The San Francisco call., 1905-08-20

Francisco. along these coming boule-
wards and highways. and L am con-
structing in my mind a glorihed San
Francisco, where it is possible TO go
from point to point with ease and dis
patch-an almost unbelievable San
Francisco.
How long" I inquire little anx-
iously, wondering if 1 shall survive for
the accomplishment of the dream, how
long will it take to do all this?'
''About-Iet me see" half shutting
his shrewd. practical business eyes. and
putting his thumbs in his waistcOat
pockets during the mathematical pro-
cess. Just about three years. Yes. I
think it will take all of three years"
Somehow the nearness of the ccnsum-
nation, the possibility of participating
in the Dement'S of such improvements.
gives a vital interest.
OF course it is very lovely to do
things for posterity but 1T is far more
stimulating to do them for yourself
alas that human nature is so selfish.
So 1 ask, with a very real interest,
how it is to be done.
'Well.' explains the practical business
man. 1.-The necessity for and the desira-
bility of these improvements being recog-
nized by the Board OF Works. we get
plans and specifications for the work to
be done, recommend them to the Super
visors and ask for an appropriation-not.
of course. for an appropriation for the
whole thing, but for the amount OF work
that can be done in year. Then we get
the appropriation for the year-it is put
into the budget for the year. you see.
''Then we get the authorization to spend.
the money appropriated
THE plans and specifications are pre-
pared In detail and submitted to ths
Board of Supervisors. They approve.
'Of course, am only telling you what
the process is comments Commissioners
Aigeltnger, without a suspicion OF hu-
NOR, unless 1t be a passing twinkle IN the
very business-like eyes.
Then we let contract to do the work;
see that everything is done according to
the specihcations-that all the gradirgs.
the materials and everything are as speci-
fed; the city accepts the work. and-that
Is ALL"
'Ths thing Is dOneg Ths boulsvards ara
nader"
Yes"
" III THIS NCIy uldIlo1-OI-ldCL way II
sounds very attractive-tha thing seems
as good as done!
How much will It eost-an Of it7" I
ask as an afterthought
We'll, guess 1t can be done inside Of
half a million"
And who will pay for itr'
The city, of course-and the property
owners. In the case or the boulevard
along the water front the property own
ers will pay half. and the city and Har-
Dor Commission will divide the other half
between them. The entire boulevard will
cost not more than $4,000. so that the
cost to the city will not be very great"
But will the property owners be enthu-
siastic enough. when it comes to going
down into their own pockets, to refrain
from fighting the project2"
Why, it is easier to get the property
owners to make improvements than ID is
TO get the consent OF the city and the
money from the city funds. An intelli-
gent property owner appreciates the fact
that such improvements increase the
value of his property, and he Is not only
willing. but he is even anxious, to md the
money-sometines.
1 don't know If Commissioner Aigel-
finger sees the property owner in the
glow shed by his own civic pride and en-
thusiastic optimism, but l am quite sure
that it is civic pride and an optimism
so inspiring OF confidence that I am
half tempted on my way down town to
order an auto so as not to be caught un-
ready by the coming benefits.
Frivolity aside, however, Commissioner
Aigeltinger's plans are plans that surely
must appeal to the civic pride and inter-
est OF every San Franciscan, with or
without an auto--or bicycle.