The herald., 1897-02-09
NOTES FROM SAN FRANCISCO
Gratifying Increase in All Lines
of Business
TALKS WITH BUSINESS MEN
An Era Of Prosperity at Hand for the
Entire State
Banks Preparing to Loan Money Freely on
Real Estate-deneral Observations OF
Our Special Correspondent


er's recent visit to San Francisco. but it
was gratifying to observe that between
showers there was a good pedestrian
travel on the business streets and that
the general traffic is much greater than
it was six months ago. Talks with busi-
ness men and other citizens of AN classes.
elected the fact that there is a decided
Improvement in all lines of business, es-
pecially manufacturing. Interviews
with a large number of the latter and
| visits through their establishments
demonstrated that an era of increased
activity in manufacturing lines has set
in, which is likely to continue and prove
potent factor in bringing once more
the prosperous times of yore. The iron
| works, from the Union Iron works i'm
mense ship building and general iron
works establishment, down to the
smallest shop handling iron materials,
report an Improvement in business, and
the manufacturers Of mining machinery
are especially elated over the increased
demand for goods in their line The
| Manufacturers association deserves
great credit for its persistent and sys-
| tematic efforts to educate the people
| of San Francisco and other bay cities
and towns to- the imperative need of
| patronizing home" industries. "Eter-
nal vigilance is the price of liberty" and
| is an axiom that may we'll be applied
to the question of fostering home man
| ufactures." Los Angeles business men
have taken up this important question
! with characteristic enterprise and vigor
| and the excellent work being done by
| the two leading cities of California will
DOUBTLESS permeate every section of the
| state.
BUILDING OPERATIONS
| Building operation are much more
| active than they were six months ago,
especially in large structures. The Claus
| Spreckels building, to be occupied by
| The Call, is especially discernible from
| airy part of the business district, its
| huge proportions towering above all
other structures. 1t is situated at the
| corner of Market and Third streets dag
| onally across from the Chronicle build
! ing. and is fifteen stories in height, sur
| mounted by an ornamental dome. 1t
| will cost at least $500, 900 and will be the
tallest building on the Pacific coast. Op-
posite on the southeast corner. the Ex-
amlner Will soon occupy a five story
| building, the present building now being
| e-constructed and enlarged for that
purpose. This will bring the three great
morning dailies close together, and will
| IN the opinion of shreWd observers, es-
| tablish the business center at that point
for the next twenty years.
The Market street ferry depot to cost
$500 900, is we'll under way its steel frame
approaching completion, for which the
Risdon Iron works secured the contract.
The Spring Valley Water company's
six-story steel and granite building. cor
ner Geary and Stockton streets is an
ether imposing building, to be completed
| by September 1st. and will cost $3.50. 600
! x 'G Il Do, .ie.
store, (who have a branch house in Los
| Angeles) Will occupy the basement and
| hrst and second floors. The San Fran
| cisco Gas companys five-story steel and
granite building or Post street, between
Powell and Mason, will soon be com
pleted and will cost $150.00O
Many other substantial business build
ings are in process of construction show
| ing that capitalists fully believe that the
backbone of the long continued business
| depression has been broken and that an
era of prosperity is at hand.
TALK WITH WENDELL EASTON
Mr. Wendell Easton, of the firm of
Easton. Eldridge & Co.. the leaGing real
| estate brokers of San Francisco and Los
Angeles, was extremely busy when the
writer called on him at his office, 63S
Market street, but he graciously granted
few minutes interview, the points"
of the conversation being substantially
| as follows:
The year 1897 opens very auspicously
Tor san francisco real estate, showing
| a marked improvement over the cores
ponding period of 1896 Among other
favorable features is the disposition of
san francisco capitalists, Who own large
bodies of country lands, to subdivide the
same and place them on the market
They are impelled to do this on account
of the marked demand for acreage prom
fnr far
growing. This demand arises from
my causes. but principally the graft
| lying increase in the price Of wheat bar
! ley. and other grains and farm products
in sympathy Herewith; also the advance
in prices of many kinds of green and
dried fruit The splendid and timely
rains, insuring enormous crops the GER
tainty Of obtaining good prices therefor
and the great development of beet sugar
| INDUSTRIES also contribute to the in
creased demand for acreage property
| and | therefore anticipate a material ad-
vance in land values. This feature af-
| fects city real estate values of course
| and there is consequently considera Bile
inquiry for eligibly situated lots by peo-
pie Of moderate means who desire to OBJ
tain homes.
| Another encouraging feature is the
determination of the san Francisco Saw
ings banks to loan money freely on real
! ESTATE iiIpfiSdStS, commencing with
February 1st. This will t.oubtless bene-
fit all other sections Of the state and
tend to relieve the financial strain that
has existed for the past two or three
| years,
Mining enterprises have received
great attention during the past year;
new and promising discoveries have
been made throughout the state. and
| capital is easily obtaired for their devel-
| opment when the enterprises give reas-
| enable prospects of success
English capitalists through the big,
trust companies. are extending their
| credits to agents in California for in
! Vestment in real estate mortgages AL
| together | consider that the entire state
is to be congratulated upon the auspic-
ious outlook
GENERAL NOTES.
Mining brokers report a considerab ble
| inquiry for reliable investments in their
| lines, particularly in Kern county
| which seems to be the center Of attrac-
tion at present George f. Hill, formerly
| a well-knoWn Los Angeles real estate
| broker is now engaged in large mining
enterprises and broker business in san
| Francisco, with headquarters at $40
| Market street. He predicts a great fu-
ture for Randsburg district.
W. f. Newell OF the Selby Smelting
and Lead company accompanied the
! writer through their San Francisco cs-
| tablishment, 415 Montgomery street
| which iS tEa ~, Of corppIata refi,li,1,r 4