The San Francisco call., 1908-12-10
PRIVATE FUNDS TO
BUILD CITY HALL
Real Estate Board Gets Pledge
of S7,OOO,OOO Capital for
New Structure
A. j. Rich Prepares Scheme
Which Will Be Presented to
the Supervisors

plan by which q new city hall
could be built without putting the city
under heavy bonded indebtedness
vas lelo before the real estate board
at It's regular meeting yesterday after
noon by A. J. Rich. chairman OF a
committee appointed to solve the prob
lem OF department accommodations
ne scheme, which was complete as TO
financial plan and included an archi-
tecoura1 elevation OF handsome build
3ng 20 be erected on the present foun-
cations at McAllister and Lsrkin
streets, was briefly explained by Rich
ana was enthusiastically adopted by
ne members, who will present 1t TO
fhe board OF supervisors for consider
etion.
Rich explained that the committee
had been able TO secure a promise of
private capital which would Obviate
lne necessity OF issuing bonds TO the
extent OF 1000. 600 and had solved the
problem OF housing the city depart
ments during the construction OF the
city hall
We can secure people who will un-
4 oertake the contract" said Rich, Civ
ing the city better service than they
now get for their annual rental Of
$4,000. and arranging that this amount
would 90 toward the purchase OF the
buildings II the city accepts this
plan the departments Will be adequate
" housed, the matters Of light, heat
sanitor service and repairs Will be at
tended 70 during the life Of the stipu-
2ation. 20 years, within which time the
city viii pay annual installments from
It's budget 10 consume the debt
TEMPORARY STRUCTURE
1t is proposed to build structure
Tor the temporary housing Of the de-
partments while the hall is being
built For this purpose one of the
city's lots, say the one at the corner
of Stockton and Bush streets, could
be used and e structure erected which
efterward could be utilized by the
school department"
Rich said that this plan to build a
city hall on municipal property and
rent 10 the city could be consummated
and the buildings ready for occupancy
before the matter OF bond issue could
be arranged.
The architects plan presented by
Rich provided for an immense audi
toriums as large as any in the country.
The plan proposed the tearing down
Of the, old city hall and utilizing the
foundations.
J. R Howell read the report OF the
committee on extension OF fire linn
It's" which VIII be presented TO the
IRE commissioners today. 1t proposed
70 extend the westerly line Of thS pres
ent IRE limit from the center or Van
Ness avenue TO the center OF Frank
lin street. Howell said that this would
anord the city better protection and
besutify the avenue It was proposed
10 sllow the present wooden buildings
20 remain and make the ordinance ap-
ply TO new structures.
AMEND CONSTITUTION
Amendments TO the constitution OF
the board were passed and an impor-
tent measure adopted IN the estab-
1ishment OF an appraisement commit
tee 20 act official board OF ap-
.prsisers similar 10 that IN other cities
j. r Howell said that heretofore It
had been embarrassing for reputable
real estate men to be allied into court
70 testify TO their estimate OF a piece
OF property and 20 find another man
on II e other side, perhaps. cutting the
estimate In half or doubling IT. The
board. which viii be appointed at the
next meeting, viii be an Official body.
Other matters considered by the
board were that Of g protective ar
Tsngement between renters OF houses
by which a certificate OF character as
6 tenant could be given to satisfac-
tory people. also the report OF the
COMMITTEES on the Greater San Fran
cisco" movement