The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-10-13
THE PROPOSED CITY HALL PARK.

w THEN the Grand Jury takes under advsemen the pro-
ect of acquiring the land Market street for
the creation of City Hall park, it should incorporate
in its studies history the DEAF by which the land was
originally sold. Nothing develops and strengthens the
understanding as a careful attention history Truthful his
tory record of triumphs and failures. 1t is by studying
the uiumphs and understanding the failures that man en-
abed profit by the and avoid the other To mind
the Grand Jury could present interesting report to the
public than thorough exposure of this job and its
quenoes the city. the responsibility for the sale could be
determined it would be we'll enough send the who de-
yised it down to posterity with dull thud.
Probably greater crime committed III San
Francisco the disposal these lots Greater crimes have
been attempted The bulhead scheme by which the Legis-
aure in 1859 proposed to grant to private corporation the
right for fifty collect tolls from the Of this
port, proposition, but car
ed into execution. The who sold the Maetsreet
ton of the Yeba Buena Cemetery will be remembered for all
tme the city shall finally correct their mistake and
repurchase the property Nothing will exenuate their
oense. Placing the City Hall upon back thoroughfare
bad enough in ITSELF but creating business property on Market
street upon which tall buildings may be erected to exclude it
from the main artery of the city much worse.
Had the location of the municipal edifce been merely
mistake of Judgment would only necessary draw the
veil of oblivion the identity of the locator But it
not mistake of Judgment it job by which few real
estate schemes made money and few others hoped to. The
plot was laid in the original plan An architect of rputa-
ton induced to make picture of City Hall which could
be constructed for sIooooo. Upon this the landgrabbers
founded their proposal sell off the Maretsteet portion of
the cemetery tract They declared that the land when divided
into lots would bring SI5oooo, and they presented to
cedulouS people the auring portrait of beautiful City Hall
which would cost nothing
In this the sober of the people
what IS more fascinating than the idea of getting something
for nothing? The taxpayers not then hard money!
but they could scarcely be expected to reject the offer of the
real estate spectators make them present of City Hail.
But in all such they duped The lots sod
bringing o53ooo. Immediately thereafter the plan for
sT,5ooOoo City Hall abandoned That plan had done its
work. and the Legislature, which then controlled local
affairs, proceeded, through its commissioners to put
$4,000 building The money obtained from the sale of the
lots did not for the rubbe in the foundation
there evidence that intended that should
Even the present generation does not repair the damage
done the city by the sale of these lots the people of the
future will probably repair it 1t will be possible
quire the land favorable terms than present The
improvements the property of the primitive char
acter and within short time will be An estimate
OF the probable cost condemnng the land and laying
the proposed park would make interesting reading for all who
have taken interest in the project Such estimate be
OF value should be compiled by impartial person whose
opinion will be accepted of value.