The San Francisco call., 1897-02-04
Van NESS TO Be
An IDEAL DRIVE
A Progressive Spirit Being
Manifested in the
Northwest.
Large Sums of Money Expended
in Beautifying the Boulevard
and Adjacent Streets.
A Prospective View of the Future
Importance of This Section by
Pres dent Law.

The promoters of the extension of Van
Ness avenue from Broadway 10 the waters
cf the bay are more than satisfied with the
result of the large sum of money expended
In cutting, grading and bituminizing that
portion of the boulevard.
The Van Ness Avenue Improvement
Club was among the first organized in this
City having for its object the better paw
ing of the streets, as also urging the Su-
pervisors to declare that avenue a boule-
ward in connection with Golden Gate
avenue. Having accomplished so much,
it proceeded still further, and by soliciting
the military authorities at Fort Mason
obtained their cooperation in promise
to open up a roadway through the reser-
vation from its junction with Lombard
street to western point where continua-.
ton of the roadway will lead directly into
the grounds of the Presidio, and thence
into Golden Gate Park by the way of First
avenue. This was intended to give the
still further advantage OF tapping the
water front at Bay street, and thus OPEN
ing up a more convenient route to the
business portions of the City over which
heavy hauling can be done without en-
croaching on the Van Ness avenue boule-
ward ordinance.
This partly com pleted and contemplated
line of improve ments has led to the cut
ting through of the hogs back" on Polk
street, on which the work has already
begun.
The amount of $4,000 has already been
expended on the Improvements OH Van
Ness avenue, and there remains 800, 600 to
be expended on the eating, grading and
paving of Polk street. There will be
further expenditure OF $4,000 in bringing
Lom bard sire ct into connection with Van
Ness avenue at point joininF the Govern
ment reservation at Fort Mason. This
outlay of $16S, COO distributed among labor
ing men has given employment 10 those
probably in need besides enhancing the
value OF property in that section of the
City.
The originators of the Van Ness avenue
Improvements were the property-owners
on the northern end who, with the coop
Grafton OF all the residents on that avenue
assisted in securing the boulevard or
dinance.
The officers of the club are: Herbert E.
Law, president; P. Ghirardelli, vice-presi-
dent; John McGovern, secretary; Val
Schmidt, treasurer; with DR.. Hartland
Law, DR.. Alexander Warner, Dr. Ghirar-
delli and w. NJ. Pierson as an executive
committee.
The future of this section of the City as
forecast by President II. E. Law is ex-
pressed by him in an interview with q
CALL representative yesterday. He said:
Last week decided the future of one of the
most desirable movements that has occurred
tlon OF the City, VIZ: The removal OF Polk
street hill. II has had many STUN bling blocks
and notably the direct objection of ex-Super-
visor Denman, representing the Polk-street
Improvement Club who protested IL at
last Thursdays meeting of the board. The
distractions have finally proven unavailing
greatest detriment to this end of our City by
reason Of preventing any outlet. That the
hill is now 10 be graded is due to the splendid
efforts of the Van Ness Avenue improvement
Club, on whose petition and by whose efforts
this work was started and finally brought 10
successful termination.
II will be remembered that one year ago
Van Ness avenue was bituminized for seven
blocks, result of the efforts of this organiza-
ton. The Supervisors, after the fullest inYes-
ugaton ana personal review, have granted
the petition for bituminizing Lombard
boulevard from Van Ness avenue to the Pre-
sld1o, thus making one of the finest drives the
City mas. This 1nsures boulevard system of
over three miles and provides the nucleus of
the granuest driveway of this future great
City.
There now remain but two blocks on Van
Ness avenue 10 be opened, which will give
access to the water front and provide one of
the most beautiful views in the entire CITY
Inc IN, Government has agreed to terrace Fort
Mason, park of sixty acres, to the Van Ness
boulevard grade and to provide serpentine
drives skirting the water front. This gives to
the Clty thls beautiful park at no expense, the
maintenance thereof being borne by the
Government If this same rate of improve
ment continues for the next five years San
francisco Will have made a progress propor-
ionately equal TO the great city of Chicago
II this spirit can be inculcated in one district
1t can be inculcated in every district.
Development of the City and commercial
strength go hand in hand. The one needful
element TO accomplish this is TO secure earnest
activity on the part of the business men, and
especially the rising generation, who have
much greater examples and opportunities
than was the case with their fathers, who
pioneered the establishment of this City
When we stop for moment to reflect over the
grand possibilities of this most magnificent
City, situated on the great ocean. capa bic of
enormous traffic, blessed by one OF the best
harbors in the world, provided with a climate
unsurpassed and backed up by State capable
OF producing almost every product and in
great abundance. we have before US future
which IL is reasonable to assert is not con-
celved even by the most enthusiastic. No sue
OF huaineSs n a eitv NV