The San Francisco call., 1897-08-15

tnan any Otner OcatlOn submitted. IL con-
tains NIL land and valley land, has creek
running through the center of it W fiich
could be made into small lakes with rustic
bridges over them, and there are many
sheltertd spots on it which can be made
even more so in a few years by planting
trees. There are plenty of animals that
will thrive better on the hign portions OF
the land, such as deer, antelope, mountain
goats, eiks. reindeer and buffaloes.
II noticed in going over the land some
splendid places for fine avIary. A great
improvement can be made on the Colleen
Gate Park aviary, where so much inter-
breeding has taken place that before long
it will be difficult matter to tell what
species he birds belong to. This is a
great mistake and care should pe taken
when new aviary is built to
of birds. [ am surprised that
there should be .anv division Of
sentiment among the Mission people
about the advantages of a geological
garden. If they are fortunate enough to
get one they will soon appreciate its
value. 1t seems to me that 1t will be the
means of greatly increasing the value Of
all property around it, and it will GER
tainly be gre at card for the Mission if it
is located there. The railroad companies
ought to be willing to subscribe Literally
toward this enterprise
John II. Dawson, the druggist at Twen-
ty-second and Valencia streets, has been
a resident of the Mission for twenty years.
He favors large tract for the pro posed
geological gardens. He thinks that the
property submitted by Baldwin & Howell
is finely situated for the purpose. 1.-THE
Mission" said he, 'has paid for genera
tion very large proportion of the taxes
of the City and has received nothing from
the City in return, while the revenues
have been Iavished on the Western Addi-
tion and Golden Gate Park. The Mission
is entitled TO ask for park, not alone on
its own account, but the park that is
asked would insure to the City magnifi-
cent geological cole ction and be a boon TO
and source of pride to the whole City"
"The proposed Jewish Cemetery site
would not afford more than one-tenth
enough ground for the zoo alone, 1t is
not believed by people who have the prog
ress OF the City at heart that there need
be fear OF any such mistake as the pur-
chase OF that cemetery site as makeshift
for pu bile park. In the first place, an
enormous price is asked for the thirteen
acres it contains and in the next place its
transformation into public square would
benefit, if it benefited anybody, only a
few surrounding blocks, and would espe-
cially attract no one TO even the Mission,
far less to the City. The purchase would
simply be throwing the Ciiy's money
away. On the otner hand, an investment
in large tract capable of being turned
into general public pleasure-grou and
OF containing a fine zoo collection would
form an attraction that would be reckoned
among the resources of the coast. There
ale several tracts, of course, that are of
fered to the City, but you can state that
am decidedly in favor of the lao acres at
Thirtieth and Diamond streets, and l think
mil fin aI1 oth ri nf
this section favoring this subdivision"
Patrick Wall, another resident OF the
Mission district since the early days and
large landowner. had the following TO
say: Every one seems to realize that the
proposition 10 give the residents of San
Francisco another extensive and beautiful
pleasure ground is one which should COM
mand the support Of all. The northern
part of San Francisco is we'll supplied
with parks. Not only is Golden Gate Park
available, but the Presidio and Black
Point reservations and Sutro Heights ALI
swer the same purpose. No part OF the
Western Addition is at an lnconvenlent
distance from some agreeable breathing
place. But further south, where the need
is greater, there are no such opportunities.
There are bare, open spaces as vet, but
even these will disappear In time II we do
not save some of them from the advance
OF the builders. The Mission is entitled
to park and it will have one some day
whether we do anything now or not.
do not favor the selection of small tract
for the purpose of geological garden.
have studied the deslrabllity of the several
properties offered and have selected the
Gum-tree site at Thirtieth and Diamond
streets that is being submitted through
Baldwin & Howell as the most preferable
by far"
The following remarks by ]. Murray, q
prominent merchant OF the Mission dis
trict, will nc doubt set at rest the rumors
of the poorness of the soil in the tract at
Thirtieth and Diamond streets: GAS far as
what has been said about the unproduc-
riveness of the soil of the land offered by
Baluwin & Howell" said Mr.. Murray,
There is no truth in it at all. l nave
farmed the land in question until very re-
Gently, living thereon for about twenty
six years and raising large crops OF hay
and some Of the finest vegetables that
could be produced. There are al least
twenty seven springs on the land and
during all my long lease [ had an abund-
ant supply OF water In my belief the
idea OF selecting such trGct as the olo
cemetery tract is absurd. We want large
ground and no finer place could be found
than the land have farmed."
G. G. Stuhr. the well-known Mission
plum ber, thinks that the giving to the
Mission of geological garden would tend
more to enhance the in terests OF that Sec
ton than any other appropriation from
the City In the selection OF a site, said
Mr.. Stuhr, "the tract in my mind should
be a large one. No small one would do
for the purpose, and 1. as merchant Of
this district, recommend the purchase of
the Diamond ana Thlrtieth streets prop
erty, by reason of it being particularly
well adapted for the purpose. The con-
tour of this tract is such that do not
think a more desirable tract could be Sc.
lected, ana when general comparison is
made of the several tracts offered to the
City this property, l think, should be the
choice of the people.
There has been much said by persons
who have not the interests of the Mission
and the City in general at heart that the
tax on the City for maintaining such a
place would be big addition to the one
already imposed on the property owners,
but the fact is, an addition OF l per cent
would more than pay for the maintenance
of such place.
The Mission people who are advocat-
ing the placing of a geological garden, as
proposed, in the Golden Gate Park are q
set that have been disappon ed in not
having their particular site selected, and,
since they see there is no chance for them,
they want the park to take care OF the
zoo, with view of at some future time