The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-11-26

ENOUGH VOTES IN SIGHT
MERCHANTS EXCHANGE HAS
STRONGLY PROTESTED.
The Council on the Eve of Going Out
of Office Plans a Deal In
volving a Million
Dollars.
Oakland Office San Francisco Call,

The City Hall Park Site Commit
tee of the Council met tonight and
discussed the project of selling the
site and building a new City Hall
elsewhere. The Council has the pow
er to sell the property and do as it pleases
with the money, and the City Attorney
says that there is no legal impeachment in
the way.
Chairman Brosnahan explained that the
purpose of the meeting to which all the
Councilmen had been invited was to hear
opinions regarding the selling of the site.
He expressed himself as being favorable
to the city acquiring an adequate City
Hall, but was not prepared to say how it
should be done.
Mr.. Cuvellier said he was opposed to
selling the site, he believed the city
should keep the property. He caused
some surprise by stating that for some
reason or other this Council is not In IA
vor with the people. He made no excep-
tons, but included everybody. He
thought it a bad time. just on the eve of
going out of office, for a Council to I'M
dertake such a big job.
Mr.. Heitmann suggested that the proper
method to pursue would be to draw up
an ordinance and let the matter be de-
bated on the floor of the Council. He
thought 1t high time that the city did
something in regard to the City Hall,
which is at present disgrace to Oak
land.
Councilman Hennebery said that he
believed the majority Of the people are
in favor of selling the City Hall site and
building an adequate hall In some other
place. He said something must be done
as the people would not vote six bits
worth Of bonds. He referred sarcasti-
Francisco and slept in Oakland, and said
that they did not want improvements
here. AS he spoke he looked at Mr.. Gu
vellier and the latter replied that the
people he met on the boats were more in
favor of improvements than any other
class.
Mr. Woodward said he had figured out
the amount of money that would be
raised from the sale of the site. Cutting
out the Washington street extension he
said that s613,000 was the, very highest
price obtainable. He said ne spoke as
real estate expert.
Mr.. Cuvellier suggested that there is no
hurry and said that it could well be sub
mitted to the people at the election next
March The City Attorney was request
ed to draw up an ordinance providing for
the selling Of the site and stating now
the money shall be disposed of.
This will be ready for the next regular
meeting of the Council and It will un-
doubtedly be passed to print. During the
meeting nothing was said about the syn
dictate that it is said is ready to buy the
property. City Attorney Dow informed
the members that the land must be dis
posed of at public auction.
The Merchants Exchange does not IA
vor the selling of the City Hall Park site.
If the report of one of its committees is
true, the project is one that should be
carefully considered by every taxpayer,
for it means the giving. Of a syndicate an
opportunity to make $500 900 at the eX-
pense of the city. Director j. h. w.
Sohst chairman of the committee, has ar
rived at the following conclusion:
Your committee would also draw your atten-
ton to the fact that the City Hall lot which
the city officials ready to sell for $500 900
street cut through, the frontage on that street
alone will be worth $1,000. If syndicate
should buy it for 600 they could then ask
the city or the people on Washington street to
nav them 500. 600 to open the street Business
will be strictly business then. for the prospec-
tive value Of that property is $3.50 per front
foot eighty feet on Fourteenth street and
eighty feet on Fifteenth street. One hundred
and sixty feet running at the above rate will
make 5000 O00 Half OF that will therefore be
a very reasonable allowance. Are the people
on Washington street ready to put up that
amount?
Your committee hopes that the people of Oak
land will not allow the City Council to sell a
$50 gold piece for $40.
The West Oakland Improvement Club has
expressed itself the subject. 1t will be a
shame If history should repeat itself and Oak
land should be served the same way as San
Francisco was disgraced to all future genera
lions by their authorities in dtsposing Of the
front portion Of their City Hall lot.
II you want to make San Franciscan blush
ask him why he allowed that shameful act to
be perpetrated. So will the people of Oak
land blush in future years II the City Council
carries out its intention.