The Washington times., 1906-04-27
Modern Rome Designed
to Take the Place of
Present Ruins.

As the tabled Phoenix rose from the
fuEeral pile, so the new san Francisco
promises 20 materialize fr )m the smoke
OF the destroyed city. a greater. grand
er. San Francisco. its natural beauties
adorned with the art Of the ancients.
It's seven hills to be the throne upon
which a modern Rome shall sit If the
plans submitted by u. H Burnham In
September. 1905, for the adornment of
the city are adopted there Will. after
all. be much To be thankful for in the
visitation Of the earthquake and fire.
Up to the time OF the terrible dis
aster the great objection TO the exc
cutton Of the plans Of the architect
was the destruction Of property that
would be occasiOned by the reconstruc-
tion Of the city's geography. Now
that there is practically no geography
left for the fire swept city that OBJ
lection is gone. The city Officials can
act with a free hand in the resurvey
of the streets which VIII radlate from
what is proposed 20 be the great Civic
Center, district In the heart OF the
city. In which will be located the city
hall, hall Of Justice. custom house. an
praiser's building, State building. post
office. opera house. concert hall. muul-
cipal theater academy of art. technical
and industrial school. museum OF nat
ural history. museum Of art. academy
Of music, exhibition hall. and assem-
bly, hall The buildings VIII be ar
ranged in a circle forming the great
hub from which the streets VIII radi-
ate.
More Than a Mere Dream.
The new city is not mere dream Of
a fair city. but practicabiIity will be
combined with estheticism. The work
had already begun under the Associa-
ton for the Improvement and Adorn-
ment Of San Francisco. composed Of a
number Of the moneyed citizens Of san
Francisco The association has already
spent $17.50O in plans and drawings
alone and is at present working TO
influence the citizens 10 prepare for
the readjustment OF streets and ave
nues- They fear that in the frantic
desire to resume business the cit
liens may lose sight of the new plan
and rebuild on the old lines.
1t is proposed TO make the hills one
Of the most pleasing features Of the
new city. The tops will be. preserved
in natural state. while the sides will
be covered with an artificial growth OF
trees. Driveways will wind around the
hills 10 the SUBMITS, here a view Of
the marble town below will be obtain
ed. 1t is proposed to make Telegraph
Hill youthful again, 20 make all the
abandoned cemeteries parks, to extend
Market street 10 the ocean, 20 erect a
public amphitheater commanded by
natural hills, to establish recreation
piers and yacht harbOrs, athletic
grounds for men and women with
swimming pools near by.
Two Plans for the Preside.
Two plans are suggested for the
treatment Of the Preside. one TO make
1t threaded with drives and q monster
trolley loop. from which the finest
view Of the city may be obtained by
the people, and the other suggests
treating the hillsides TO the north so
that they Will command a great drill
ground. where public reviews and ma
neuvers may be held. There viii be 4
bOulevards and drives in all sections I
Of the city. but the principal innova- /
ton viii be the long drive along the
bay shore into San MateO county.
Chinatown is to be reclailp~I and |
made one Of the fiourishing gu. less
centers of the city
II the plans are carried out no,y that
-he opportunity is afforded. the new
dream city Will be realized IN the
words of Brete Harte:
Serene. Indifferent as Fate.
Thou sittest at the Western gate"