The San Francisco call., 1910-03-19
WANT TO IMPROVE
STOCKTON STREET
Merchants Suggest Regrade OF
Blocks and Tunnel From
Bush to California

relating 10 The development OF real
estate values in San Francisco. as a
long time proposition and relating TO
many neighborhoods. probably is found
IN The discussion relating 10 the tun-
neling Of hils in order 10 reduce grades
and provide easy routes from various
districts 70 the retail business centers
OF the city
Naturally the Merchants association
IS interested in al that viii upbuild
the business of san Francisco. as its
membership embraces hundreds OF
hrms. retail snd wholesale. who see in
the development of trade and com
reroe one Of the prime and permanent
actors OF solid local growth.
4 detailed statement is made by the
association OF the plan that it favors
sn6 IN q petition fled with the super
visors in which = change Of grade on
stockton street is sought
PETITION FOR TUNNEL
The petition calls for the following
improvements:
I. That the grade in stockton street
between SUtter and Sacramento be
changed and established al the inter
section Of Bush Pine. California and
Sacramento streets al sUch points as
may be recommended by the city en-
gineer SO that there shall be a uniform
gradient between Sutter and Sacra-
mento streets Of approximately 81
Per cent
.. That Stockto> street from the
northerly line OF Suffer 10 the south
erly line OF Bush and from the north
erly line Of California street 70 the
southerly line OF Sacramento be graded
70 the above proposed new oficial
grade by means OF open cuts, as sug-
gested on blEe print map
PROPOSAL FOR TUNNEL
3 That Stockton street from the
southe-iy lire OF Bush 10 the northerly
line q California be graded 10 the new
Official grade BY tunneiing through the
intervening hill. said tunnel 10 be full
width Of the street and Of q suitable
height. as suggested on the map
4. That said portion OF Stockton
street from Sutter 70 Sacramento upon
which the grade viii be changed be i'm
proved by paving the roadway with a
suitable pavement and constructing
sidewalks thereon and stairwsys there
from 70 Bush street and California
street st lis intersections with said
streets. and such other Improvements
as the city engineer may recommend.
3. That the name OF stockton street
present grade between the southerly
line Of Bush street and the northerly
line of California street be abolished
and 1hst these two blocks be thereafter
designated as stockton heights
5. That the Official grade Of said
stockton eightss between Bush street
nd California street be fixed and es-
a s5liShed a. the present grade Of the
pavement thereon
= That the money TO defrsy the cost
q changing and establishing said
grades. improving said streets and the
payment OF any damages caused by
said changes Of grades be raised in
such manner as may be permitted by
law and as in the opinion OF your
honorable board may be deemed best
ATTITUDE OF MERCHANTS
The current number OF the Mer-
chants Association Review discusses
the entire proposition and officially
SETS forth the attitude Of the associa
tiou- That the matter may be clearly
understood by all persons who are in
cerested. much OF the arguments are
republished. as follows:
Recognizing that the next great de-
velopment or san Francisco viii have
70 come through the construction OF
tunnels under the hills that now d.
vide the city into comparatively small
and detached areas. the Merchants as
socisticn has given an impetus to the
movement by fling a petition for
change OF grade in Stockton street
between the southerly line of Bush
street and the nertherly line Of Cali
fornis 70 be effected by tunneling
through the intervening hill.
Other changes Of grade to conform
TO this one are also recommended.
forming a complete scheme OF street
Improvement TO connect the North
beach section with the business center
of the city by new thoroughfare with
practical grades and ample accommo-
dsIions for ali sorts OF traffic.
The association lid not take up the
stockton street project sooner because
II was believed that this tunnel would
he constructed by e street railway com
pany that applied several months go
for & franchise. but since that plan has
been abandoned the directors feel that
some other should take its place. It
hss therefore been decided TO make
beginning with Stockton street be-
cause 4 is one OF the most imports nj
OF all the tunnel proposals. and is
also one OF the shortest and least
expensive Several OF the owners of
property in the vicinity of the i'm
provement have signifed TO the asso-
cistion z willingness to forego dam
ages and some even TO bear part OF
the expense.
OWNERS FAVOR PROJECT
Owners Of property in Stockton
street from SutteT 10 Bush and from
California TO Sacramento, where open
cuts are suggested. are almost unani-
rnously IN favor Of the project, mas
much as the change Of grade viii put
their holdings on compare lively level
street with possibilities Of business de-
velopment which IL lacks in its present
state. and that in the one or two cases
where expensive improvements already
exist there has been evinced willing
ness 70 come 10 acceptable terms about
damages and TO build substructures
under the buildings that viii bring
them down 10 grade after the method
adopted in Seattle by owners of prop
ertv similarly affected by such i'm
proVements.
Incidentally the official publication
OF the Merchants association quoted
Dr. Hsrtland Law. who advocates tun-
neIs as q means of access to thousands
OF acres within the city limits and to
provide for a population that will
grow rapidly
ARGUMENTS FOR TUNNELS
Laws views are given in part as
follows.
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