The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1907-01-11
COUNCILMAN TELLS
NEED OF PARKS
Members of Oakland Club
Hear Address by A. II.
Elliott on the Bond Issue
ASKS AID OF WOMEN

OAKLAND, Jan. 1o.-City Council
man Albert H. Elliott delivered an in
teresting address before the members
of the Home Club today, explaining in
detail Charles Milford Robinsons
plans for identifying the city. The
plans have been taken as the basis
of the proposed park sites. Bonds fol
the purchase of the sites are to be
voted upon Monday. Elliott showed
the plans with Lake Merritt as the
axis. He pointed out how ten proper
ties, including the Willows, the Adams
Point property, the acreage on the
east shore of the lake, the strip run
ming from the Twelfth-street dam to
Tenth street, Independence Square.
square on Commerce street. the land
adjoining Bushrod Park. the De Ere
merry property, square at Tenth and
Peralta streets and a piece of land at
Watts Tract, fitted into the general
scheme. Elliott added:
THE price that we would pay for
these lands would not be too high
Each piece has been submitted to
board of real estate experts, who have
placed reasonable value upon 1t. II
the men who own the land will not
take these prices the property may be
condemned and the question submitted
to a jury The men who voteN for
bonds will be protected.
1T is the womens part to urge the
men to go TO the polls and vote. What
ever other election a man may neglect
he should never miss a bond election.
Personally, l am in hearty sympathy
with the scheme of bonding the city
for the purpose of making possible
these parks and Fairgrounds 1t is the
last opportunity we will have to Sc
cure several pieces offered We would
better get them before it is too late
VIEWS OF EXPERT
Robinson, who is accounted one of
the leading experts in the United
States on civic adornment, has sent to
the citizens of Oakland an address on
the proposed bond issue, part of
which follows:
The .plats of ground for the purchase Of which
seem to be located at strategic points The
total acreage involved is nowhere near what |
would wish. what it really ought to be, so
far | determine from my maps the
chosen sites and their extent. But at least they
make good beginning. Many of them are plats
which ] myself named in making my report,
and their requirement and artistic development
would do much TO enhance the attractiveness of
around Lake Merritt you would secure a charm
ing pleasure ground. and Of which the use
fnlness and extraordinary accessibility may well
arouse the envy of other cities. II you vote for
the purchase Of these tracts you may be sure
that you VIII not be doing anything very big or
very daring. You viii be acting with exceeding
conservatism, and doing about as little as you
decently can do for city that does not want TO
appear and 10 be on the wane.
In the second place, the proposals are not only
exceedingly moderate. but they are good bust
ness proposition. Such is the character. present
and prospective. of the various takings that.
apart from the esthetic gain to the city and the
pleasure they would give. their requirement for
park purposes would improve the value of
adjacent and neighboring property that IN tne
quickly pay for themselves.
WOULD PAY PROFIT
This is not matter of theory, but of knowl-
edge based the results of such takings in
other cities. short time after these plats
that they at least paying their interest and
sinking fund charges in cash. and | am pretty
confident that they would be paying a good
profit besides You have the opportunity to add.
with no net cost. this much OF beauty and
pleasure giving quality TO your homes.
The wide scattering of the projected acquire
city. and such outlay may at once be in
volved would be returned to your own tax
you know that the lands could never again be
secured at as low a price as now.
Finally, the S9a2. 900 which Ii is proposed to
expend amounts even ar the beginning to only a
few cents a year from each citizen of Oakland.
and each year would see the sum reduced as a
portion of the bonds were paid. Yet. little as
1t thus would come TO- the actual payment would
not be per capita basis. but those who have
most would pay most. The man who owns little
property would get his parks for about the price
OF an annual stick OF candy, and he would never
have other entrance fee to pay. The man who
owns would get them for nothing. 1t is a
great opportunity
The Vernon Heights and Lake Shore
Improvement Club has adopted resolu-
lions urging strong support of the
proposed park bond issue.