The San Francisco call., 1910-09-24
VISITAQON PREPARING
FOR A GREAT FUTURE
Vast Area Reclaimed From Marshes--F foundations
Laid for New Southern Pacific Shops---Larsest
Railroad Yards in America

no single locality in the city Of San
Francisco contains more Of historical
interest than visitacion valley. The
original name Of the valley was Rancho
Canada de Guadalupe Rodeo viejo y
Visitacion.
The valley was discovered July ?.
l777, by the Franciscan padres, who had
made their way up from Santa Bar
bara and Monterey TO the bay Of San
Francisco. Here upon the huge rock.
which stiu stands in the center of the
tract. they said their first mass.
Many beautiful legends are told
about this rock of the visitacion,"
but they can not be recounteJ here.
AS the Franciscan fathers named this
city in honor Of their patron saint-St-
Francisco they named this valley in
honor Of the Blessed Virgin-"Vallis
NisitaviOnis Beatissimae Mariae ad
STAN Elizabeth"-valley of the visit of
the Virgin Mary to St Elizabeth.
Every year the feast Of the visitacion
is observed here, July >, with great
solemnity.
Visitacion valley occupies the ex-
treme southeast corner Of San Fran
cisco II is V-shaped area opening
eastward toward San Francisco bay,
walled on both sides by hills. A beau
tiful baylet bites into the land. The
valley is situated partly IN san Fran
cisco and partly in san Mateo county
on the new Bay Shore cutoff, six miles
from the city hall.
INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT
It is here that the Southern Pacific
railroad company is building the great
est freight depot in the west Some
years ago il purchased outright the
Nisitacion valley cove. Two hundred
acres Of marsh land, something more
than so ordinary city blocks. have been
reclaimed. More than sS,OOO,OO0 has
been spent and it is proposed to spend
z bout $50. O00. 600 more. Concrete founda
tions have been laid for the ware
houses; dOckage facilities, machine
shops. construction anJ repair shops,
Offices. storehouses, lighting plants and
roundhouses are to be erected.
There viii be 90 miles of switching
track in the Yards The rOundhouse
will be nearly 400 feet in diameter and
large enough 10 accommodate 40 loco
motives.
: large portion of the vast commerce
of the Panama canal viii be assorted
and transhipped here. If the contem-
plated improvements are carried into
execution by the time Of the Panama
Pacific exposition there viii be seen
here one Of the greatest Industrial ex-
hibitions TO be found anywhere in the
world
The great railroad yards of Chicago
do not possess the area or the natural
advantages of Visitacion valley. Here
rail and sea meet.
Overland and local freight and pas
senger trains viii traverse these yards.
Here dockage facilities can and will
be provided for ocean trade. Here
ideal factory sites can be procured.
But development depends entirely upon
the progressiveness Of the Southern
Pacific company in carrying into execu-
tion its proposed plans.
IMPROVEMENT CLUB ORGANIZED
In such a territory was the Vista
cion Valley Improvement club organ
lied May ., 1905 II devotes its ener-
gies 10 this entire district covering
an area. about three miles long and a
half mile 10 q mile and q half wide.
With the Inauguration of improve
ments by the Southern Pacific the pop
ulation Of this section Increased.
Tracts OF land were put on the mar
ket and opened up. Facilities Of every
kind were lacking To remedy this
condition OF affairs some of the prop
erty owners Of the district formed the
Visitacion Valley Improvement asso-
citation. The club has grown until
now 265 names are signed TO the mem
bership rolls.
CONDITION OF DISTRICT
When the club organized the popu-
lation OF the valley was between 500
and 500. IL now numbers 5000 and is
Vet comparatively uninhabited.
Most Of the land was occupied by
vegetable gardens and pasturage.
These have given way TO tracts OF
residence and factory property. There
is vast room for development. No other
area in san Francisco affords greater
opportunity for expansion. No other
Improvement club has q, greater op-
portunicy 10 do things because there
5 much TO be done. 1t is safe to say
that this portion of the city has been
neglected in the past.
IMPROVEMENTS ACCOMPLISHED
There was little or no street work
or sidewalks. The club has grad
ually been shaping these improve
ments. Ohcial grades have not
yet been established. Tire association
is urging the supervisors to appro-
pirate $4,000 for this purpose. Delay
in establishing the official grade is re-
tarding the growth of the district
When the association was organized
just two electric lights in San Bruno
avenue supplied the only illumination
for this vast district Through the
efforts Of the association about 80
electric lights have been, secured and
more are needed.
There was no police. protection what
ever, now the district is well pro-
tected by a mounted patrol Postoffice
tirely lacking. Through the efforts of
the association the district secured a
substation. Two deliveries a day are