The San Francisco call., 1910-05-13

To reduce the grade TO 7-IO per
per cent.
: To cost S45O,O0O.
{ To provide a main artery of
travel between North beach
and the downtown district.
>>~--~~-~~D~-~--~~-~~~D~~
A meeting the final adjournment of
which viii take place under the Stock
ton street hill in tunnel four blocks
long, was held in the Monaduock build
ing yesterday morning Before the
labor Of the men who were in attend
ance is done one of the most modern
Of subways. now designed on paper.
viii have become an actuality. All
that engineering skill can accomplish
with blue prints. scales and eleva-
tions has been done; all that legal tai
ent can do TO perfect proceedings has
already been reduced to voluminous
briefs. Headed by DIR. Hartland Law,
a committee OF the city's most success
ful hnanciers viii now set the ma
chinery in motion that is designed to
drive the first pick into the south por-
tai Of what viii soon be known as the
stockton street tunnel.
S8J0.OOO CAMPAIGN LAUNCHED
Merchants. bankers, city officials and
capitalists were all represented at the
meeting yesterday, and after less than
one hours deliberations the stockton
street tunnel association had launched
its campaign 10 raise s450.000 and bore
q W hite tiled, $50 foot steel ribbed sub
way through one Of the greatest traffic
problems in the city. Those who have
assumed the task declare that only the
time required by law to give official
notice Of the undertaking will delay
proceedings.
With Doctor Law. John T. Walter.
George Skaller and l. \. Rosekranz
VIII be in charge OF the actual plans
of the association. The preliminary
work was revived at the meeting yes
terdav, and the reports of acting City
Engineer Harry Connick, who has de-
signed the unttel and prepared the
elevations and estimates, and Attorney
Theodore Savage who has acted as
legal advisor were reviewed. Blue
print maps were on exhibition, and
under the direction of Doctor Law the
plan Of procedure was unfolded TO
those present.
WILL ASSESS PROPERTY
As st present outlined. the work will
be done under the provisions Of article
= OF the city charter. which provides
Tor the levy Of an assessment on the
district IN which any Improvement"
Is to he made. Under decision of the
United States courts, 5 reported in go
L. :. 635. q citation used by Savage,
z tunnel is Improvement, and there
is no legal obstacle whatever confront
ing the association in the consumma-
tiOn Of its plans Attorney Savage, in
his brief 10 the tunnel association,
quotes the case of La Sale street open
ing IN Northern transportation COM
pany vs. Chica go" The provisions in
the Chicago city charter on street i'm
prOvements are the same as those of
san Erancisco's charter, and the United
States court has settled the law on the
question. Savage has been working
for two months on the report which he
finally submitted.
Engineer COnnicks plans provide for
tunnel through the hill from Bush to
California street, a distance of 750 feet.
An approach at each end viii be 275
feet long and the grade viii be 81 per
cent. The interior viii be finished in
white tiling, he electric lighted and
have staircases at each block The
width will be 55 feet and the height
- feet. The stairways viii lead up
into Pine and California streets.
THREE ZONES OUTLINED
The exact extent Of the assessment
district has not yet been decided upon,
but at present three zones or belts are
being figured on. Some so blocks are
Incorporated in the assessment plan
snd ii is estimated that the levy on a
lot 25 10y 100 feet will be close 10 SCI. so,
which is considered very low figure.
Within a few days the entire plans of
the committee in charge will be sub
mitted and turned over to the board of
supervisors. After being presented to
the board they Will then be sent to the
board Of public works, and with this
body rests the fate Of the program.
The Stockton street tunnel will solve
the greatest traffic problem that has
ever confronted the residents and prop
cry oWalers of North beach," said DR.
Law yesterday. BY opening this un-
derground passage we viii bring into
immediate touch the businessmen of
that district and those of the down
town district. 1t will make travelling
facilities much better and have a great
ly beneficial effect on property values.
What the North beach district has al
WAYS lacked. q main artery Of travel
into the center Of the city, will be
given il At q minimum cost. We are
putting all our energies into the prof.
ect. and I am confident Of ultimate sue
cess.
WILL OVERCOME BARRIER
This barrier, which has shut North
beach or from the business and social
life of the city, viii be overcome, and
feel that everybody who understands
the situation viii enthusiast stically sup
port IL. We have adopted the best plan
81 operation bond issue for the
tunhel was not deemed advisable. as
ne city already has a large bonded in
oebteoness- The expense of this under
taxing WIZ be met by those property
owners who are directly benefited and
who can appreciate its value"
At the meeting yesterday remarks
we're made by DR.. Law and George
ekaller, secretary of the association.
There were in attendance Joseph Fred
ericks of Joseph Fredericks & CO. p
Giannini. president of The RANK IF
ITALY; 7. Kreiss Of Kreiss &, Sons E9o1,-
err Roos Of Roos Brothers Clarence
Walter Of D. \. E. Walter. FREDERICK
0ohrmann Of Nathan-Dohrmann An