The San Francisco call., 1904-03-05
SPEED TRACK
FOR The PARK
Commissioners Decide in Fa-
vOr of Half-Mile Circle
Close to Spreckels Lake
COST OF ENTERPRISE
Board Holds Polo Clubs and
Kindred Associations Must
Bear Half of the Cost

The Board of Park Commissioners in
regular meeting yesterday afternoon at
the office of the president. A. B. Spreck-
els, declared in favor of beginning work
as early as possible on the proposed
circular speed track which will inclose
a polo field and athletic grounds in
Golden Gate Park. It was the sense
of, the board that 5000 Of the park
allowance might be expended in the
enterprise, provided representatives of
the polo clubs and athletic associations
would contribute an equal sum.
A. B. Spreckels headed the list of
outside donations with a contribution
Of $1,000. The list is now open for sign
ers. and it is expected that prominent
men belonging to athletic. turf and
polo clubs who have been urging the
commission to go forward with the
work viii sign up at once.
Commissioners Reuben II. Lloyd, A
Altman and w. J. Dingee freely ex
pressed their sentiments to a delega-
ton that waited on the board yester-
day. ]. L. Borden was the spokesman
for a delegation consisting of William
]. Simpson, f. ]. Lynch, James Nc
Tighe. f. r. Pease and T. ]. Crowley
All parties agreed that the site Should
be the ground south and west of
Spreckels Lake between the present
speedway and the north drive.
superintendent McLaren estima ted
that the work proposed would cost s50,-
600. He estimated that the loam would
cost $4,000. 1t was figured that $4,000
cubic yards of sand would have to be
moved. Mr.. Borden, speaking for the
horsemen and the athletes, drew a
beautiful picture of that region of the
park as it would appear when the track
was completed and the adjacent area
adorned with trees, terraces and
grasses. Commissioners Lloyd, Spreck-
els, Altman and Dingee admired the
picture. They explained, however, that
only small percentage Of the annual
park allowance could be applied to new
work. as the expense of maintenance
very nearly equaled the amount al
lowed for all purposes.
VALUABLE ART SPECIMENS.
Mr.. Lloyd that Mrs. Sarah NJ. Spooner
had given to the Memorial Museum
in the park tapestries, laces and rare
paintings Of great value. The Spooner
contribution embraces a thousand ar
ticles. Mrs. SpoOner left the city yes
terday for Pacific Grove and will short
~ proceed to her home in Boston Be
fore her departure from San Francisco
she executed documents providing that
the park should have future ownership
of many rare specimens of art. A reso-
luton of thanks to the lady was unani-
mously adopted by the board.
The commission awarded to NJ. Earl
Cummings a contract for building a
drinking fountain on the terrace in
front of the conservatory, Golden Gate
Park. The design submitted by Mr.
Cummings was accepted at a previous
meeting, and his bid. on open compe-
tition. 10 build the fountain for S250C
was accepted yesterday.
The Commissioners decided to plant
a row of trees adjacent to the sidewalk
all around LobOs Square Permission
for such tree planting was obtained
from the Board of Public Works on ap-
plication of Mr.. Lloyd. The area OF
the park is twelve acres, bounded by
Chestnut, Bay, Laguna and Webster
streets. The secretary was directed to
inform City Attorney Long that there
were squatters on Franklin SQUARE
near Sixteenth and Bryant streets. The
commission proposes to improve the
square, and desires the ejectment OF
persons having no right on the prem
ises. 1t was remarked that the Spring
Valley Water Company claimed 10C
feet of Franklin Square.
The superintendent reported that the
working forces on parks and squares
during the month of February mum
bered 295 men.
The Children's Playground for the
month Of February was maintained al
loss of 1852 5[ The loss at the Japan
ese Tea Garden was $93 40. Rainy Sat
urdays and Sundays in February ac-
counted for the falling off in receipts.
ENIBLEMS FOR TEMPLARS.