The San Francisco call., 1908-08-10
OAKLAND EXHIBITS
BUILDING ACTIVITY
Permits Issued in July Exceed
Amount of Same Month Last
Year by Sl5O,OOO
Entrance of Western Pacific
Tracks Marks Important
Epoch in City's History

that the amount Of money represented
by the building permits issued in oak
land for the month of July, 1908. ex
ceeded that for July. 1907. by nearly
Sl5O.OO0. Last month work was begun
on buildings aggregating in value $780,,
900, while in July OF last year the val
ue Of the permits was S4I2 600. Finan-
cial depression had not commenced IN
July. 1907, and the record for July,
1908, clearly shows that the depression
has vanished
The total value of the buildings for
which permits were granted by the
board Of public works during the six
months, from February 1 10 July 81 Of
this year. is S3377,3S9. This shows
slight increase over the average rec
ord for the year. In spite OF the fact
that many Of the refugees from San
Francisco have returned 10 the city
across the bay. the permanent growth
OF Oakland has been so gfeat in the
last two years that activity in build
ing circles is as noticeable now as it
was Immediately after the fire Of 1906.
Indeed, the value Of the buildings for
which permits were taken out in the
last seven days was one-fourth greater
than for the preceding week
The figures compiled by the board OF
works for the year just ended show
that the growth OF the city has been
steady. with no particular boom during
any month and no alarming depression
This is regarded as a most encourag
ing indication of the future prosperity
OF the city.
WORK OF WESTERN PACIFIC
A most important event Of last
week was the entrance of the Western
Pacific tracks into the city. The COM
pletiOn Of that portion OF the line be-
tween Oakland, Niles and the high
Sierras marks an important step IN
the building Of the Gould road. In a
few weeks the bridge work in this city
viii be completed and the company
VIII be enabled to run trains down 10
the location Of its West Oakland ferry
slips, which are now in course of con-
struction. AS soon as the first train
is ready TO be run into the city a
public celebration Of welcome will be
held. The opening OF the districts in
Eden township and the adjacent noun
tain sections will bring a tremendous
increase Of trade to Oakland mer-
chants and businessmen, and the city
win become the natural trading center
for the rapidly developing irrigated
sections Of the San Joaquin and Sacra-
mento valleys.
Local architects report that they are
over crowded with work and that the
increase in demand for buildings OF all
classes has forced them TO increase their
drafting forces OF the utmost capac-
ity. The coming Of the fall season and
the return Of the summer yacationists
10 the city is doubtless responsible for
the unusual activity in this line.
NEW sKYSCRAPER PROPOSED
There was rumor here this week that
preliminary arrangements were about
complete for the erection of a new sky
scraper Office building on the corner
L E. Kelley was reported to be
financing the new building. for which,
il was said, Mccall & Wvthe had pre-
pared the plans Details Of the con-
struction have not yet been made public.
Plans for an attractive dwelling TO be
erected in Van Buren avenue opposite
Warwick street have been prepared by
Architect A ". Smith for F. G. Wright.
The exterior design Of the house will be
simple. but pleasing to. the eye, with
plaster finish and plate glass windows.
On the roof of the house, which will be
fat there viii be a roof garden. The
structure viii contain eight rooms and
a basement and will cost $4,000.
A permit was issued last week to l.
Neal for the construction Of a three
story brick building on the east side of
Franklin street south Of Eighth, to cost
$4,000.
C. p. Mengel has secured permit to
build two story. il room flats on the
north side Of East Fourteenth street
west Of Fourth avenue, to cost $4,000.
A two story, seven room cottage, will
be erected for Mrs. w c. Palmer at
the southeast corner Of Seventh avenue
and East Twentieth street, to cost
$500.
A is room fat building two stories in
height, will be built at the southeast
corner OF Merchant and Genoa streets
by P. +. Bradhoff at a cost Of SIS, 900.
Romeo Peril has secured a permit to
build. a two story, IL room fiat building
on the west side of Harrison boulevard
north Of Twenty-third street, to cost
$4,000.
J. H Fitzgerald has commenced work
on the construction of a two story. 10
room dwelling on the north side of
Forty first street east Of Grove, 10 cost
Es,926
work has begun on two story, u
Toom apartment house on the south side
OF East Twelfth street west OF Fourth
avenue A. B. Fischer is the owner of
the building, which is TO cost $4,000.
A permit has been issued for the con-
otruction OF a two story, nine room
dwelling on the north side of Twenty
first street east Of Webster. John a.
Hoots is the owner and the cost will be
$4,000.
". Stanbus is preparing to build a
tWo story, IL rooms residence at PSI
nay street for $1,000
PERMITS FOR BUILDING
Following is a summary of building
permits applied for at the board of pub
iic works Tor the week, as compiled by
the secretary. Walter B. Fawcett:
Buildings Anor,+s
yne stoTy o"ellngs .-.--.---..-... $40.575 90
yhe ana nalt stor7 evenings. 2.214. so
Two story dwellings .----..--...... %, ,552. 90
Two story fats ................... AZ GO sl0
yne story store ..---- ..-..---..... 1900. 90
Ihree story building and Store. 1900. 90
Three story Dick building .------...- 5000. 90
one story portable scloolhouse- LOO 90
Tank frames, barns, sheds ...... 7S0 m
Alterations, repairs. etc-.-.------... 9,905. o.
Total .slss. .e7e. 80
REPORT By WARDS
First ward .-.-.-.-.-----..-.-..---. $5T. .os2. 90
Second ward --.--...-..-,....-.-.-. 5, 500. 90
Third ward .-..a. .a......-.....-..... S,S25 90
Fourth ward -.....................- 4.170. 90
Fifth ward ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. IL. .9OO. 90