The San Francisco call., 1910-11-13
DEMAND is MADE
FOR BETTER PARKS
Father D. O. Crowley Urges
Voters to Support Amend
ment No. Y
Declares Many Small Squares
in City Are in Need of
Improvement

self please allow me to answer the
statement OF President Metson Of the
board Of park commissioners, published
IN the issue Of today's Call. The
statement purports to be q reply to a
letter written by me and published over
my signature in the Examiner of last
sunday. advocating the adoption Of
charter amendment No. %, which pro-
vides that not less than 8 Z cents upon
each S100 assessed valuation Of prop
erty within the city and county Of San
Francisco shall be used each year ex-
cluslVely 'LOr the maintenance. pTeSeT-
walton and Improvement Of parks and
squares other than Golden Gate park,
and for the acquisition of other parks
and squares in the city and county
AS the board OF supervisors has al
ways, or nearly always, appropriated
the maximum amount allowed by the
charter, TO wit: seven cents upon each
500 assessed valuation Of property
within the city and county. the amount
fixed by amendment No. p to be used
Golden Gate park and for the
acquisition Of other parks is not eXces-
sive
see FOR HOLLY PARK
In my article I stated that the park
funds for the fiscal year l9OS-lSe9
amount not one dollar was expended on
Balboa park, or any one Of several
QlSLElGI-
Of which only S69 was spent on Holly
park, 8 beautifully located square In
the center Of a oensely settled commun-
ity Of working people.
In answer to my statement, Mr.. Met
son among other things, saysa
Ihe sFailable funds Of the year l90s-lso9
are stated to be S42S.99e. whereas the actual
appropriation was $4,000 less. OF S3lS.995.
The larger sum was probably arrived at by
Including therein special appropriations made
by The supervisors OF $500 10 be expended
only on Junipera Sierra and SlOst boulevards,
bouh ont Of the park Jurisdiction. and the
further sum Of $50. .44A.75. receipts for the
chiloren's quarters in Golden Gate park
the rest being made up Of back
taxes and surplus against outstanding war
rants from previous years and paid out for
dis contracted during prior years.
/ INDUCED in no probabilities in stat
ing that the park fund for the year
1908-9 amounted to S42S 1888 The
mlssioners, report for the year 190S-09.
contained In the municipal reports for
that year, on page 2Sl thereof
il is true that the amount derived
from the tax levy was S31S, ,905.l2, but
rhe proceeds from other suOrces, in
cluclng chlldrens quarter, surplus
taxes, japanese tea gardens, board of
police departments horses, etc. etc.
amounting to S110,00447, bring the
grand total to $z2S.999-59, the exact
ngure mentioned by me in nay letter
as the park fund for the year I9OS-Oe.
II is true that the total includes $500
appropriated for Junipera Sierra and
wards are not included in Golden Gate
park proper, they are TO all intentS and
purposes parts Of that. park. though
technically outside OF the jurisdiction
Of the park commissioners.
MANY PARKS IGNORED
L now repeat the statements con-
tained in my letter TO the Examiner of
last Sunday that out OF the vast sum
OF S4Ze.s99-5S during the year 190S-09
only s69 was spent on Holly park.
S25-o0 on Soplh park. $50 on Jackson
square nothing on Balboa park.
nothing on Mckinley park, nothing on
Sunnyside park, and nothing on Fair
mount plaza. al OF which parks are in
well settled districts. For Verifcation
Of this statement ] refer to the report
Of the park commissioners, found in
the municipal reports.
When sent the letter to the Exam
iner ] had not at hand the report of
the park commissioners for the wear
1909-l0. I examined that report today
and ind that the total of receipts for
Of S546,2Zl-65 the proceeds of the tax
levy for the fiscal year 1909-1O. The
other amounts ma king the total include
an appropriation OF $4,000 for Lincoln
park formerly the city cemeterv).
S3S,741,30 receipts from the children's
quarter and other items, all aggregat-
ing S9S.92O.I6.
now knowingly and deliberately
state that one-half Of this enormous
amount is more than sufficient 10 main
tain Golden Gate park in better con-
clifton than il is at the present time
and TO make all necessary improve
ments therein
If had the contract to take care of
Golden cate park, from the investiga-
tions which 7 have made, I would un-
oertake 10 keep the park and all of
its appurrenances, in much better con-
dition than they are now kept by the
park commissioners and their superin-
tendent.
CHARGES REPEATED
now repeat the statement contained
IN the Examiner article that the man
agement Of Golden Gate park is and
has been wasteful and extravagant, and
that under a proper and economical
management one-half Of the amount
annually appropriated for parks and
squares VIII be sufficient to maintain
Golden Gate park. in better condition
than II is at the present time
Mr. Nelson's statement in reference
TO Mission park is at variance with the
facts. Before the fire OF 1906 Mission
park was devoid OF any appreciable
improvements. In fact, the park COM
mfssiOners, shortly before had taken
possession OF the ground and were at
the time Of the great disaster engaged
IN terraclDg and grading the two blocks
comprising the park There could not
have been any "recOnstruction" of the
park after the fire
For a year after the fire Mission
park was partly covered with shacks
occupied BY the refugees After the
removal Of the shacks the grounds were
improved TO some extent Although
benefited by nature more than other
parks, II can not be compared in beauty
and condition with the least OF the
parks in the Western addition
Mr.. Nelson's statement as to the
present condition Of Holly park is
based upon mere hearsay or is pure
fiction. To verify this statement. / in
vite public inspection Of the paSk A
few months ago Mayor Mccarthy or
dere6 Superintendent McI-aren to i'm
prove Holly parks He then sent q few
men to the park, who worked for a
week or so making, or pretending to
make. certain minor improvements to
the park The effort was abandoned
and nothing was done in relation TO
the park until after my letter appeared
IN the Examiner. II there are any men
employed in Holly park now. improving
the same, they We're put there on the
eve Of election.
TREES DIE OF NEGLECT
AS TO Balboa park, a magnificent site.
containing 80 acres Of land. / repeat
the statements contained in my letter
10 the Examiner that "a small corner
acres, has been put in condition for q
playground The remainder of the land
Is allowed TO remain q barren waste"
I am still Of the opinion. without actual
nae surement, that Mr. Metson is incor-
rect when he says that nine acres Of
that tract is and has been in lawns.
No attempt has been made TO improve
any appreciable part of the 80 acres.
Mr. Metson says that the commission
ers have planted 40 acres Of the park
+raee and Sfrllhherv and