The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-06-21
THOUSANDS INDORSE
PLANS OF BURNhAN
Merchants Association and
Other Public Bodies Favor
Bonds for Civic Center

The Association for the Improvement
and Adornment of San Francisco which
raised $4,000 by private subscription
for the Burnham plans for a civic CEN
ter. has issued an address to the citi-
zens of this city. giving reasons why
the civic center and city hall bonds
should be voted on favorabiy at the
bond election tomorrow. The pamphlet
in which the arguments are printed in
cludes a reproduction of the suggested
design for such a center at the junction
Of Market street and Van Ness avenue.
Already thousands of citizens and
property owners have expressed them
selves as delighted with the plans pre-
pared by Burnham.
Among the organizations that have
Endorsed the proposed bond issue for
a civic center are the Merchants asso-
citation. A. NJ Davis. president: the
Mission improvement association. James
Rolph Jr.. president; the Downtown as
ISOLATION. A. q. Mccarthy, president;
the san Francisco Institute of Art, Van
lderlyn Stow. president, and the Archi-
tects club of San Francisco.
The following is the communication
issued to the voters by the Association
I for the Improvement and Adornment
Of San Francisco:
TO THE VOTERS:
DO you want a new city hall. Yes.
Why The city hall is necessary for
the transaction of public business The
rehabilitation of the city. The city
hall stands for the dignity and sta
bility of the city. Citizens will take a
pride In ii; strangers Will measure our
munich ality by the character of the
city's chief building. It's construction
viii encourage private enterprise and
give employment to our people.
DO You believe in Greater San
Francisco. Yes.
Why? Because the future of our
city is certain, and we must provide
for vast population which will come
provided we plan to receive 1T and re-
move all obstacles to the city's growth
Is the old site of the city hall suit
able and worthy new city hall for the
Why? 1t is on side street The
Market street frontage is irretrieya bly,
lost IT would cost se.000.000 to buy
IT back. The size and shape of the
keral buildings necessary for the uses
/ of the city government.
What buildings will the city erect,
I A city hall now. which is provided for
I in the bond issue; later a courthouse
! The city now owns one block in the
civic center for library and has the
/ building So two buildings viii be inn
mediately constructedssf the civic cen
/ ter lands are acquired and there will
/ be space for others.
Do yOu favor the new site proposed
in the bond election at the junction
of Van Ness avenue and Market street
/ for the civic center. Yes.
Why 1t is the geographical center
] ~ the nifKr and iS convenient IN oil Il
population and Will become more sc
J yearly. i was selected by D. H. Burn.
/ ham in his comprehensive report made
after careful study. 1t will be the
4 hub OF the greater city. and streets
| shall radiate from it in every direction
! 1t will be the first step toward bring
ing the entrance of the park to Mar
| ket street. It will, by grouping pub
4 lie building around an open space, en-.
| nance the beauty of our city. Further
more. the land will cost less now and
/ the city should take advantage of low
/ prices. 1t will decentralize the con.
gestion down town and stimulate the
growth of the outlying districts.
But will IL cost more than we car
why? The city today has a net deb
Of only S11,000.OOO, with sewers, streets
schools. library, hospitals. jail. FIRE pro
lection and other necessary equipment
provided for. If the present proposed
bonds are voted, the debt of the city
will be S21,00O.000. We have a borrow.
iHB capacity OF $t0,0OU.UUU, winch grow!
with the assessment roll; so there /.
abundance of available credit reserved
for water works.
What would you do with the oil,
sitter
Sell it or lease it. 1t is worth ovel
$4,000. 600. and If Hyde and Fultol
streets are opened 1T will greatly i'm
prove the neighborhood and the valu.
of the property itself Leased 1t will
yield sl25.000 q year Apply s125. OOl
q year to interest and sinking fund OF
the new site-the civic center-the ia,
will only be / cent on the 500 of. as
sessed valuation per year.
How viii 1t pay the city for the extr.
taxi
It will give us the ideal site: it vii
facilitate public business. 1t will in
spire confidence at home and abroad
81 By adding to the city's attractivenes
il will draw and hold visitors an,
bring money to the city by making tn,
The present needs it and posterity viii
"call US blessed"
But do we owe a duty TO posferft,
as well az to Gurselves3
Yes. Just as we owe a debt of graft
fude to the men who acquired Colder
Gate park when land was cheap. an,
4 posterity helps to bear the burden, 70
the bonds run 40 years. But W
also live in our own lifetime, and w
want to enjoy the greatness and beaut
of San Francisco before we becom
ancestors.
The municipality has just received
in the reconstruction of the city. lie
us live up to our reputation.
This is San Franciscos opportunity
/ Vote for the bonds.