The San Francisco call., 1909-08-14
OAKLAND BUILDING
WORK INCREASING
During Month of July Perma-
nent Improvements Cost
S39I,S66.6O

OAKLAND aug lo.-Ihe blESSsa
thing in real estate affairs in Oakland
this week is the annual convention of
the California state realty federation,
which has brought several hundred
men Of the business into the towns
confines. Many Of the expert visitors
inquired as TO the amount of building
which was carried within the city in
the last month.
They were informed that during the
month Of July 2s2 permits were ap-
piled for at the Office Of the board of
public works These figures repre-
sented an immediate investment in per-
manent improvements Of $3sLS66.6o,
and nearly five-sixths of that sum went
into new construction. chiefly of dwell
ings.
The actual number of permits for
new dwellings was AS, and the total
cost was sS22.22s.25. OF alterations,
additions and repairs, Secretary Faw-
cett Of the board of public works has
recorded 147, with an aggregate cost
OF s6s.637.25.
INCREASED CONSTRUCTION
Realty men find encouragement in
the fact that in new construction there
is an increase Of I9 per cent over the
investment OF July last year. The
growth in the business section is ex-
emplifed in the plans Of the directors
Of the Oakland bank Of savings TO add
two stories TO the present six story
edifce which has been occupied only a
year More Office room is impera-
+Tan Of 1ao., L
building have received bids from con-
tractors to increase their Office ~facili-
ties The plans will be gone over and
q contract awarded soon. so that by
January /. 1910, the two topmost stories
may be rented.
The improvement Of the Central bank
building is almost completed. and to-
day the establishment which gives the
structure its name began its new
career as the Central national bank.
Its operations mean an increase in the
downtown realty values at the vicinity
OF Fourteenth street and Broadway.
PUBLIC BETTERMENT
The city administration has already
named a street opening commission
TO prepare for the extension of Jeffer-
son street from Seventeenth TO San
Pablo avenue. That in itself is at
once an evidence of the spread west
ward OF business, and a prophecy of
the valuation Increases west of Wash
ington street which are to come.
The city Of Oakland is maintaining
its stride Of public betterment, and in
the budget Of the fiscal year 1909
1910, which the city council is working
over, are provisions for several hun
dred thousand dollars in permanent
Improvement This includes extensive
street work. park development and the
afr~s -
iliary system, which has been COM
menced, and will protect the downtown
district. bounded by First, Fourteenth.
Clay and Franklin streets.
In addition to the betterments TO be
effected this year out of the tax levy
the administration viii submit soon a
bonding project TO build a city hall,
to open Washington street, from Four
teenth street TO San Pablo avenue, and
TO get the harbor Improvement under
way.
INDICATES STEADY GROWTH
OF scarcely less interest to the real
estate men is the fact that beginning
with this fiscal year the Western Pa
cilc railway commences paying the
city an annual rental of $1,000 for the
franchise for wharfing out privileges.
The contemplated improvements by the
san Francisco. Oakland and San Jose
railway and the Oakland dock and ter
minal company will bring twice that
sum into the city treasury each year
as rental for the franchises of so years
life.
All this indicates that the steady
growth Of the city is not merely in pri-
vate dwellings. but lies in big invest
ment and in municipal improvements
also.
BUILDING PERMITS
So far as private operations can be
judged the present month will surpass
July in building permits. For the one
week which closed Wednesday, August
Il, the permits amounted to $90.7s5.55.
A detailed report follows