Metropolitan Essentials 



THOS. HcCALEB 

 Secretary of the Association for the Improvement and Adornment of San Francisco. 



The Association for the Adornment and Improvement of San Francisco contem- 

 plates raising the standard as set by man in the making of San Francisco to the 

 imperial standard which has been set by nature for the Pacific Coast Metropolis. 



San Francisco will then be the Rome of the English-speaking world, not only as she 

 now is in her regal position, but through the planning and building by the hands of men. 



Other California cities will be treated subsequently. 



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HE Association for the Improvement and Adornment of San 

 Francisco, which was formed a little over a year ago, promises 

 much towards making San Francisco not only a more desirable 

 place of residence, but a great tourist resort. 



Among the objects of the Association are to bring to the 

 attention of our people the best methods for instituting artistic 

 municipal betterments, and to suggest and promote quasi-public and 

 philanthropic enterprises. 



As a first necessary step we engaged Mr. D. H. Burnham, the emi- 

 nent architect, to prepare a comprehensive and practical plan for the im- 

 provement and adornment of the city. He and his draftsmen are at work 

 on this plan at the Association's studio at Twin Peaks, and it will now be 

 ready within five months. The plan will be used as a guide for all our 

 future municipal improvements of a more or less artistic character, as well 

 as for the elevation of the public taste. In it will be incorporated various 

 suggestions, such as the laying out of new streets, new parks and park 

 extension, new grades, and new roads in, around and out of the city, that 

 will make the hills and suburbs convenient of access. The necessity for 

 the construction of a boulevard around the bay shore, the extension of 

 Market street to the ocean, a suitable approach to Golden Gate Park, the 

 creation of a "Civic Center," the treatment of the Laguna de la Merced 

 property, the laying out of a highway into San Mateo County, and other 

 important matters, will all be considered. 



Fortunately, we have in Mr. Burnham an experienced master for this 

 great task, for since he directed the construction of the famous "White 

 City" of the World's Fair, he has made plans with reports thereon for Wash- 

 ington, for Cleveland, for portions of Chicago, and more recently for the 

 reclamation and extension of Manila, as well as for the creation of a 

 summer capital of the Philippines to be called Baguio. 



While his scheme for our city will form the basis of the improvements 

 the Association will agitate, we will meanwhile favor those metropolitan 

 essentials in which San Francisco is lamentably deficient. Of these, first 

 in importance perhaps is a mammoth fireproof auditorium for the holding 

 of large gatherings, conventions, bazaars, exhibitions, fairs, public balls, 

 congresses, etc. It is also urged that a grand opera season should become 

 one of the educational and social features of the community, as there is 

 nothing more important for the attraction and entertainment of strangers. 

 Therefore, an opera house, centrally located and of monumental propor- 

 tions, should be provided. Moreover, a College of Music is proposed, in 

 order all the more to develop the musical taste, and to place a general 

 musical education within the reach of those who desire it. It has been 

 shown how such an institution could be made a dividend-paying invest- 

 ment. 



Passing to matters for private philanthropy, the Association has not 

 been backward in making suggestions. Already, in accordance with a 

 recommendation that appeared in its original circular, we are gratified to 



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