoke to the subject as a
physician. He said that che small park
letting the fresh air and sunlight into the
dark places of the City, was a necessity to
the poor. ~ practice and live among the
poor and l know their needs" said the
doctor. They cannot go to Golden Gate
Park. 1t costs them what they have not
time aud money. A spot where they
can wheel the baby-carriage into and rest
and get the sunlight and air is what they
want as a necessity to their health. l
would like TO see breaches cut into the
districts along Jessie and Tehama streets
for this purpose. That is hardly posi- BILE
10 accomplish, but here We have chance
in the proposed purchase of the two
blocks composing the old Jewish grave
yard"
Addresses were made by George D.
Shadbourne, George L. Center and others
The com mmittee took the matter under
consideration.