The San Francisco call., 1898-07-01
GOLDEN GATE PARK.

\ ! E venture to say that every intelligent tax
 \N| payer in San Francisco will heartily support the
 making of ample appropriations tor improving Golden Gate Park That reservation Is monument the foresight of the Pioneers which should ever be guarded with jealous This is especially so since
 deliberate attempt was made steal 1t i'll the early sixties by as unscrupuous band of land grabbers as fched the birthrght of people. In the strug- gle which resulted in the establishment ot the park there displayed civic virtue than IS ordnar-
 fly seen where similar amount ot loot IS in sight The greatest work of George K Fitch, late editor ot the defunct Bulletin was done in Golden Gate Park But for him the land would probably have been grabbed As it was the raiders showed the reserva= ton back four blocks laid out panhandle and cut the area down from 1900 to less than 1000 acres.
 Now that the people have this grand evidence of the orethought and virtue of the pioneers, however 1t behooyes them to insist upon its speedy improve ment Heretofore the appropriation for Golden Gate Park has been subordnated by the Supervisors to the necessities of the municipal government. In other words after the City Hall employees, the Street De partment the policemen, iremen and others have sat isfed themselves the remainder, under the limits imposed by the various taxation pledges has been turned oyer to the park. In no instance has the amount allowed by law been appropriated. Ten cents on the $1oo valuation is not too much but here tofore the park has been nlucky to get cents.
 There are many good arguments to sustain a liberal appropriation for Golden Gate Park One of the most powerful is wel-known desire the part of the generation which is paying for its improve 1nent to enjoy some of its beauties and benefits The average taxpayer is willing to do something for pos terity but he is also anxious to do something for himself This thing of slowly improving public reservation like Golden Gate Park in order that 1 born generations may sound praises is bene- Iyolent idea but as practical proposition 1t is too ethereal for popular consumption The park should 1 be improved at once for the benefit of the men, women and children now living. An issue of bonds would be justified for the purpose.
 The Supervisors need have no fear, therefore, that large appropriation for Golden Gate Park would grant the Commissioners the full amount allowed by law Ten cents on the $Ioo of valuation will yield in the neighborhood of $35o,ooo only small portion l of which would be available for improvement. It ought to be noted always that the cost o maintenance at Golden Gate Park is constantly increasing. Every acre reclaimed adds to this bill so that even if the full legal limit is appropriated it will mostly be eaten up by current expenses. Upon the short al-
 lowed during recent years the work of development want is to see their breathing spot placed com petely under cultivation. If they willing to pay for it the Supervisors ought not to object.
 I We are safe in asserting that the question to be submitted to popular in this city proposition to appropriate $35o,ooo for Golden Gate Park would be carried by a three-fourths majority