The San Francisco call., 1905-08-20

We all have it in greater or less de-
gree, and usually take ii out for exer-
else only when we are away from home
and in contact with the civic pride of
other people.
This can be made the finest city on
EARTH. says Commissioner Aigeltingers
civic pride. and it is this faith that
sends him out after and between office
hours to examine into the needs and
possibilities of the city.
Just like a man who is making a
home for his family" he says going
back to his original illustration. "the
officials of a city must look out not
only for the needs of the present, but
for those of the future.
The wonderfully rapid growth of San
Francisco and the promise of even
greater growth in the future are very
urgently demanding some pretty big
improvements to be made right now.
THE first requirement of a great city
is convenient highways-easy outlets
forsthe business traffic and easy out
lets for its population to the pleasure
grounds.
These two things San Francisco
needs already, and already some of
them are under way
'All any one has to do to get an idea
of the city's needs is to go south of
Market street and see how congested
the streets are during the busy hours,
or stand on Market street and see the
tangle of trucks and delivery wagons
with miscellaneous vehicles. or even
just try to cross Market street in
hurry.
'The city's business has grown be-
yond its conveniences and so we must
make more conveniences.
This is particularly true of the dis
trict south of Market street. The great
increase in business traffic has shown
the streets to be too narrow. We are
already at work widening Fourth
street. cutting down the sidewalks to
widen the driveway.
This same thing must De done on the
other streets south of Market that are
business arteries. There are fifteen miles
of streets in that section of the city that
must be widened in order to meet the re-
quirements of business traffic. They can
be made eight feet wider by cutting down
the sidewalks four feet on each side.
Then they must be paved with basalt
blocks on asphalt-the necessary paw
ing for streets where there is heavy
traffic. The basalt blocks can stand the
wear and tear and the asphalt reduces
the noise. vibration and Jar of travel.
ut will cost about $4,000 a mile TO do
this. and there are. as 1 said, about f1f-
to be widened and paved. And this is
just one item in the list of improvements
San Francisco needs.
THE utilities must be considered first
the business prosperity Of the city de-
mands that; and along this line the city
needs several outlets for its traffic. to di-
vert 1t from Market street, to avoid the
difficult grades and to increase the ac-
feasibility of different sections of the
city.
THE northern and northwestern Sec
tions of the city are difficult of access
on account of the hills. On this account
one thing that the city needs is the
boulevard along the water front from
the foot of Market street to Fort Mason.
Such a boulevard will give an easy out
let to that side of the city and take the
heavy trucks and delivery wagons off
Market street; and it will also beautify
the city. 1t is planned to make this with
a driveway sixty feet wide and sidewalk
fifteen feet wide, with trees on both sides.
In addition to being Of great business
value. 1t will offer a sort of pleasure
ground, for where the water front is
open benches can be placed under the
trees for people who want to see the
beauty Of the bay.
ITO give an outlet to trafiic from the
city center Tenth street is to be widened.
as well as Fourth street, and Mission is
to be widened to Ninth.