The San Francisco call., 1910-08-20
IMPROVEMENTS
FOR EUREKA VALLEY
Club Has Done Much for Upper Market
Street in Five Years Since Organized
Large District Built Up

Extensive improvements for upper
Market street are being worked out by
the Eureka Valley improvement asso-
tember 3, 1905. Thirty-five men signed
the roll. The organization was started
for the purpose of securing for the
district better car service. better streets
and better lighting facilities in the
territory west of Church street to the
hills and south of Market to Twenty
second street. Recently the territory
of the association was enlarged TO in
clude the district north OF Market
street to Duboce' avenue.
Five years ago. when the association
began its work. this territory was but
street or sewer work The few side
walks that were down were wooden
The association set about interesting
the property owners in Improving the
streets and sidewalks. 1t appealed TO
the supervisors for better lighting and
other facilities. 1t made the district
more inviting. Development became
very rapid.
PART IN RELIEF WORK
The value of the association was
shown in an unusual way in the great
fire of April, 1906. While the fire ragged
fiercely at Dolores street and tried
desperately to cross the street, the
members of the association and others
organized themselves into an improv-
ised fire brigade. BY tearing down
houses in the path of the flames and by
wetting those in the west side of the
street with buckets of water and wet
blankets, the flames were conquered and
this portion of the city saved.
One never to be forgotten sight was
the saving of the church in the corner
of Dolores and Fourteenth streets The
steeple was blistered and steaming
from the heat. A young man climbed
to the apex of this steep1e and i'm
provised pulley. Buckets of water
were hauled up this steeple by a long
rope and dashed at or near the top.
would fail to save the steeple, but per-
sistency was finally crowned with sue
cess
While the flames were still devouring
the city and the people sought refuge
in the upper Market street district, the
Eureka Valley Improvement associa-
tion assembled and took charge of the
relief work of the district
James Rolph Jr. was placed in charge
of the entire Mission district He. the
federal officials and the officers of the
Red Cross society complimented the
association highly for its efficient serv-
ice
For the three years following the fire
the association. did little more than
meg regularly, give banquets and at
tend to the more urgent needs of the
district. One thing that the associa-
t1on prideS itself on is that IL never
asks for more than it believes il is
justly entitled to. There were other
districts in far worse shape, and even
probably any other district, although
the mayor and four of the supervisors
live in Eureka Valley
After the fire the district rapidly
filed up with residences and business
houses. until today it is settled thickIy
clear back to the foothills. 1t is now
reputed to be about the heaviest vot-
ing district in the city
1t is estimated that between 10 nO0 |
and $4,000 persons pass the corner of
Eighteenth and Castro streets in get
ting on and off cars each day 1t is
certain that the cars do not afford |
adequate accommodation during the |
busy parts of the day. The association |
has repeatedly called the attention of |
the United Railroads to this fact. but
has so far received only promises, and
there is no ordinance or franchise /
better service.
During the last year the association |
has taken on renewed life. Other por |
tions of the city are being well pro- |
vided for, while this section is being |
somewhat, neglected.
RECENT IMPROVEMENTS
About year ago the association Sc !
cured an appropriation of $4,000 for /
the resurvey of the Market street I
tract, which lies west of 7
street and south of Nine /
teenth, and will furnish additional |
homesites. At present there are prob I
ably fewer vacant houses in this dis /
trict than in any other part of the /
city.
There is an eight acre tract of land !