The San Francisco call., 1908-07-18

previously promised funds became
alarmed as to the legality of the
councils procedure and withdrew their
promised assis tance. However, with the
enterprising pioneers, Colonel Wilson
went ahead with the work, obtaining
later from the Legislature an act con-
urmlng the ordinance of the council.
The Importance of the undertaking
was admitted on all sides, the chief
opposition TO the proposition being
based on the contention that the city
should build the road itself at its own
expense and reap the large profits
which 1t was supposed would be the re-
suit This, however, at that period,
ward of S1.500,000 in debt and without
the slightest prospect of being able
for years TO defray its current ex-
penses.
Upon the very last day allowed un-
der the ordinance for the completion
Of the work a loaded wagon passed on
the road from the Mission to town.
This plank road proved of the greatest
service to San Francisco and the prop
erty through which it passed increased
Immediately in value for building pur-
poses. Another plank road, along Fol
som street, was soon after built upon
similar terms and both proved high
ly lucrative schemes for their spirited
builders.
to the Mission on Sundays or holidays.
There were several popular gardens
and places of recreation, like the Will
lows, and as result the plank roads
were literally patronized and showed
a continuous procession to and fro of
all manner of vehicles, equestrians and
pedestrians.
STREETCARS AND RAILROADS
omnibuses soon ran along these
roads and in 1857 the horsecars were
Introduces on Valencia street. The
success of these plank roads and the
streetcar line led to the county of San
Francisco building a road down as far
what is now Palo Alto. There was
no San Mateo county then and San
Francisco county ran down as far as
the present Santa Clara county line.
Mr. Center secured a contract for
building this road, the construction of
which was regarded as a stupendous
task. The enterprise, however, was
carried through successfully to the
satisfaction of both the county and the
people who for years used the road.
As far back as the early sixties Mr..
center saw the possibilities of street
railroading. He was one of the organ
izers of the North Beach and Mission
railroad company that established
streetcar lines in various parts of the
Folsom street. In 1854 the people of
the peninsula became enthused with
the idea that a steam railroad to San
Jose could be made to pay. Mr.. Center
was one OF the foremost of these and
helped to organize the San Francisco
and San Jose railroad company, whose
was located al IW6l1th and
Market streets. This venture he backed
with his fortune and his tremendous
energy.
EARLY HOME BUILDERS
In the early sixties Mr. Center also
engaged in the subdivision of Mission
chased the Union racecourse, bounded
by what is now Mission Harrison,
Nineteenth and Twenty-fourth streets
This property he cut up and sold at a
~ cf ffar. Ia Il
thing with the Pioneer racetrack.
which took in all that territory lying
between Potrero avenue and Howard
streets and south of Twentyfourth. At
one time or another during the last
half century most of the land of the
Mission has passed through Mr.. Cen
stract of title to a Mission lot upon
which his name does not appear
A half dozen homestead associations
were formed in the late sixties and
early seventies and they had no diff
Guilty in disposing of their shares to
people Of small means who were anx-
ious to secure lots on which to build.
Many OF our most prominent pioneers
owned valuable pieces Of land in the
Mission in those days, among others
John S. Eells, Henry Harmes, Joseph
in, William Irwin. A p Hotaling, j. K.
Kittredge, Eugene Casserly. J. T. Bone
stell and Behrend Joost.
With the cutting up of these large
Mission was united with the city by a
connected line of buildings. From that
time on this section of the city entoyed
a steady growth. For years. until Gold
en- Gate park was established the City
gardens in Folsom street and WoIJ-
wards gardens in Mission street at
tracted pleasure seekers, tourists and
visitors from the interior. New streets
were opened and a network of street.
cars soon made the outlying country
accessible The building activities dur
ing the eighties amounted almost to a
boom. At the time of the fire, San
Francisco had practically covered the
Mission proper and was beginning to
spread over the surrounding hills and
down in the direction of San Mateo.
This was due partly to the development
OF street transportation in the outlying
districts and partly to the extraordi-
nary prosperity of the city. All classes
OF wage earnerS were employed at good
wages and large numbers laid the foun-
dations for future homes by purchasing
lots particularly in the southern part
of the peninsula.
HOW CENTER SAVED THE MISSION
In 1881 Mr.. Center bored several
large wells on his property at Six