The San Francisco call., 1907-03-30

business on those thoroughfares. The
march downtown OF the big retailers
has emboldened all storekeepers in
that district. and 8 meeting has been
called 10 take such action is thought
necessary TO secure what are consid-
cred fair rentals
At this meeting the tenants will take
up the question of rents in all outlying
streets, and one Of the objects is TO
boom the movement toward and urge
the restoration OF the old retail dis
trict.
within the last few days all the real
estate Offices have had inquiries re-
garding locations. An impetus to this
movement has been given by the con-
firmation Of the report tnat the Empo-
rum will be re-established In Its old
quarters in Market street. and with the
White House at the corner Of Sutter
street and Grant avenue the retail dis
trict may be said to be established.
Other big stOrekeepers who viii open
their establishments in the old district
will be Davis e. Schonwasser, who
viii occupy a building at the southeast
corner OF Powell and O'Farrell streets,
and Hammersmith & Field, who viii
have their new store on the southwest
corner of Sutter street and Grant ave-
nue..
WILL BE NO DELAYS
Dealers who keep in touch with the
public declare that the downtown
movement was never so aggressive as
it is now. and the knowledge that
some OF the property owners are be-
ginning 10 realize that il is TO their
interest not 10 maintain prices out or
proportion TO actual values has excited
Inquiry. Some OF the real estate oper-
Rtors are convinced that within eighteen
months most OF the merchants viii be
downtown, and several OF the build
lngs which they intend to use will be
ready FOR occupancy.
There has been no cessation in the
work Of rebuilding and building, and
though there are some who profess to
be alarmed over an alleged shortage
Of material. construction work as yet
has not been delayed.
Contractors say there is a shortage
OF help. Structural steel workers are
needed Gasitters have not the slight
est difficulty in securing all the en-
ployment they wish at a remuneration
Of So q day
According to the statistics furnished
by the transportation companies Cali
fornia received 10000 immigrants from
March j TO yesterday. and the majority
Of these were men seeking employment
IN San Francisco. AS the railroads DO
not report any heavy east bound busi-
ness IL is safe TO presume that the men
found occupation here Judging from
the streetcar travel and the ferries,
San Francisco is as populous as before
tlle FIRE.
The building Of fats is occupying the
attention OF a number OF property own
ers and several contracts have. been
let within the last few days for this
rIass OF dwellings The Fairmont has
given a boom TO the district in its i'm
mediate vicinity and operators report
chat the streets adjacent TO the big
7r-er- las =
nnartment houses and lodging houses.
From what can be gathered in conver-
cations with future lessees OF these
buildings. rents in the better class
apartment houses will be about 25 per
rent higher than a year ago. The ex-
planation is that the cost Of building
has TO be taken into consideration and
also the fact that these houses viii
be far superior TO any Of those In ex-
lstence before the fire.
There has been a lull in Chinatown
and Il is alleged that this is caused
bv the reluctance Of banks to loan
money on Chinatown property. For a
short time there was tendency on the
bart Of some Of the banks TO refuse TO
make loans but this has disappeared
gohn Speck, the well-known real estate
man and director in one Of the local
banks. in this connection said recently:
.'The commercial banks are beginning
to be liberal with loans to good clients
and business men of good standing can
secure money without difficulty"
Montgomery street is stin the busiest
bf the downtown thoroughfares. Work
Is being rushed upon the Mills building
and the new building on the site Of the
old Lick House, while Harrigan, Wei
aenmuller & ROsenstirn report that the
pfice and store building which is 10
pccupy the site Of the Russ House is
her ~ a.
heut merchants and professional men.
There is quite a boom along Broad
p-av east of Kearny, and several new
blayhouses and dancehalls have been
but up lately. This district promises
10 be as lively in the future as it was
IN the past
Mission real estate business Is being
given considerable impetus this spring
BY e number Of firms, one Of the most
tnterprislng ia that section being the
T. p. Mcleod COMPANY In the monthly
record published by the company show
lnE properties for sale. large number
of cottages, houses and fats are emu
nerated. indicating that the dearth OF
dwellings, which followed the disaster
NJ a year ago is almost over. The com
bany has begun a movement 10 secure
4 new depot at Twenty fifth and Va
lencia streets. on the ground that the
business done by the railroad company
would make an Outlay loI Improvement
Of this character 5ustihable.
SALE OF JOHNSON PROPERTY
Hoag & Lansdale have purchased 104
acres of the famous johnson property,
IN Menlo Park. San Mateo County. The
ownership OF the property for the past
thirty years has been divided among
twenty-five different individuals and
horporations but owing 10 death among
The various owners title 10 the property
has always been IN probate. Last Feb
fuary, however. after a long and ex-
bensive litigation, a partition was
fnally arrived at and the title placed
IN marketable shape.
Eighty-eight acres OF the land ac-
tuired through this sale fronts 5000 feet
llong San FrancisQuito Creek, the
boundary line between IL and the Stan
ford University grounds The property
fs only few hundred feet distant from
fhe famous old Stanford residence II
Is wooded with oak and bay trees and
s. accessible both from Menlo Park sta
lion and Palo Alto IL is the intention
81 the purchasers to start work imme-
lately TO subdivide and improve the