The San Francisco call., 1907-06-22

The prediction that San Francisco
would by July ! have the appearance
OF new city Is fulfilled, for there are
so many buildings almost completed
ana ready to be inhabited in the resi-
oentlal district that the city has lost,
20 great extent, its deserted aspect.
Ihe greatest change in the city is
north Of California street as far west
as jackson and from Powell to Polk.
POLK street is a remarkable example
OF what can be done when people are
jealous to rebuild.
tears were expressed at one time
that the FIRE would change the char
acter OF this thOroughfare and it would
cease to be a business street. For once
the prophets were in error. Polk street
Is being rehabilitated on very much
the same lines as IL was before the
nre. The buildings, perhaps, are more
substantial, but the stores and mar
kets viii be well night identically the
same and viii in many instances be
owned by the same -proprietors. There
IS one owner who was so enamored of
MS old building that he has rebuilt
ms new hotel on the old plan, but
instead Of a drug store occupying the
corner Of Polk and California streets
there is q saloon.
POLK street is practically rebuilt from
Sutter to the end Of the streetcar line
and its rehabilitation possibly is re-
sponsible for the number Of private
houses that have been built on the
streets north.
A DISTRICT OF FLATS
From Polk street to Powell and from
Sutter to Jackson VIII be the great
Tat district There are few houses be-
ing put up in this section and many of
the fats are large and will rent for
comma fiVe7Vr &c
the slightest reason to fear they will
not rent, for real estate agents report
there is big inquiry for fats in this
quarter.
The tastes Of San Franciscans are
variable, for before the fire apartment
houses were preferred TO fats; but now
there is a decided change in this regard
and the inquiry is for moderate sized
fats.
OF apartment houses there are great
number and some Of the finest are on
Jackson and parallel streets north of
California Bush, which at one time
promised to be the street Of private
hotels, has not as yet established its
character, though there is to be thrown
open TO the public an apartment house
of the same name and on the same cor
ner as before the fire.
One Of the most surprising things in
the rebuilding Of San Francisco is that
there viii not be any great change in
the aspect of the city. Of course, there
viii be some entirely different houses.
but the main outlines and the char
acter Of the streets will be pre-
served Many of the new houses are
exact duplicates Of those that were
destroyed and many sections will be
the same. Chinatown has not changed.
The Italian quarter is the same with
the exception Of some larger houses.
Kearny street viii ultimately be q
retail street, while insurance and other
Offices viii go back to their quarters
ia California and Sansome streets.
RENTS ARE FALLING
ks was predicted in these columns
rents have had to come down In
speaking Of this John H. Speck Of the
firm Of Speck & Co. said: Rents are
coming to their normal condition, and
one Of the best signs is that owners
are. realizing that this is the case and
are voluntarily reducing their prices
There are one or two causes for this.
One Of the reasons is that many peo-
PIE are leaving town for the SUNNI er
and secondly so many new houses have
been built that there is a general eX-
Odus TO the new places. The reduction
has been all the way from SIS to 500"
The real estate market has been
quiet during the last week, although
there has been noticeable a better
feeling during the last few days. The
fall in the price of lumber and other
building material has improved the
situation, and the bettering of the car
service also has strengthened public
confidence. The inquiry for downtown
locations has not ceased and there is
every hope that owners will come to a
reasonable basis. There has been
some talk during the week Of the J. T.
Davis estate beginning work on the old
Thurlow block and the architect is said
to be preparing plans for fine office
building. Operators in discussing the
situation yesterday admitted that the
market was quieter now than was ex-
pected, but they said that they were
confident that it would rally shortly
and that sales which were now hanging
fire would be consummated.
TELLS OF LOCAL CONDITIONS
well known real estate man, IL
speaking Of the city, said:
we are in a critical state as :
result Of industrial and municipal con
ditions, but there can be only one re-
suit. better times. It would be amaz.
ing If there We're not a stagnation il
the market. Matters are greatly dis.
furbed. and until the city is settled
we must expect an idle market. NJ
city could 90 through such an expert
ence as we are undergoing and no.
feel It AS soon as we get an estab.
Iished government security viii be es-
tabltshed and people who are now re-
fusing to purchase property and are
begging TO hold on for a few weeks tC
see how the tide viii turn would be IL
the market for property. l know OF
several big deals that are hanging fir,
lust for that reason. A mayor whC
has the confidence of the city woulC
be worth millions 70 US. or course
there is an election staring us in the
face. and that will help TO keep the
market quiet. because no one can tel
how 1t viii turn out. We are on Tho
right road now, however, and already
we are feeling in a slight way some
benefits.
RETURNS FROM YOSEMITE
p z s. Baldwin. who has been il
the Yosemite valley. has returned t.
the city
A l. Harrigan viii leave next weel
10 spend his summer vacation at De
usrrioan- WeidenmulIer & Rosen.