The San Francisco call., 1904-09-17
TALK STRONGLY
FOR The BONDS
Colonel Irish and Father
McNally Plead for Needs
of Oakland of To-MOrrOw
MUST LOOK TO FUTURE
Eloquent Priest Says Town
Should Not Be a Gar
den for Sleepy Silurians
Oakland Office San Francisco Call.
rntc D..

Oakland Office San Francisco Call.
1915 Broadway, Sept. 16-
! In eloquent words John p. Irish and
| the Rev. ]. B. McNally, pastor of st.
/ Patrick's Church, drove home tonight
| before an audience at West Oakland
| solid arguments in favor of the bond
! issue, which viii be submitted to the
| voters of Oakland on September q.
| Both speakers, endowed above the
average with gift of tongue. presented
| to the residents Of the western side
of the city a, mass of facts. figures and
strong points. Particularly was it
shown to those assembled at Alcatraz
Hall that West Oakland had been well
favored in the number OF items in the
! bond issue, which were TO be of direct
| benefit to that section OF the city.
In his address Colonel Irish specially
called attention to the fact that the
bending proposition called for the pur-
| chase Of the De Fremery property at
| Sixteenth and Adeline streets; the park
| Fairgrounds at the edge of the north
| western end OF the city. and the al
! lowance for the improvement of the
West Oakland Park He showed that
this balanced the amount allowed to
East Oakland, with the overweight
| centered in the project to buy the
| Central Park" site, the Sather foot
! hill tract, to form the keystone in a
magnificent arch of municipal improve
| ments, for which the present bonding
! plan is but the beginning.
Father McNally dwelt more upon the
esthetic side of the subject. The cler
gyman argued that there could be no
| improvement Of the city that would
not be of advantage to every one in it.
| Oakland is beautiful to the man with
| thousands of dollars" said the cleric.
1T Is equally beautiful to the man with
| ten cents. The man with the dime has
| just as much interest in this PROPOSE
| ton as the man with the thousands.
| We have Oakland, endowed magnifi-
| Gently with natural charms. To make
/ them more magnificent it is our duty
| to expand upon them. Let US do that
| and to invite of her very beauty thou
! sands to come to us and enjoy with US
| the beauties and advantages which We
can obtain by the spending of this
money"
COLONEL IRISH APPEARS.
w. w. Morrison, president of the
West Oakland Improvement Club, was
! chairman. He presented Colonel Irish,
| who said:
It is singular that such a proposition as IS
/ before the city should attract such languid
| public attention. 1t may be that majority
/ OF the people have eozcluded the debate in
| favor of the bonds. / feel that this is a Sc
/ rious matter for Oakland This bond PROPOSE
/ tfon has been advertised all over the coast
| IF Oakland defeats the bonds it will have a
very bad effect upon the city. 1t were better
if they are to be beaten that the bonds should
/ bond issue of SIS, 600. 900 for surface improve
ments like those proposed here, has been val
/ idated by the Supreme Court Los Angeles.
| progressive city that il Is, without natural
/ water park issued bonds and made one. Port
/ land Seattle and other coast cities are going
| ahead. l am satisfied that II would be a
very alarming matter for Oakland IL these
| bonds are beaten.
/ Now it is going to raise taxes or
/ course It Is. But for the nrst year it Will BE
/ only 81 cents on the $1O0 and each year of the
| forty-year issue there is a reduction steadily
crease in assessment roll. For myself,
own considerable property in Oakland Some
twenty-tbree years ago I am not afraid to
pay few more taxes. In fact l should be
/ mighty glad to pay taxes more valuation il
| / could be sure that the bonds would carry.
/ There has been in West Oakland some COM
plant concerning the bond projects assure
/ you West Oakland has received average fair
| treatment and this Is only a beginning call
| your attention to the projects for this section
Complaint s And sather Park ought to be
| bought. It is splendid location This IL only
| the commencing of a very comprehensive park
| Of and benefits from surface improvements they
| always want more. This proposed park system
| splendid work. And we must make this start.
ABLE RULERS AT WORK.
| We have an able. honest and upright city
government. We have Mayor and Citv Coun-
| Gil composed Of men Of such character as cities
! seldom secure for their public servants Rare
ly does 4 city get the splendid services Of such
| a man Of affairs John l.. Howard. who.
with his committee. devoted hours and hours
! of labor to the work on these bonds. II we
want to continue to have the services or such
| men az thesa ofe must stand behind them in
l fhefr fabo IL is a of 1l
thing in the way of government Is good enough
for Oakland. | feel strongly and firmly that
failure to carry the bonds will give this city
| a black eye that will cutlast our lifetime and
| the lifetimes of our children. Men talk about
my time to pay taxes that would mean some
| thing sor the beauthcation. the health and
When the late n. W spauldine was Mayor
| of Oakland twenty-five years ago he bought
| lot Of school sites For that ne was abused
| and vilhed as a real estate speeulator. You
| and have cause to regret that he aid not buy
five times the amount OF land that he did pur-
| chase for the city. Take time by the forelock.
| secure these properties when you can. we
/ bonded 16O acres ten years ago IN West Oak
land for park purposes. re. Iou cannot get them
we made options. We need not mourn about
the sc-caled burdens our bonds will lay upon
posterity. BY the time posterity begins TO pay
taxes the property which we shall buy now will
be worth five times what we shall pay for it,
If we desire TO stand we'll in the eyes OF those
who shall come after US We will earn the
thanks of pcsterity by voting these bonds.
am convinced that the thing to do Is to
vote fer all OF ths bonds and to make these
splendid improvements that are contemplated
II the bonds fail TO carry. / shall feel that
every foot Of property that own in this city
will be injured.
Chairman Morrison introduced the
Rev j. b. McNally as one who had
always spoken for progress and bet
terment. Father McNally said:
IAIPELLED TO SPEAK
I feel that If / did not come forward and say
a word for the bonds I should be reniss in my
duty to the people Our city has suffered In
the past from dreamy drowsiness. financial
malaria In the midst OF our lovely homes We
1 have been looking across the bay TO criticise-
Rather should we have kept eyes upon
ourselves and put strong hand at the wheel
| OF improvements. We should unite to help
[ ont naf11re should make one great effort