23Y 
PARK AND CEMETERY. 
REHABILITATING AND IMPROVING THE PARKS OF SAN FRANCISCO 
There have recently been several important changes in the 
personnel of the San Francisco public park commission. 
Col. J. D. Kirkpatrick has been appointed to the commission 
and Adolph B. Spreckels, president of the commission, has 
tendered his resignation as president. Commissioner W. H. 
Metson has been elected to the position. Herbert Schmitz 
was re-elected secretary, and Superintendent McLaren was 
reappointed. 
Superintendent McLaren was empowered to expend $10,- 
000 in the construction of a distributing reservoir for the 
new giant Dutch windmill, on the ocean beach, which is 
now nearly completed. The new reservoir will have a capa- 
city of 4,000,000 gallons, and it is to be constructed prin- 
cipally of clay. Heretofore the supply of water has been 
inadequate, but this powerful windmill and reservoir are ex- 
pected to give an ample supply. 
The new structure will be located on the principal drive 
between Strawberry Hill and the ocean. 
This spring many much needed improvements will be made 
in Golden Gate park. These beautiful grounds have been 
“rehabilitated.” These little parks have been left in a sorry 
plight, but the park forces are busily at work leveling the 
surfaces, seeding, trimming plants and trees, burning rubbish, 
and restoring walks and flower beds. 
The damage by the shock to the famous “Sutro Heights” 
was considerable — though by no means disastrous. A number 
of the statues scattered about the grounds were toppled over, 
but none sustained serious damage. Singular to say, very 
few of the many pieces occupying prominent places on the 
famous “parapet,” were prostrated, or had even the founda- 
tions unsettled. 
Sutro Heights is on the ocean beach and belongs to the 
estate of the late Adolph Sutro, at one time Mayor of San 
Francisco. The tract consisted originally of loose, shifting 
sands — a small mountain. At great expense it was leveled 
off in places, terraced, covered largely with new soil, and 
planted with many beautiful trees, shrubs, rare plants and 
flowers. 
It is claimed that it was the purpose of Mr. Sutro to give 
these grounds to the city, but he died without deeding the 
PALM AVENUE. SUTRO HEIGHTS 
San Francisco 
THE PARAPET. SUTRO HEIGHT'S 
San Francisco 
occupied by thousands of refugees from earthquake and fire 
and the lawns and planting have greatly suffered from the 
constant tramping of feet. However, great care has been 
exercised by the park officials, and considering all the cir- 
cumstances, the damage is not as great as might naturally 
be expected. A number of new features will also be added 
in the way of grading, terracing, making fountains and lake- 
lets, and much planting will be done. 
As rapidly as possible the heavy damages wrought by the 
earthquake to the buildings in the park will be repaired. Al- 
ready much has been accomplished. The practical rebuild- 
ing of the giant stone Temple of Music is almost completed. 
The repairs to the walls of the Art (Egyptian) Museum are 
about finished. Repairs to the statues, monuments, and other 
decorative works are well under way. Nothing has been 
done toward the rebuilding of the great “Panorama,” or “Ob- 
servatory” structure that crowned the crest of Strawberry 
Hill. This will have to be more than half rebuilt. A picture 
of the structure as wrecked by the earthquake has been shown 
in Park and Cemetery. 
The California Academy of Science has officially informed 
the Park Commission that the Society has a fund of $250,000 
with which to build a new museum — the old building having 
been totally destroyed by the fire — and offers to build it in 
Golden Gate if the commission will grant a site. 
Several of the small public parks have been almost de- 
serted by the refugees, and the grounds are being generally 
park over to the city. The immense estate is, however, open 
to the public. Over 100 pieces of classic statuary have been 
distributed through the park. Along the gracefully winding 
avenues and walks, in every vista, glimpses may be caught 
of the white, gleaming statues of the gods and goddesses of 
the old Greek and Roman pagan world. 
Statues of stags and other animals are also seen here and 
there in the grounds. 
Of the larger plant growths are found cedar, fir, pine, 
Cyprus, juniper, larch, spruce, and many other conifers, euca- 
lyptus, maple, sassafras, willov/, hazel, catalpa, madrone, su- 
mac, bamboo, manzanita, elm, mulberry, chestnut, etc. Then 
there are a multitude of shrubs of a sub-tropical character — 
palms, cacti, agaves, century plants, etc. As to flowers and 
flowering plants and creepers, climbers, trailing vines and 
mosses, there is a wilderness of brilliant hues, and a wealth 
of rich fragrance. 
Many flourishing specimens of plant life from Australia, 
Mexico, South and Central America, the South Sea Islands, 
Europe, Asia and Africa grow here in profusion. 
The famous “Parapet” is the attraction of Sutro Heights. 
All around the outer edge of a semi-circular platform, are 
placed a number of life-size statues. The “Parapet” is 400 
feet above sea level, and within 300 yards of the breakers. 
The view — oceanward and landward — surpasses description. 
Occident. 
