The San Francisco call., 1908-11-23
MONEY FOR REALTY
EASILY OBTAINED
Chief City of Alameda County
Benefited by Improved
Financial Conditions
Architects Are Busily Employed
in Making Plans for Pro-
jected Homes


OAKLAND. Nov. 22.-Many influences
that have manifested themselves dur
| ing the week are contributing largely
/ toward the growth of this city One
of these is the greater freedom with
which money is offered. Many of the
dealers in the street report that no
difficulty is encountered in finding cap
! ital for their clients. Capital has been
/ cautious and timid for more than a
| year. to the detriment of this COM
munity, but is evidently now seeking
| investment in Oakland. During the
past week this has been demonstrated
/ in several instances by "all cash" pur-
chases.
Another feature which has contributed
| largely to real estate activity is the be-
ginning of work on the Southern Pa
cfic company's new power house which
is to be erected on the north side of
1 the tidal canal near the Fruitvale ave-
nue. drawbridge. This power house will,
when completed. supply the current for
| the great electric system to be oper-
ated in the cities on the east side of
| the bay
PARK PROJECTS
Still another feature that has con-
| tributed to the general healthy feeling
is the settlement of the condemnation
suits brought by the city to obtain title
! to the land along the lake outlet for
park purposes and the completion of
other plans for the general park
project that have brought that scheme
| to a elimination, which is having
good effect upon the property values in
| the vicinity of the proposed pleasure
grounds.
Building Of homes is increasing with
| great rapidity. All the architects of
the city have their "hands FULL they
say. preparing plans for new homes
which are to go up in as short a time
as. possible
| Among the more expensive private
homes to be erected in the near future
is that of Charles L. Stevens on the
| boulevard in the Adams point tract
The structure will face the lake and
when completed will represent an out
lay Of more than SAT ,000 The house
will be finished in mahogany and
pepperwood. 1t Will contain II rooms
two baths, a laundry and a porch with
| two sundecks. The banquet hall and
ballroom will measure 20 by 80 feet
and will be finished in mahogany, the
beams in the ceiling also being of the
same material. The E. II. Kueffer COM
pany are the architects.
CAPWELL COMPANY TO BUILD
All kinds of options are being sought
in the new retail district In Clay street
The Touraine hotel property owned by
the H. G. Capwell company is soon to
I,be supplanted by an immense modern
store to be used by its owners. This
firm said that 1t is not prepared at this
time to give out its plans, but il is be-
lieved that before the end of next year
a start will have been made on the
building. The locality has proved to
be popular and at the Taft & Pennoyer
opening reception last Tuesday night
one of the largest crowds ever seen In
Oakland thronged the three immense
floors of the building.
The Financial Underwriters predict
that the majority of six to one in favor
of the Hetch Hetchy water supply in
San Francisco is a fair sample of the
vote that will be given in favor of the
Oakland harbor improvements as soon
as the bond issue is placed before the
IOakland people.
HARBOR ADVANTAGES
1t is now firmly recognized that Oak
| lands great harbor will be the founda-
tion of the future commercial activity
of this city. Here are all the overland
| railroad facilities that any city can
enjoy and the only thing needed is the
development of the harbor so that
water and rail can be more firmly
welded together to the end that ship
ping will be made less expensive here
Il
The large concrete building to be oc-
cupied by Sherman, Clay & Co, at Four
teenth and Clay streets, will be COM
menced within a few days The ex-
cavation is almost completed and actual
construction is to be rushed with all
possible speed. Many plans are being
considered for the development of
Clay street, and up to its junction with
San Pablo avenue it is almost impos-
sible to get any kind of lease or op-
tion Stuart w Booth, who is qualified
to speak generally OF Oakland's COM
mercial prospects. says there is every
indication that the coming holiday
business will be phenomenal and far in
excess of any past record.
LAKE MERRITT DISTRICT
Wickham Havens, president of the
firm of Wickham Havens, said:
Any one who has not been out in the resi-
dence section at the head of Lake Merritt dur
ing the last few months will do well to take a
ride oat that way on the next clear day. The
changes and improvements are going ahead -
rapidly that the district would hardiy be recoc-
nized by any who has not seen it lately.
Houses springing up on all sides and the city
gardeners are busiIy engaged in laying out the
small park directly in front of Piedmont by the
Lake. There l3 acres In this park that
will be covered with rolling lawns and towering
shrubs.
Speaking of the situation George
Austin said:
II / owned bank / could not place any more
real estate loans than l doing now Every
good loan applied for in this office Is made in
side of 4s hours, and the result is a lot of well
satisfied clients, who constitute my best adyer-
| tisement Seven per cent is low enough when
you borrowing, and still it is pretty attrac-
tive to the lender. ! take all eomers no mat.
ter which side Of the deal they are on. Even
building loans can be made now, which fndi.
Gates a mighty healthy condition of the money
market and will stimulate business in building
and other circles.
The following is a summary of build
ling permits applied for at the board
of public works for the week, as COM