The San Francisco call., 1897-10-17
A MORE BEAUTIFUL SAN FRANCISCO.


DUBLIC opinion expressed by many citizens in interviews
published in THE CALL is strongly in favor of embelsh-
ing San Francisco by recovering for park purposes the
tract between the City Hall and Market street
is of the citizens interviewed opposed to
the Improvement but this be expected All have
yet agreed any particular project The appearance
these opinions among the expressions favorable to
the establishment the park but to show the fairness
of THE CALL in giving hearing to 10th sides, and to afford
basis which estimate the comparative strength the
community of the two parties.
Those who opposed to the improvement few, and
their opposition is made mainly the ground that to open
park at that point on Market street would interfere with the
continuity of business This fear have pointed out be-
FORE groundess Numerous parks break the line of shops
Broadway New York; but the trade of that city has
been turned from that thoroughare series of great parks,
ST. James Park Green Park Hyde Park break the lead
ing streets of London leading from the city to the west and
yet London trade has moved steadily westward in spite of
them.
1t will take something than a comparatively small
park check the westward advance of business along Market
street. and all opposition the park that ground hardly
reasonable than the hesitation caused child by the
fear of a bogy man.
The of the people have no such fears There has
grown San Francsco aspiration for municipal beauty,
and the desire for is shared by the great majority of her
influential citizens. We beginning understand
thing of the possibility that lies before this city, happily
situated and marked by nature for high destiny among the
great capitals of the EARTH In that understanding
nze the Importance of making beautiful we'll rich in
order that may be inferior in anything the cities of
the East
There commercial we'll artistic value in beauty.
Men and women willing to pay the price that art costs,
whether takes the form of noble picture of we'll
dered and splendid capital Regent Rensn has directed
tention the weknown estimate that the adonmen of Paris
brings to that city equal to year from
visitors, who from all parts of the world enjoy life amid
the artistic surroundings that are found there.
Nor is this commercial value of municipal beauty i'll
founded. 1t is worth all that costs. 1t is slight ad
vantage to have weIpaved cleany swept and well lighted
Streets broken here and there by parks bright with flowers
and sunshine and adorned with statues of whose lives
inspiration to memory San Francisco better
aft ord TO make herself splendid than leave herself shabby
She make municipal Improvements at less COST in the
long run than she can do without them.
AS for the particular improvement involved in the pro-
posed park at the City Hail. its value apparent that
the opponents of do question that would beauy
in the immediate vicinity. Public opinion voiced by the great
majority of citizens mpartaly interviewed by THE CALL is
for strongly and earnestly. All that is needed for
good plan to be devised for accomplishing the desired end
Of course would willingly any wrong done to the
present holders of the property but the land be recovered
for the city, 1t originally dedicated park purposes and
to those purposes it must be reclaimed.