Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-07-08
BEAUTIPYIEG A CITY
PLANS TO ENHANCE ATTRACT.
IvENEss OF SAN FRANCISCO.
Metropolis by the Golden Gate to Be
Improved by Landscape
Architects.

ri"Hi the lineage Hecoru-fferau.
San Francisco, queen of the sunset land.
Is to one day be the dominant city beautiful
of the world.
Possessed of great natural advantages
each is to be utilized in the comprehensive
plans which are to develop the metropolis
of the Pacific slope into an abiding place
which shall be at once the pride of its In
habitants and the admiration of the world
Proud as are the San Franciscans of an al
ready splendid and brilliant city they are
determined not to rest contented with past
achievements. but 10 press on to the ulti-
mate aim of perfectly adjoining the hills
which look across the Tamaipais peak or
smile down upon Sausalito and the gardens
of Mill valley
The western city has a magnificent site
on a series of hills, with water touching II
ON three sides. The growing interest in
the trade of the orient has drawn the eyes
of the world to the California port and a
steady increase in population evidences that
interest. It's citizens, eager to make of II
more than mere commercial center. have
organized an association for its improve
ment and adornment. To further that end
Daniel II. Burnham of Chicago. who as
director of works of the worlds Columbian
exposition contributed so largely to the ar-
chitectural beauty of the great white city,
has been engaged to suggest plans. Mr.
Burnham Is now at work on these plans
and the story of his work and the city's
ambitions is related by Rufus NJ Steele.
Hills and Water.
To begin with, Mr.. Steele draws an inter-
esting parallel between San Francisco and
that other city of hills and water which for
SO long has borne the palm of being the
most naturally beautiful city of the world
Naples. Comparing the cities in their sit
uation and climate, he contrasts the people,
showing the difference between the sun
loving, contented. soft-voiced Neapolitans
and the energetic men of the western
world, whose greatest JOY is activity which
creates.
Upon Neapoiis' he writes. has ever
been the spell of the Mediterranean-the at
mosphere which enthraled mems hearts 10
a lazy contentment and bound their hands;
through the chill Pacific water sweeps the
Japan current to give California a climate
like Italy's and verdant beauty like
Italy's, but not that sybaritic enervation
which has made Naples, the worlds Won
der, also the worlds despair. There, con-
tentment short of possible achievement:
here, energy unbounded, ambition and
hope
Golden Gate Park.
This movement toward a city beautiful
is not an entirely new one. as the Golden
Gate Park shows. Long ago, comparative
ly writing, there were men who, loving the
place, dreamed of future In which its
beauty would equal its opportunities. This
Is shown IN the parks that have crept into
many parts of the city and in the stately
homes which men of wealth builded upon
the hills overlooking the bay They were
public spirited men, too-the conservatory
in Golden Gate Park was the gift Of Chas
Crocker; the Grecian observatory browning
Strawberry Hill was given by Thomas
Sweeney, and Claus Spreckles, he of sugar
fame. is named the donor of the costly
music stand. And they are not the only
ones. Five years ago a 100000 issue OF
bonds for the purchase and conversion of a
mile of residence blocks into an extension
of park panhandle to the heart of the city
was carried by three-fourths vote show
ing the temper of the majority to be in
favor of municipal improvement.
The example of older American cities has
not been lost upon San Francisco, and II
will benefit from their experiments. The
which had been strengthened by the fight
for the bond issue, declared invalid by the
supreme court of the state bore practical
fruits In 1893, when the city voted bonds in
the of S17,771 600 for Improvements.
The items constituting 1t were 81 Coz, coo for
a new city and county hospital, 81 $50 600
for sewer system, 1886, 900 for school
houses and Fairgrounds, 81 ,621, 600 for re-
pairing and improving streets. S69I eco for
a new county Jail and improving the hall of
justice, 81 647O0 for a public library build
ing, $741 600 for childrens Fairgrounds,
$4,000 for acquiring land to connect Col
den Gate Park and the Preside, $780,, 600 for
acquiring lands for Mission Park. The
bonds are now upon the market, and lead
ers in public matters think the time pro-
pitfous for an active campaign toward the
beautifying of the city. On January 10,
1904, the Association for the Improvement
and Adornment of San Francisco was form
ed by prominent men.