The San Francisco call., 1906-05-16


men who gathered around tables and
studied maps of the city yesterday.
The well-known architect showed not
the least sign of fatigue after his long
trip across the continent. dropping all
his business affairs to lend his aid to
those who are planning the recon
struction of the city Burnham was
accompanied by Edward Bennett. who
assisted him in preparing the original
plans for the Identification of the city
The noted architect made. no formal
address to the committeeman. He
simply sat with them while they con-
sidered and acted upon the important
matters before them, and frequently
made suggestions that were quickly
accepted by the committeeman He
advocated the most practical plan for
the rebuilding of the city. The Burn
ham plan of streets, boulevards, etc,
he said, was a guide that would stand
for one hundred years. OF course,
the great fire would result in some
modifcati tion Of the streets as laid out.
and it was essential that the opportu
nifty should be taken advantage of. A
practical view should be taken of the
situation and 1t should be arranged to
get from place TO place as quickly and
as easily as possible and every effort
should be made to relieve traffic on all
the streets heavily burdened
ADVOCATES A BOULEVARD.
Burnham spoke at length only once
and that was lin advocacy of boule-
ward around the city, along the water
front-a broad roadway built over the
roofs of warehouses, the latter to be
made sufficiently strong to support it.
Nothing is SO attractive to my
mind" said Burnham, as a drive
along the water. People love the water
and love to go near it. Give them a
beautiful, broad place upon which to
drive, such as a boulevard like this, and
it Will have a great effect upon the
entire population, and, in addition, be
Of enormous value to the city"
Among the recommendations de-
cided upon by the committee on the
widening, extending and grading Of
the streets at its meeting yesterday
forenoon with the Burnham plan COM
mittee was one to increase the width
Of Montgomery avenue twenty feet
from Pacific street to the bay and to
continue the widening of Sansome
street to Market. The committee de-
voted much consideration to the
widening of Market street from Ere
mont TO the ferry. At present the
width is 120 feet. Former Mayor Phe-
Ian suggested that It be increased to
$50 feet. Ruef said that while he was
in favor of the proposed change, it
would be a very expensive proposition,
costing over five million dollars. Later,
when streets south OF Market ano
close to the water front were consid-
cred it was decided that it would be
best TO reconsider the matter Of
widening Marke street, and, instead,
draw a diagonal street from the ferry
through to Fremont. This idea. how
ever, after discussion, was abandoned.
WIDENING OF GEARY STREET.
Considerable time was devoted to
the proposed widening of Geary street.
Burnham stated that this would bu
one of the very best things that could
be done. He believed it would be a
splendid business street all the way
out, and that it woulI become eventu-
ally a second Marhe: street if i'm
proved according to the plans in con-
temptation. Several of the members
of the committee intimuted that there
would be trouble with the owners of
big buildings on Geary street in con-
nection with the proposed widening
These buildings include the Mutual
Savings Bank building. Spring Valley
building, Newman G. Levinson build
ing, all on the south side, and the ST
Francis and Butler buildings on the
north side. 1t was finally agreed that
there could be some satisfactory ad-
Justment with the property owners
A. Ruef moved to widen Geary
street its entire length tc Central ave-
nue., and the committee voted in favor
OF the motion. Ex-Mcyor Phelan then
suggested that it be recommended to
change the name of Point Lobos ave-
nue..
Burnbam heartily approved of this
Give it some name with reference to
the broad Pacific Ocean, he said.
Let it signify some connection with
the open water"
Balboa avenue was proposed and
also Marine avenue. Chairman Law
thought the German idea should be
followed and that It should be called
Geary- -to-the Sea. BurnEam's susges-
tion that the new name should not be
hastily decided upon was approved and
it was agreed TO defer the matter for
the present.
FIRE BREAKS USELESS.
Law informed Burnham that the
streets widened south os Market street
were changed chiefly with view TO
making them fire breaks. The famous