The San Francisco call., 1904-09-21
BOND ELECTION
STIRS PEOPLE
Progress Federation Makes
a Statement Regarding
Parks and Improvements
PUBLIC TO VISIT SITE
Free Tickets Are to. Be
Provided for All Who
Desire to Make the Trip
Oakland omce San Francisco Gall.

1915 Broadway, Sept 20.
The charges that have been made
that the site offered to the city as
Central Park is not what it is repre-
sented to be are to be investigated by
a committee constituted of the bust
ness representatives Of the city, which
will make a report on recent bond
questions.
There was a general meeting at the
Board Of Trade rooms this morning Of
representatives Of all professions and
lines of business in Oakland The
meeting was called to order by Judge
John Yule, an attorney by profession
and NJ. ]. Keller was elected chair
man. Upon the motion of II. b. Bel
den II was decided to ask the follow
ing organizations in Oakland to each
appoint a committee Of three to In
spect the proposed park site ana MAKE
an official report upon its value ana
availability before the bond election
on Tuesday next: The Progress Fed
Grafton, the Board of Trade, the Mer-
chants Exchange, the Real Estate
Dealers Association, the bankers, the
landscape gardeners, the trades unions
and the representatives or the local
and San Francisco papers.
The Progress Federation has ar
ranged to allow all people of Oakland
TO visit the proposed park site. All
who wish will be supplied with tick
cts at the Board of Trade rooms, 51O
Twelfth street, and transportation viii
be furnished from the end Of the
Fourth-avenue car line to the park
and back.
The Progress Federation has issued
a statement in regard to the proposed
bonds for parks and improvements, as
follows:
The statement is made by the opponents OF
the bond proposition that the choice building
sites Of the Sather tract are outside the
boundaries OF the proposed Central Park That
statement is correct. but is in no wise an
argument against the purchase OF the park
site. II is not building locations that are
desired for pleasure grounds, but variety OF
landscape, vistas Of woodland, fertile soil Tor
the growing Of plants and shrubs, lawns and
flowers, and flowing stream
The land contained within these park
grounds boundaries is much more desirable for
the elevated portions OF the Sather tract, which
are not included. 1t takes In Indian gulch,
with thousands OF hourishing trees (some OF
which Of great age) and on either side
extends along the hills to a height sufficient
70 give a view for many miles; the valley
lend is reuaar arkabiy rfch as It contains the sur
face washings for years from the hillsdes;
the present volume Of flowing water can be
developed. without doubt 10 an extent suffi-
clent for all OF the requirements of the park;
the valley is wide enough to permit the con-
structfon Of winding shady roadways ano
paths. which $50 900 has already been ex-
pended: II is so sheltered that wonderful re-
suits may be attained In the growing of tropi-
cal plants and shrubs; the tract is so near the
city as TO be easily accessible and IN every
respect II is an ideal site for oahland's main
park. AS for the price-a little more than
$1,000 acre-the land is worth every cent
OF that sum not for residence sites, or for
vegetable gardening. or for orchards. or for
herdng sheep cattle upon, OF for general
agricultural uses, for the erection thereon
OF stores or factories but for the exact. precise
and specific purpose for which the enterprising,
loyal ambitious, far-seeing citizenship Of Oak
land design buying II, to-wt tor the creation
Of pleasure grounds which will, in the COM
ing years, be one OF the most highly priced
Of their possessions. and that Of generations
The opponents Of the bonds are also endeavor-
ing 10 make such capital out Of the fact that
the Realty Syndicate reserves the right to
build and operate a railroad line across the
extreme eastern end OF the tract. 1t is well
known that one of the enterprises contemplat-
ed for years by this remarkably enterprising
body Of Oakland men is the extension of their
electric car system TO san Jose, passing along
the northern boundary Of Oakland The ia
nous Forest Park at st. Louis, is traversed
bv steam railway lines and II affords a pleas
ing entrance into that city from the west. An
park and reaching down 70 Santa Clara Coun-
Tvs chief city, would be. not an injury, but
a material advantage to the park
picnic be arranged for next Saturday after
noon at Central Park In order that the peo-
selected for a park by the City Council.
Certain It is that II this is to be done many
votes for the bond proposition will be gained
thereby II should be remembered that this is
the only large park site possible Of acquire
nent by Oakland FOR a park with trees and
a water supply. without going long distance
into the country.
A bond rally was held at Idora Park
tonight under the auspices Of the cam
paign committee Of the Progress Fed
Grafton. A. V. Feight, a member of
the campaign committee, acted as
chairman. Among the speakers were
+. A. Stearns, John A. Britton, DR.. z.
H. Woolsey and II. G. Capwell All
spoke strongly in favor Of the bonds.