The San Francisco call., 1903-09-15
WILL NOT TAKE
CLAREMONT LAND
Hitch in Purchase Of
New Country Club
Grounds.
Plan to Throw Over Adams
Property for Rock
Ridge Site.
Oakland ONCE San Francisco Call.
111Q proc duror, Cant II

1118 Broadway, Sept A.
There has been hitch in the purchase
o. the property to be used by the recently
formed Oakland Country Club for it's
country home. new site for the home
of the club has been put into the field.
The club was formed recently, and it
was the intention of it's promoters to ex-
eel Burlingame. The membership is COM
posed of Alameda County's most promi-
nent, exclusive and wealthy citizens.
At the time of the clubs inception It
was given out that an option upon a piece
of property near Claremont, owned by
Edison F. Adams. had been secured. The
immediate purchase of the land and the
erection of a $4,000 clubhouse were con-
sidersd certainty.
Golf links, tennis courts, polo grounds
and runs for the cross-country rides were
to be constructed. All outdoor sports
were to be held there, and it was the in
tention of the club to make it's new or
ganization by far the best on the coast.
The main endeavor of the club was to put
the Country Club of Burlingame in the
shade completely.
Bonds for $150,OOO were to have been Is
sued for the purchase Of the home
grounds and perfection of the retreat.
ERECT BUNGALOWS.
So certain were the officers Of the club
that Adams Claremont property would
be the home of the club that several
members took initial steps and erected a
number of bungalows throughout the
property. The grounds command a fine
view of Oakland and the Golden Gate and
are easily reached from Claremont ave
nue..
The club has now split into two fac
tions, one advocating the purchase of the
Rock Ridge property in North Oakland,
owned by the Realty Syndicate, and the
other still holding That the Claremont
land would make the more desirable place
for country club.
Frank c. Havens of the Realty Syndi-
cate, with the aid of William P. Johnson.
treasurer Of the club, who interjected the
Rock Ridge property, known as the old
Livermore tract, into the field, seems to
have eXerted enough influence to switch
the purchase to Havens' land.
George z. de Cola, attorney for the
club, when interviewed to-day in regard
to the clubs new move intimated that the
Rock Ridge property would be purchased.
He declined to state which way the mem
bers of the new club leaned. but said that
If the members saw a way to save be-
tween $4,000 and $4,000 they would un-
doubtedly do so, leaving it to be inferred
that Havens had made an offer to sell
the Rock Ridge property at a price far
below that which Adams had asked for
his Claremont ground.
HITCH IN PURCHASE.
Sam Bell Mckee, secretary Of the
club, admitted that there had been a
hitch in the purchase of the Adams prop
erty, but declined to say whether or not
the Rock Ridge grounds would be pur-
chased.
The Adams property consists of 124
acres and is deemed an ideal spot for a
country club. The Rock Ridge or old
Livermore grounds form 1O6 acres of fine
property. Either of the above is consid-
cred an excellent spot for the country
home of such a club.
Attorney de Cola said that next week
the arrangements would be completed so
that the building of the club grounds
could proceed without a hitch.
Several members of the faculty of the
University of California. including Presi-
dent Wheeler, are among the members
of the new club. Other members are Mrs
Phoebe A Hearst Mrs. H. E. Huntington
Mrs.A. H. Voorhies, Mrs. John Simpson,
George McNear, VIII Taylor, Joseph
CARRIER, Mrs. Cyrus Walker, Mrs. Flea
nor Martin and Mrs. Ira Martin
The officers Of the club are: Edwin
Goodan. president Frank NJ. Wilson,
vice president William P. Johnson, treas
urer. Sam Bell Mckee Sacratorv