The San Francisco call., 1910-10-22
Nd PENINSULA FEEL NEW IMPETUS IN HOME BUYING
MISSION STREET MADE
BUSINESS T10R0UGHF,ARE
Successful Work Of Merchants Association OF Dis
trict Is Attracting Trade and Encouraging
Erection Of Business Blocks

During the last four years an almost
incredible change has taken place in
Mission street between Fourteenth and
Twenty-fourth. Before the fire this
district was occupied mostly by cot
tages and fats. There were very few
stores. The reverse of this condition
exists today. Door after door, for
block after block you find nothing but
stores. Apartments there are above
and In the rear of the stores. but there
are very few cottages or flats to be
found.
Flanked on both sides of this bustling
business street Is a dense population.
On Saturday evenings the streets are
as crowded as Kearny street in Its
most prosperous days before the fire.
In February, 1910. the merchants in
this street organized themselves into
the Mission street merchants associa-
tion. The purpose OF the club was to
unite the merchants, professional men
and property owners In Mission street
from Fourteenth to Twenty-fourth, to
the end that business activity would
be stimulated and developed in Mis-
sion street.
WORK Is WELL DONE
Any one who is at all familiar with
! the CnanScS l1dI nave taken place III
Mission street during the last year will
readily appreciate how we'll this asso-
! citation has succeeded. Since the or
ganization of this association two con-
crete buildings have been erected in
Mission street between Fourteenth and
Twenty-fourth. Others are in contem-
,p1ation.
These merchants have taken the lead
| in stamping upon this thoroughfare
| the characteristics of permanent bust
ness street. Slowly but surely the
present frame buildings now being
used for stores will be replaced by
| brick and concrete structures. This
| street will then present an appearance
very similar to Market street.
Business has gone to Mission street
to stay. The businessmen are enter
! prising and energetic. The association.
| consisting OF I75 members, comprises
practically every merchant between
Fourteenth and Twenty-fourth streets
! in Mission.
| To these 10 blocks in Mission street
| the association gives its exclusive and
undivided attention. A fine spirit OF
civic pride aniuates the membership.
They willingly contribute toward any
| project that tends toward the develop
| ment of the street.
PAVEMENT AND LIGHTS
| The first work undertaken by the as
ISOLATION was to get the Anglo-CaH-
fornia trust company to buy the street
bonds. In order to do this the mem
bers of the association had TO raise
! $4,000 to pay the difference between the
market value and the par value of the
bonds. The money secured from the
sale of these bonds was partly used for
the paving of the east side OF Mission
street. from Twentieth to Twenty
fourth.
| The remainder of the money will be
| used to pave the west side of the
| street, which will be done as soon as
the present sewer system is completed.
| Through the solicitations Of the club
the city is bituminizing Mission street
| from Ninth to Fourteenth. When this
work is completed it will give Mission
street a smooth pavement from Ninth
street to the county line.
| The rivalry between Mission and Va
iencia streets for business supremacy
is tense. with the result that greater
civic activity is to be found here at
this time than In any other part of the
city
| If Mission street is cut into Market
street opposite Van Ness avenue at
| Eleventh street, as advocated by the
association. 1t will become the main
| artery or tributary of Market street.
The change should be OF immeasurable
benefit TO Mission street.
Through the strenuous efforts OF It's
light committee, the association has
| induced the board of supervisors to
provide for five arc lights in each
block OF so arc lights for the entire
district. In order to secure this con-
cession 1t was necessary for the asso-
citation to pledge itself to erect the
poles. which will cost about $3,0
The light committee has recommend
ed flaming arc light instead of the
ordinary kind. These lights are in use
| in Boston and have proved very salts
factory. Experiments have been con-
| Quoted with the light for the last FIVE
/ months, with very good results AS
| these lights are more expensive than
the ordinary kind it will be necessary
for the association to pay the addi-