The San Francisco call., 1906-05-18
STRONG NOTE OF PROTEST.
Continued from Page /, Column s.

as possible on these plans and would
make its report to the general COM
mittee within the next few days and
that from there the matter would take
the usual course and that the prop
erty- owners would be informed as to
the plans in ample time to start re-
construction.
After hearing of the talk of threat
ened ruin of the commercial and busi-
ness center. Burnham himself took
the floor and gave his views regarding
a city beautiful.
San Francisco has the chance Of a
lifetime. chance that no other city
ever enjoyed" he said. Now is the
golden opportunity and we must en-
brace 1t. If we succeed in making San
Francisco a better city, the gold will
flow in from all quarters of the globe.
Business will be better and we will
have a world-renowned reputation
that will last for all time. We must
not consider the next two or three
years. There is much time beyond
that, and what does a few years mean
anyhow? / am speaking from a COM
mercial as well as an artistic stand
point now.
GREATEST OF THE CITIES.
San Francisco can be made the
greatest of American cities and now
is the chance to make 1t SO. Take
Paris, for instance: The French capital
makes more money from it's visitors
each year than 1t took to make the
city the most beautiful in all the world.
We can do the same and there is no
reason why the money will not come
here as quickly as it rushed into Paris
and is still rushing there.
I'VE can make the city convenient
one as well as beautiful one accord
ing to our present plans. We can
make It great shopping center. The
rich folks will flock here and that will
make 1t good for the shopkeeper, the
and the salesman. There
fore all classes will be benefited. But
where are we going to get the money?
That is the great question and for
one 1 am not prepared to answer now.
But / believe we can get 1t If we
go to work on practical lines. II the
outside capitalists learn what we are
about to do and wake up to realiza-
ton Of the fact that San Francisco is
destined to become an American Paris,
the shower of gold is sure to come. II
we do the right thing by our city 1t
will come sooner than we imagine
now."
Before discussing the commercial
center of the city the committee took
up the proposed extension Of Potrero
avenue into Ninth street. But here
an obstacle in the form Of the Western
Pacific Railway was encountered
Chief Engineer Bogue informed the
committee that the company has some
valuable land there and would not part
with 1t under any consideration, as 1t
had already experienced plenty Of
trouble in annexing this valuable
stretch Of property.
WIDENING OF NINTH.
In lieu of this the committee re-
ported favorably upon the plan to
widen Ninth street its entire lentgh,
or from Brannan to Market. Other
changes were also recommended, In
Guiding the widening Of Hayes street
several blocks out from its junction
with Market, and also the widening
of Folsom street out as far as the
residence district.
Willis Polk, the architect, made an
extended address, in which ne stated
that the Burnham committee was
working on the theory that the plan
Of San Francisco was not perfect and
that therefore all these changes were
spoken of and discussed. This address
was made a moment after Abe Ruef
entered the room. Ruef Is on the wild
ening of the streets committee and
Polk intimated that the latter body
was of the opinion that the present
plans Of the city were perfect ana
needed no adjustment.
81 am willing to go even further
than you, Mr.. Polk" said Ruef in re-
sponse, 'sbut there are several changes
that 1 would advocate. For instance,
[ am In favor Of widening Montgom-
cry avenue and extending 1t right
to the ferry, but as to the
proposed boulevard that will skirt the
city l must say that l shall oppose 1t
as out of the question and not at all
practical or IN keeping with other
plans.
In the first place It would require
4 vast amount Of needless expense. 1t
would be necessary for us to cut
through hundreds Of blocks Of valu-
able property and this we would have
TO take by storm or buy. 1 myself
believe the city will have to pay dear
y for every inch of ground 1t ac-
luires. These philanthropists who
nave proffered us thousands of square
-eeI OF ldHQ VIII SuIIeT d cooling Ol
their ardor as soon as the bricks on
their destroyed property oeol OF.
TAXATION BIG FACTOR.
Then taxation is another important
factor. II / thought we were in a
position to accomplish the work out
ined by Mr.. Burnham I personally
would be in favor Of taking up every
,ne Of these improvements and
changes. But we must consider our
,esources and our taxation. We can
not afford to burden tho people Of this
,ity with tax rate that will keep
hem down for years to come. That
s the important factor and we must
It very carefully.
THE city government must be looked
% while we are busy forming our
elaborate plans for the adornment OF
the town. We will have a very tedious
md perpleHng task on our hands re-
yarding the tax levy, financial re-
sources and other minor details. But
hey must all te considered"
Regarding Ruers statement ~ 10 tho
financial condition Of the city, taxation
md the like, the majority Of the COM
nittee seemed to be in favor of SIM