The San Francisco call., 1909-11-13
COMING ELECTIONS
AID REAL ESTATE
Businessmen Expect Substan-
tial Boom as the Result of
Municipal Improvements

OAKLAND, Nov. l2-Rehecting the
general situation, real estate dealers
have been busy during the week in
expectation Of favorable action of the
voters on bonds and annexation. The
fact that sentiment is strongly in
favor OF these projects has done much
TO give a better tone TO real estate
transactions.
on al sides is heard talk of the
benefits that viii accrue to Oakland
and the eastern suburbs as the result
of the probably favorable outcome of
the bond and annexation elections. All
of the civic organizations. the labor
unions and many fraternal orders
have openly indOrsed both projects.
A feeling Of coming boom has spread
among the real estate dealers as the
result of the expected improvements
along the waterfront. the erection Of
municipal buildings and the installa-
fiOn Of improved fire and police tele-
graph service Most of the real estate
dealers, in fact, the majority of busi-
nessmen. have devoted much of their
time during the last week 10 working
Tor the success of the bond and an
neXatiou elections.
INQUIRIES FOR PROPERTY
Inquiries for business and residence
property have been brisk and a num-
her OF important sales. especially in
The residence districts. are announced
for the week. This is especially true
% the residence districts recently
"9ened. where the building restrictions
are high
The fire and earthquake proof build
ing which il is purposed 10 erect under
the bond issue for the city's electrical
department viii not only be an ornate
municipal structure but will be one
~ the most valuable Of the city's In
stitutions. The item for The erection
and equipment of the edifce is not
.grest-SS0 900: but the expenditure of
that sum viii make one of the most
Important public improvements under
taken in conformity with the general
policy Of civic betterment.
The tentative plans of the fireproof
building call for steel reinforcement
The present equipment Of police tele-
phones and FIRE alarm boxes serves to
bring aid 10 where it is needed; but
the whole system is in imminent
danger by reason of the headquarters
being IN an inadequate structure which
is unstable, which is threatened by
any FIRE that may occur in its neigh
borhood. and which must be razed TO
make room for the proposed new city
hall.
ALARM AND POLICE TELEGRAPH
George r. Babcock. superintendent
Of fire alarm and police telegraph. has
submitted 10 the city council and TO
the board OF public works this esti-
mate Of the money needed TO house the
headquarters anew and 10 connect the
districts OF the city with the main
apparatus:
handsome Ere and earthquake proof
bGilding. about --.------- -SS9'O90
Additional appsrrus- --------.------. zeiVUy
Underground conduit. .---.--.-.--- l,yo1
incidental additions, such as shop equip
rs ment. batteries, cable terminals, labor. 1000
Total .................--....... $4,000
The building is to be T shaped. The
cross al top OF the 7, viii be the
front Of the building; in its basement
viii be the apparatus. laid on con-
crete foundation: its top viii be sur
mounted by a fat cupola containing
dormitory for the men on. duty. The
stem Of the will house the shop
apparatus, wn1 a miniature and an
emergency power plant to charge the
storage batteries when current service |
should be unava lila bic. A gasoline en- |
gine viii be the prime motor.
The provision for underground cables 1
is a move for economy and for eff 1
cheney at once. The safety of an iso- /
lated building would be obViated il the /
wires were exposed 10 danger in all 4
parts Of the city. The annexation Of 4
territory TO the city would make neces-
sary extensive additions to the service;
hence the plans call for the immediate
Construction Of conduits. through 1
which the present alarm system could
be threaded, as could the additions out
side the existing corporate city limits
The poles now in use can bear no more
wires. and the overhead wire system
has proved TO be an expensive ar
rangement-
Changes in the operation Of fire
= lsrms and police calls will be effected 1
with the reconstruction of the service, /
TO the betterment Of the two services.
The plan is in accordance with the
most modern practice in eastern cities, |
and is expected by the city officials to /
develop into one Of the most valuable /
improvements ever undertaken.
The bank clearings for the week, as |
compared with those of the correspond 1
ing week OF last year, are as follows:
This week 81 1856. .9el. so !
Corresponding week l90s...-..-.-.- LIP, 1850
BUILDING PERMITS ISSUED