The San Francisco call., 1908-12-28
OUTLINES PLANS TO
BEAUTlfY HIGHWAY
Park Superintendent Says Work
on Ocean Boulevard Will Be
Rushed to Completion

Park superintendent John McLaren
has commenced the formulation OF
plans for the adOrnment Of the Great
Highway along the ocean beach. as a
result OF the decision handed down by
the supreme court establishing the
city's right to five valuable blocks Of
land below the cliff house. While yet
in an embryonic state. the ideas so far
advanced by the superintendent indi-
cate that san Francisco will be able
to boast of one of the most magnificent
bouIevards in the world when the work
of removing the present unsightly
'adornments" of the land is finished.
The only thing standing in the way OF
McLaren's ambition at tho present
time is the action to eject the occu-
pants. which will be a matter of form,
and will soon be decided.
This decision is of untold value to
the people OF the city" said McLaren.
discussing the opinion of the supreme
court which gave the land to the city.
1T is a vindication OF justice and a
great step forward in the undermining
of San Francisco. Think of the differ
enee between present conditions along
the beach and what they will be whe \
we have without exception the mos
beautiful highway in the world extendr
ing for several miles along the ocean
shore. Not even the famous boulevard
of Naples will be artistically superior
TO ours.
ADORNMENT OF HIGHWAY
The adornment OF the highway is
big undertaking and all of the details
have not yet been worked out. but we
have formulated general ideas on the
subject We will have land enough at
our disposal to widen the present high
way to the extent of 200 feet. and this
will undoubtedly be the first thing at
tended TO. When we have cleared the
right of way to this depth for a dis
tance of four miles along the ocean
shore from the CliT House to the
county line the work OF beautifying
the highway Will be commenced.
Think what an Improvement it
would be to have a wall on the ocean
side extending the entire length OF the
boulevard. ornamented with artistic
lamps, with inches in the intervening
spaces where marine plants could be
placed and would flourish On the inner
side of the boulevard a wide promenade
for pedestrians can be placed, and the
scheme of decoration carried out BY the
placing of groups of statuary. So much
for the boulevard itself, but even more
artistic results can be obtained at the
terminus OF the highway near the CIR
House, where there will be plenty of
room for magnificent plaza.
MANY USES FOR ROADWAY
The purposes to which this boule-
ward could be devoted are innumerable
The public could use it as a drive and
promenade, it would be especially
adapted for parades and maneuvers.
and would contribute to the greater
enjoyment OF life in many other ways
Work will be commenced as soon as
we receive advice from the city attor-
ney that we may go ahead"
Within the next month the remfttur
in the case VIII be handed down and
spread upon the records OF the superior
court. City Attorney Percy Long will
then commence ejectment proceedings
against the present holders of the land.
and before very long II is probable that
the city will be in full possession OF
/ its property.