The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-07-02
H. B. Chamberlin in Chicago Record

H. B. Chamberlin in Chicago Hecoro- san francisco, queen of the sunset land, is to one day be the dominant city beautiful of the world.
 Possessed of great natural advant- ages, each is to be utilized In the com prehensive plans which are to deVelop the metropolis of the Pacific slope into m abiding place which shall De at onoo the pride of its inhabitants and the ao- miration of the world. Proud as are the San Franciscans of an aireauy splendid and brilliant city. they are ae- termined not to rest contenteo "i.'i past achievements, but to press on to the ultimate aim of perfectly adornins the hills which look across the rama pais Peak or smile down upon Sausaii'o and the gardens of Mill Valley.
 The Western city has a magnlncen. site on series of hills, with "aeei touching it on three sides. The grow Ing interest in the trade of the orien. U has drawn the eyes of the world to the California port, and steady ii.ci in population evidences that interest. :. It's citizens, eager to make of It more than a mere commercial center, haNo organized an association TOT its m, provement and adornment. TO 1urtne' that end Daniel H. Burnham or Chl- cago, who as director of worKs or .ne Worlds Columbian Exposition contrip uted so largely to the architectural beauty of the great white city' M nas been engaged to suggest plans. Wi 7. Burnham IS now at work on theSe v plans, and the story Of ms Worn ame ,',s the city's ambition is related by Ruius M. Steele in the June number of sum- set.
 To begin with, Mir. Steele draws an interesting parallel between san Fran cisco and that other city Of nils ana water which for so long has borne the palm for being the most naturally beautiful city of the world-Naples |; Comparing the cities in their situation and climate, he contrasts the people, showing the difference between the sun loving contented, soft-voiced NeaPoii- tans and the energetic men of the West ern world, whose greatest joy IS actiN- ity which creates.
 Upon Neapols,' he writes. mas ever been the spell of the Mediterranean the atmosphere which enthralled men hearts to a lazy contentment and bound their hands; through the chill Pacific waters sweep the Japan current ito give California climate like 1taly's and verdant beauty like Italy's. but not that sybaritic enervation which has maue Naples, the worlds wonder. also the worlds despair. There, contentment short of possible achievement; here, en- x
 This movement toward a city beautl- full is not an entirely new onhe. as the Golden Gate Park shows. Long ago. comparatively writing, there were men who, loving the place, dreamed of a future in which it's beauty would equal it's 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 conserVa~ tory in Golden Gate Park was the gift of Charles Crocker: the Grecian opserV- atory crowning Strawberry Hill was given by Thomas Sweeney and Claus Spreckels, he of sugar fame, Is named as the donor of the costly music stand. And they are not the only ones. Five years ago $5,000,000 issue of bonds TOT the purchase and conversion of mile of residence blocks into an extension of the park panhandle to the heart of the city was carried by three-fourths vote showing the temper of the ma jority to be in favor of municipal inn provement.
 The example of older American cit les has not been lost upon San Fran cisco and it will benefit from their ex- periments. The movement for munic- ipal Identification which had been strengthened by the fight for the bond issue, declared invalid by the Supreme
 
 Tn 1903 when the city voted bonds in the sum of $17.771.000 for improve ments The items constituting it were Sl0OO,1O0 for a new city and county hospital s7,250,000 for sewer system, S3,595.O for school houses and play grounds $1,621,00 for repairing and improving streets, s697.000 for a new County jail and improving the Hall of Justice. $1647.000 for a public li- brary building, $741.000 for children's s playgrounds. s330,O03 for acquiring land to connect Golden Gate Park and the Presidio. $293,000 for acquiring lands for Mission Park. The bonds are now upon the market, and leaders in public matters think the time propit- ous for an active campaign toward the Identifying Of the city. On Janu- ary 15. 1904. the Association for the Improvement and Adornment of San Francisco was formed by prominent men, The membership of the associa- ton numbers 450. and its directors are James D. Phelan, President: Thomas McCaleh, Secretary: William G. Irwin, Allan Pollok, F. W. Dohrmann. Will liam Greer Harrison, Leon Sloss, T. Cary Friedlander. J. w. Bryne and Herbert E Law. ~.:::. .~=-. " The association announced that its main objects were to beautify the streets, public buildings, parks and squares: to bring to the attention of the people ana officials the best meth ods for instituting artistic municipal betterments: to stimulate civic pride in the improvement and care of private property; to suggest quasi-public en- terprises. and to discover and indicate ways of obtaining these results
 In taking up his story MT. Steele says: TO secure an architect of uni versally recognized ability to work out plans for San Francisco, city of beauty. was the first consideration of the Adornment Association. Sir Chris topher Wren made plans for the re- building of London after the fire and his plans were ignored. but in this modern day the architect of q city is given willing authority and respect. The choice of the association fell upon D. H. Burnham of Chicago a world renowned architect, who was invited to come and prepare comprehensive plan for the adornment of San Fran cisco similar to the plans he designed