The San Francisco call., 1910-08-20
CONVENTION SOLVES
ENGINEERING PROBLEM
After Long Deliberation and by Co-opera-
tive Effort Of All Improvement Clubs Of
City, Detailed Plans Are Devised
And Report Made

The Twin Peaks Tunnel and I'M
provement convention assembled at
New Era hall, 2121 Market street, last
night to receive and act upon the re-
port of the ways and means committee.
The meeting was called to order by
Josiah r. Howell. the first vice presi-
dent. DR.. Hartland Law. the president
of the convention, was unable to at
tend, being called TO Denver on account
OF the illness of his brother, H E. Law.
The minutes Of the previous meeting
were read and approved. and the re-
port of the ways and means committee
was then read. This report deals very
fully with the three plans considered
by the committee. It concludes by
recommending a public bond issue.
The report in part is as follows:
The three propositions are submitted for con
sideration: % an assessment district, ~ pri-
Fste enterprise, (3l municipal bond issue as
= possible means Of securing the construction of
the Twin peaks tunnel were carefully considered.
The work OF investigation was conducted
through subcommittees Of three. whose reports
were presented TO and considered by the entire
committee
Tg5e CONSTRUCTION Of the Twin peaks tunnel
must depend primarily upon necessity, and the
entire committee is agreed that there Is lmme-
date urgent need Of the tunnel to provide for
the present and future growth Of the city
This conclusion is based on investigation of
results attending the growth Of other cities.
whose expansion and development is due to i'm
provements Of nature similar TO that under
TmnroTed transportation to the east and south
has carried population across the bay and down
fhe peninsula. San Francisco must develop to
Our western barrier of hills is fair example
Of natural obstacles which blocked the growth
and progress of many of our large cities, and the
construction Of the Twin peaks tunnel is a small
undertaking compared 10 what other cities have
New York. when comparatively small city,
wss compelled 10 bridge the East river.
Chicago many years ago found II necessary 10
los Angeles has series Of tunnels which have
made available its most desirable residence sec
lions. thereby adding materially to its present
SestfIe tone Of our coast competitors. and a
comparatively young city( has expended l2OoO,
600 leveling its hills and has been planning Tor
tunnels to cost Sl000o0O0 for convenient con-
nections between its business and residence sec
Msuy other cities in our own country and
Furope could be named. whose present position
is due entirely TO improvement and extension Of
In every instance the completion Of the first
work which improved communication and trans
ment TO such an extent that additional accommo-
dafions for traffic Of III kinds was required
Settlement, population and increased values
bsre always followed improved transportation.
The necessity and urgency for the Twin peaks
tunnel being conceded. the various plans for its
construction are considered:
ASSESSMENT DISTRICT
Under existing laws this plan Is neither feas-
ible nor practicable for this tunnel.
The levy Of an assessment sufficiently large.
pavable in one sum. would be prohibitiye for
many property owners.
q'he area principally affected is unproductive
property which viii require large expenditures
FOR improvement 10 make il available after the
tunnel Is completed
The far reaching effects Of this work are such
that the very formation Of the proper assessment
district would be impossibility.
Present appra isements Tor the levy Of
sessment would be arbitrary and theoretical, as
anv prediction on the prospective Increase in
Isiues and benefits TO be ultimately derived by
snv portion Of 50 large an area is mere guess
The Dresent fixing Of assessment would an
do,btedi- prove manfestly unfair long before the
work would be actually completed.
The cost Of improving the tcrHtory which the
funnel would make available 80 that the same
world be suitable for occupancy, may be con-
VsffreIy estimated at over s.. 600 000- This
burden must be borne directly by property
The main object being to Immediately make
available a desirable of moderate priced
residence property, easily accessible from bust
neSs centers does not favor the placing Of
,.essive burdens which must be met IN a short
,eriod on snch class of property, particularly on
email holdings Assessments for the ordinary
street and sewer work Frequently a hard
shin for the ordinary property owner 10 meet.
and construction Of the tunnel would undoubtedly
result il forcing many Improvements at early