The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-11-28
AUCTION SALES.
PARK EXTENSION.

y EITHER the business nor the pleasures Of the
y approaching holiday season should cause the
people oi San Francisco 10 overlook the special
elections which arc 20 be he'd during the coming
month. The issues involved IN them are OF i'm
portsnce 10 the municipality, and IS desirable that
al each % them the vote should be sufficiently strong
70 represent the sentiment OF the majority Of citizens
Al the first OF these elections that OF December
r. the people are 20 vote upon questions OF park eS-
tension involving proposals 10 extend the panhandle
al Golden Gate Park TO Market street and Van Ness
avenue 70 unite Golden Gate Park with the Preside
and 10 purchase two blocks for a park in the Mis-
sion. To these proposals there ought 10 be any
serious objection and certainly there VIII be
from pubicsprted and progressive citizens who give
the subject due consideration. Parks are something
more than ornaments OF city They are about the
most profitable investments a municipality make
and in the East and in Europe. where municipal
problems have been more thoroughly studied than
with US and where there has been larger experience
the work al PARK extension and Improvement goes on
continually.
San Francisco lags behind other large American
cities IN respect 20 the extent OF her park area While
Broadway New York, beginning the Battery, IL
self beautiful park passes It's way Bowling Green
Union square and Madison square, Market street Is
from one end 70 the other unbToken array OF
buildings There IS no place OF beauty and greene-y
90 ado-n the long rows OF its houses. Nor is there
~ present any grand access 10 Golden Gate Park
from the downtown districts. The extension OF the
panhandle would therefore be something like revo-
luton in the aspect OF the city giving an artistic
feature hardly inferior 10 any on the earth.
The amount Il money which the improvements will
cos' viii be small in comparison with the benefits sure
70 result In other cities where park extension on
comparatively small scale was begun with hesitation
there has since been general willingness TO widely
increase the park areas The change in popular sen-
nett has been due 10 the benefits which the com
Inuuity derived from the parks. Il has been found
that whatever adds the beauty and the healthfuness
q city adds 70 is attracveness as place OF resi-
denoe resort for visitors At all seasons OF the year
and for business OF ali kinds Its safe 10 say that
no city in America viii sell its parks for what they
cost with liberal interest added
The extension OF the panhandle to the junction Of
Market street and Van Ness avenue should have been
provided when Golden Gate Park was laid out but
II is not too late 10 repair the mistake 1t has been
estimated that the OF the proposed improvements
all not entail for interest and for the sinking fund
tax levy in excess Of 10 cents on every 500 OF the
present assessment That is but small amount to pay
FOR an avenue which viii in magnitude and in beauty
be not unworthy riva OF the Champs Elysees. whose
delightful drives and promenades have done much 70
help make Paris the center OF attraction OF the mod
ern world
The issue We repeat is one which should engage
the attention OF all progressive citizens Every man
who takes enough interest in San Francisco TO care
for its welfare should unite promoting the present
movement for park extension. for it be defeated at
the coming election there is telling when it can be
undertaken again with prospects OF success.