The San Francisco call., 1910-07-09


Francisco as a business and residential
most prominent men.
with this idea in mind widespread
agitation Of the subject was started
last spring and an organization was
Formed on April IS which was called
the Twin peaks convention.
This convention has been holding
frequent general and committee meet
ings. A report will soon be issued
putting forth a comprehensive plan for
carrying out the great project Of dig
ging a tunnel under the Twin peaks.
In view OF this, the large painting
recently made by Architect Arthur 6.
Scholz. presenting an ideal view of the
east portal Of the tunnel, is of par
ticulaT interest
Architect Scholz' idea is that so
great a public work as this should be
done in handsome style, so as TO make
IL an ornament to the city. The tun-
mel viii start at the southwesterly
end Of Market street. At this point
the architect has planned a monument
and circular space.
TWO STORY TUNNEL
According to Scholz painting the
project embraces a two story tunnel,
one story for vehicular, the other for
railroad traffic. Elevators and a
spiral stairway lead from the second
story depot TO the ground floor, which
terminates in a loop track at the head
Of Market street. directly at the base
Of the Twin peaks. The extension of
Market street viii pass through pri-
vste property in a southwesterly di-
Tection about as far the junction
OF Nineteenth and Douglass streets.
II is proposed 10 extend the Castro
T-s l.
street, its present terminus. to Market
street The present Third and Harri-
son and Park line runs to the foot of
the. proposed tunnel thus bringing
the district south OF Market street and
the Eureka valley into direct contact
with the Market street extension. The
present Market street line. now trav-
ersing the main artery OF the city from
the ferry 10 Seventh street, where it
turns into Castro, would run over the
extension Of Market street 10 the foot
OF the tunnel
Passengers going TO the district
south Of the Twin peak would likewise
transfer from the Market street line
TO the depot cars in the second story
Of the tunnel
This, however, is only the artists
idea. In all probability a line of cars
would run through the tunnel without
transfer Of passengers.
GRAND VIEW OF CITY
To provide for the accommodation
OF visitors. who viii journey to the
Twin peaks 10 enjoy the unsurpassed
view of the city and neighboring
towns that may be obtained from any
portion OF them. the plans contemplate
two ornamental terraces which viii
enable visitors 10 scale the side of the
peaks. Al the entrance to the passen-
ger stairways there is a sight seeing
platform midway between the stories
of the tunnel on either side. Extend
ing farther up are the passages to the
cafe and terraced park. The scenic
possibilities are SO arranged as to pro-
vide for the Identification of all sides
Of the peaks by ornamental gardening. |
The observatory features of the plan |
are worked out in connection with the 1
general scheme of devising a tunnel 1
that viii combine utility and beauty /
with small cost of construction.
WORK OF CONVENTION
The Twin Peaks Tunnel convention, |
which has been working hard to bring |
forth this great civic Improvement, is |
composed of all the Improvement clubs J
in the city. It has been gathering in /
formation about tunnel and under !
ground railroad construction in all the /
principal cities Of the United States |
and Europe.
This will be presented to the public /
end TO the proper municipal authorities /
as 4 means Of forming working plans. |
After much research three general /
plans have been outlined. One is to /
form assessment districts and lay the /
expense upon the property owners. An /
other plan is TO get private company /
70 build the tunnel by giving it sufi-
oient inducements in the way Of street |
car franchises. The third plan is to
r1ake general bond issue and have the
1Tk done by the city
The committee appointed to investi-
gate the assessment plan has secured /
the values Of property lying beyond the
Twin peaks and all property affected /
by. such tunnel on this side of Twin
peaks along Market street
II has been found that the property |
Of ). 900 real estate owners is affected. /
Such q tunnel would bring into direct
connection with the downtown district
about 5000 acres Of acreage property
and about 5000 lots already subdivided-
The cost would be about $5.o00.000 for
constructing a bore a mile and half
long.
n is estimated that the property af
fected by such an Improvement would
be increased In value TO the amount or
s20OOO.oo or about seven times the
D cost Of the undertaking
WOULD PAY FOR ITSELF
II done by the city the increased
property valuations would bring in an
additional tax income of 100000 This
would be sufficient to pay interest on
the bonds issued for constructing the
tunnel and establish a sinking fund to
redeem the bonds in 20 years.
A committee has been gathering data
about street railroads constructed in all
cities OF the west during the last 10
years. They have been studying how
real estate values have been affected
and the kind of franchises that have
been given the street car companies as
Inducements TO carry on construction
work in suburban districts.
The committee has been investigating
every source of private capital that
might be induced TO build the Twin
Peaks tunnel
The assessment plan has been con-
sidered and investigated from every
point of view. The relations of the
tunnel to the whole city have been dis
,.ussed and the benefits estimated in a
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