REPORT OF PARK COMMISSIONERS 25 



No REVENUE FROM CONCESSIONS 



One glancing in haste at the financial statement rendered 

 to the Mayor and Board of Supervisors by the Park Commis- 

 sion forms the misleading belief that receipts for the main- 

 tenance of the park system are materially enhanced by revenue 

 derived from the Children's Quarters. The item "By revenue 

 from Children's Quarters $38,770.15" leads some of the Super- 

 visors to remark to the Commissioners: "Apart from the 

 amount allowed by taxes to support the park system, you have 

 the revenue of concessions and one source alone the Chil- 

 dren's Quarters pays $38,770.15 per annum." Nothing 

 could be further from the real facts than this impression gained 

 from superficial glance. In the list of disbursements em- 

 braced on another page of the financial statement, expendi- 

 ture for the maintenance of the Children's Quarters is set 

 forth, and the aggregate amount expended for the year is 

 $39,822.90. It is the purpose of the Commissioners to give 

 to the public in value every dollar derived from the sale of 

 commodities and amusement facilities. In effect the Chil- 

 dren's Quarters yields no revenue whatever, but on the con- 

 trary, a sum for its support slightly in excess of the cash re- 

 ceipts is annually expended. The items of labor and supplies 

 alone amount in the year to $30,000. Again, the Beach Chalet, 

 which is listed as producing revenue amounting to $2,583, is 

 maintained at an expense per year of $2,964.92. 



WATER DEVELOPMENT 



A chapter is devoted to the history of water development in 

 Golden Gate Park, and as water is such an essential element 

 in the maintenance of cultivated areas of land, it is proper that 

 the subject should receive consideration in this report. The 

 initial cost of supplying water for Golden Gate Park by the 

 Spring Valley Water Works was 40 cents per 1000 gallons, 

 and that cost was gradually reduced to 23 cents per 1000 

 gallons, but at the lesser figure the daily use in summer and 



