The San Francisco call., 1897-10-24
The New City Hall Will Have
a Beautiful Park as Sure
as Fate.
MARKET STREET MUST BIZ REPAVED.
Criticisms of the Various Existing
NuisanOes - Bonding System
Strongly Favored.

The new era, the era OF grand improve
ments to make San Francisco fit for the
twentieth century, and therefore one of
the most beautiful cities in the world, is
just about to open. The light that is
breaking fills with good cheer every heart
that loves San Francisco and would see
her worthy of her proud place at the
Golden Gate.
To resolve TO do is TO achieve half the &C.
ton. The earnestness with which a dozen
resolute and representative townsmen
have taken hold OF the fascinating prob
lem of public improvements, is a guaran-
tee that there is to be neither struggling,
nor wavering, nor halting, but a steady
onward step, until the objective point is
reached-the recreation, the regeneration
and the rehabilitation of the peninsular
metropolis founded by the argonauts
of '49.
Everywhere, from North Beach to South
Park and from the ferry to the Cliff House,
approval Is upon the tongues OF men in
Commendation OF the step taken to restore
10 San Francisco's ownership all of the
site originally marked for her municipal
hall. The great wrong done 10 the people
by Its diversion TO private uses has long
ranked in heir breasts. Few and far be-
tween are those who do not believe that the
hour Is propitious for removing the long
standing cause OF reproach.
OF the men who are worthy of praise for
taking hold OF this subject al this lime
none Is worthier than &. o. Burton, the
Grand Juryman who broached it on the
panel.
The time was ripe for him, and the man
and the opportunity were concurrent
Burton IS not young, reckoning his years.
for he Is within three OF the span allotted
to man, but in energy, spirit and ideas he
Is as alert, as enterprislng, as intelligent
and as vigorous as one half his age. He
i no dreamer of dreams. On the con-
trary, he IS very matter-offact sort OF a
man, a practical observer, well equipped
by travel and by education to know what
he is about. He Is yiEilant and stalwart
cnamp pion OF public improvements.
l. conversation with a CALL reporter
yesterday, Mr.. Burton, who is also secre-
tary OF the City Hall Park Association
gave an outline OF his thoughts on San
Francisco's future as great city.
1T viii not be by the creation only of a
beautiful park in front of tie City Hail.
he said, THAT we can bring San Francisco
into the front rank OF American cities
That of itself will Of course be Il magni-
tlcen' improvement. The work of redemp-
ton, however. covers a much wider range
OF lngs 10 be accom- pills ned. Ii we
cherish any hopes of successfully inviting
= 1e>IIdDie ClSSS O. I'm migration from the
East, OF making San Francisco not only
aiiurng TO tourist but perpetual charm
Tor those who now reside here, we must
expend some millions in other dire ctfons
Look at Market sire |! 1t ought TO be re-
paved from the ferry to its junction with
Valencia street 10 make i 1T for the
Traffic that passes over it. Then turn 10
our schoolhouses With a :ew notable
exceptions they are disgrace TO our peo-
pie, reproach to our civilizatian and a
scandai--so far as the cause of education
is concerned.
I'VE have schoolhodses without play
grounds and Without proper ventilation
or drainage. Some of them as you know
nave been condemned by the Board OF
Health. Without good schoolhouses we
can hardly lay a just claim TO be consio-
G ed an American city. In this regard we
are far behind Los Angeles and all the
great cities Of the East.
I'VE have had sewerage com m ission.
That body did some good work. 1t recon-
mended plan that was generally ac-
cepted and which if carried into effect
would have very materially advanced the
price Of real estate. NV | believe we
'ught to take up this sewerage question
and dispose OF that tor good. Among the
0 her Improvements which 1 strongly
favor is the demolition of our present