The San Francisco call., 1898-12-05
WOULD BUILD 4 CITY ID RIVAL
 ROME OF OLD Elaborate Plans of Mrs. Hearst. A PEERLESS SAN FRANCISCO FAMOUS ARCHITECTS TO DEVISE
 A MASTERPIECE. With Unequaled Possibilities, It Is Hoped to Produce the Most
 Beautiful City in the
 World.
A PEERLESS SAN FRANCISCO
FAMOUS ARCHITECTS TO DEVISE
 A MASTERPIECE.

Mrs. Phebe A. Hearst, whose love for California and all things Californian Is deep and broad. has found a fresh field for her benefactions. If carried to its logical conclusion San Francisco, a city without a peer in all the wide, wide world as to location, will be archi- tecturally the most beautiful city on the globe.
 Bounded on the west by the broad waters of the Pacific Ocean and on the north and on the east by the bay bearing its name; diversified with noble hills and under the shadow of Mount Diablo and Mount Tamalpais. it presents topo- graphical possibilities that delight the architect striving for artistic effect.
 Through the munifcence of Mrs. Hearst the leading architects of all nations are 10 be asked to submit plans, not neces- sarily one plan. which would make this. the metropolis of the empire State of the West, the most modern and beautiful city in all the world. The idea Is a develop ment of her propositions for the ems bellishment of the University of Cali fornia, of which she is a regent. Noting the necessities of the States greatest institution of learning and at the same time, owing to its location, its possibili- ties as a setting for the brightest gems Of architecture, she determined that the master minds of the world should design the buildings that some day will shelter the students of the States seat of learn ing.
 To carry out this great scheme she pro- Vided fund of S150.000, with which de- signs were to be procured from all the great architects. Famous designers are in this city studying the ground over against the Alameda foothills and draw ing inspiration from it for an ideal uni- versity. With the matchless view of the Golden Gate in all its varying moods, from the early morning until the brilliant coloring of the setting sun, they expect to produce designs in keeping with the surroundings.
 Mrs. Hearst's present idea is merely an ampllncation of thls. Instead of calling for designs for a building or series of buildings she asks for designs for city. With all its natural advantages San Francsico presents grand field for the display or architectural genius. The plans Of Mrs. Hearst, as superficially outlined by her, are not for to-day nor tomorrow, but for twenty, fifty years hence.
 The plans would first call for improve ment below the surface of .--e streets to the end that the healthfulness of the peo- pie might be secured for all time. This would include all manner of conduits and would be of the utmost importance in the ugbuilding of a modern metropolis. would be on broad lines. It is not t pre- pre- stunned that designs would be submitted for whole streets making harmony of skyline and presenting an unbroken front. This could not be brought about in a day. It is contended, however, that in twenty years of these wonderful times more can be accomplished than in cen turies of olden days. The development of the city proper would present less for midable obstacles than the buildings.
 The water front affords opportunities for a great boulevard: Golden Gate Park has not attained its highest development and other parks, as yet in the natural state, can be made artistically beautiful and restful to all the senses. Telegraph fr1 thn portion of the city, and Rincon Hill in the south all present great possibilities from the architects point of view. There are opportunities for boulevards throughout the city which able architects will be quick to note, and it Is these suggestions that are desired.
 Regent J. B. Reinstein has caught the spirit of Mrs. Hearst's ideas and ardently longs for the development of this new San Francisco. In responding to the health of that good woman on Saturday night he said in part:
 We should attempt to formulate plan now while the city Is young. We should have an ideal for city which would turn to best splendid harbor frontage. Mrs Hearst had in contemplation the establishment in the univer- city of a department of architecture and en- gineering, where young should be trained specially for the carrying out of this plan for the identification and fitness in every re- spect beneath and above the ground of this
 So she proposes now the opening again of q
 
 of great plan for San Francisco. and urges particularly those gentlemen who are visit ing this city to take advantage of the occa- sion to study it's possibilities.
 In an interview yesterday MT. Reinstein eloQuently enlarged upon the possibilities of Mrs. Hearsts scheme. He repeated the compliment he paid her at the banquet when he called her the first lady of the land.
 Tn mentality and the power to grasp great projects there Is no woman on the continent her equal" he said. At the forthcoming session of the Legislature the new charter adopted by this city will be ratified and will change our form of gov ernment With an Intelligent Board of Public Works, and given a plan under which they can act intelligently, there IS no reason why this should not be the most magnificent city in the world. Its pictur- esoue location and the climatic conditions in which its people live afford 1t great nat ural advantages. It Is the gateway to the Orient and with our possessions in the Philippines has years of great prosperity and possibilities before II"
 Across the bay. nestling among the foothills near Niles Canyon, is Verona, the home of Mrs Phebe A. Hearst. For some years her manager has endeavored 10 induce her to build an ornamental gateway in keeping with the place. To all his solicitations she has had but one an- swer She could not afford the expense The woman whose contributions to char itv have been enormous could not find 1t a., bar baarf fo Snand A small amount for