The San Francisco call., 1910-10-29
SOUTH OF ARMY CLUB Is
DEVELOPING LARGE DISTRICT
Field Of Operation Is From Bay to Ocean, Where
Population Has Quadrupled in Four Years

The South of Army Street improve
naent club looks out for all the terri
tory south Of Army street to the county
line. and from the ocean to the bay.
There are q great many other improve
ment clubs that cover sections of the
same territory. These clubs receive,
when necessary. the assistance of the
South Of Army Street Improvement
club.
The distance south Of Army street
10 the county line is two and a half
miles, aspd the distance from the ocean
70 the bay in this section is six miles.
No other portion of San Francisco has
grown more rapidly during the last
10 years.
Ten years ago practically all of this
territory consisted Of vegetable gar
dens. dairies and fenced areas. There
were very few transportation facili-
ties. There was little of anything that
afforded Inducements for building. Five
years ago a substantial change had
taken place. But by far the most pro
nounced development has resulted dur
ing the last FIVE years.
In some sections the population is
now four and five times what ii was
four years ago. This rapid transfor-
nation Of a territory not suited for
building purposes has made necessary
2 great deal of development work. For
this work the various Improvement
clubs We're organized
The South of Army Street improve
ment association undertook to lend a
helping hand wherever in the district
il might be needed. The club was or
ganized in June. 1909. During its short
existence ii has accomplished much for
the district
One of its achievements is the repair
ing. cleaning and sprinknng Of Mission
street from Army street south to, Col
lege hill Prior to the time that the
club exerted its efforts in this direction
the street was in a miserable and al
most impossible condition.
WORK ACCOMPLISHED
The club within one week after it
made its protest secured the removal
and the reconstruction of the old ele-
waited tracks in Twenty-ninth street.
II induced the United Railroads TO put
in sidewalks in Tiffany avenue along
side Of its car barn from Valencia
street 70 Twenty ninth. It induced
the property owners upon the opposite
side Of the street to do the same.
In Bank street near Cortland avenue
4 barn and fence took up two-thirds
Of the street. Upon the protest Of the
club the distractions were removed.
The association met with the same sue
cess with q fence and vegetable garden
that encroached upon Anderson street
between Cortland and Esmeralda ave
nues.
Cortland avenue was widened it's en-
tire length through the efforts OF the
club by having the sidewalks reduced.
The association is now seeking to have
Virginia avenue widened, and for this
purpose asks $25, 600.
The United Railroads has a car line
upon this street, the width Of the street
at present being is feet. This leaves
no space for teaming. A week ago
upon the occasion of a fire in the dis
1rict the engine found itself blocked
and unable 10 get through the street.
The association has enlisted the sup
port Of the mayor and the board Of
public works in this matter and be
lieves that the street will soon be wild
ened.
Cortland avenue is one of the main
arteries south of Army street that
branches off from Mission. 1t is the
aim of the association to have this
street extended from Folsom street to
San Bruno avenue and to have the car
line on II extended so that it will tap
the San Bruno district and go in a
straight line TO Hunters point by way
Of Sixteenth avenue South. thus bring
ing together territories which are now
very widely separated and enabling the
Ssn Bruno district to have a direct
route 10 the heart Of the city.
one very important accomplishment
Of the association was the installing of