PARK AND CEMETERY 
400 
to be of California sandstone roofed with slate and 
will cost about $17,000. Spreckles Lake was only re- 
cently constructed at a cost of over $40,000. Work 
is also in progress in the Lafayette Square out toward 
the Ocean beach. The square has 
just been completed, and the 
grounds broken on the new site for 
the Dutch Windmills. Three new 
large drinking fountains have been 
established along the ocean boule- 
vard. It is estimated that more 
than 1,000 men are now employed 
on these various improvements. 
M. Earl Cummings, the San 
Francisco sculptor, who is also one 
of the commissioners of Golden 
Gate Park, has just submitted to 
the Board of Gommissioners a plan 
for a handsome and elaborate ob- 
servatory to crown the lofty crest of 
Alta Plaza. The plan has been 
adopted, and work will be com- 
menced at once. This plaza is 400 
feet long and 250 feet wide. Com- 
missioner Cummings’ plan includes 
a handsome colonnade on the highest spot of the 
plaza. In its center will be placed the observatory. 
The colonnade will be 120 feet long and 32 feet high. 
The foundation will be of concrete, the upper part of 
handsomely carved California sandstone. Facing the 
observatory and colonnade will be a small pond, fed 
by two constantly playing fountains of appropriate 
and unique design. The waters will be utilized in 
watering the shrubbery of the entire plaza. Terraced 
palisades will lead up to the observatory, from which 
a magnificent view of the city, the bay and the more 
distant waters of the Pacific is afforded. A large 
force of men has been engaged for months in grading, 
leveling and terracing the ground preparatory to con- 
structing the concrete and stone work. 
Some very extensive improvements have also re- 
cently been made in Union Plaza in the way of grading, 
terracing, laying out walks, etc. Several years ago the 
Dewey monument shown in the picture was erected. 
This shaft stands about 85 feet and consists of a shaft 
of California granite surmounted by a bronze female 
figure (14 feet high) of “Victory.” It was modeled by 
Robert 1 . Aitken, the San Francisco sculptor. This 
statue cost about $20,000 and was formally unveiled 
and dedicated by President Roosevelt on his visit to 
San Francisco three years ago. 
Union Plaza is a historic spot in the heart of San 
Francisco, and is about 300 x 400 feet. In addition to 
the grading and terracing, many varieties of flowers, 
shrubs and trees have been transplanted in the 
work of adorning these grounds. The following is a 
list of the plants now growing in the plaza, and the 
numbers of each variety : 
Ageratum Mexicanum, 500; Calendula officinalis, 
1,100; Cheiranthus Cheiri, 350; Cineraria hybrida. 
1,100; Dianthus barbatus, 300; Geranium Sam Sloan, 
200; Iberis Snow Queen, 100; Limnanthes Douglasi, 
500; Lobelia Emperor William, 100; Mathiola hybrida, 
1,550; Mimulus in variety, 300; Nemophila insignis, 
1,000; Papaver in variety, 2,100; Pentstemon barbatus, 
80; Petunia in variety, 100; Phlox Drummondi, 300; 
Silene Campanulata pendula rosea, 1,200; Viola tri- 
color, 2,980. 
Of trees and shrubs there are the following : Pittos- 
porum tobira, i ; Swainsonia galegifolia, 25 ; Swain- 
sonia rosea, 25. 
The new Mission Park, now under improvement, 
will be one of the most beautiful squares in the city. 
Situated on the gentle slope of a hill, it offers many 
opportunities to the landscape gardener which have 
been taken advantage of in the plans. 
The park will contain a wading pool 306 by 50 feet, 
approached by a stone stairway leading down to the 
water from Twentieth and Church streets. It is on 
the most elevated point in the new park, and the water 
will also be used for sprinkling and irrigating purposes. 
A 12-lap cinder path, an out-door gymnasium, two 
tennis courts, two baseball diamonds and a bowling 
green will furnish ample facilities for sport. 
The planting will include many semi-tropical and 
broad-leaved plants and a boundary of palm trees will 
be planted around the entire park. The tract was occu- 
pied many years ago as a cemetery by the Jewish con- 
gregation of the city. It was then considered far be- 
yond the city’s future limits but is now closely sur- 
rounded by buildings. Occident. 
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UNION PLAZA, SAN B’RANCISCO. 
