Oakland, Berkeley, Alameda city directory, 1924, Part 7

Author: Polk-Husted Directory Co
Publication date: 1924
Publisher: Oakland, Cal. : Polk-Husted Directory Co.
Number of Pages: 2232

USA > California > Alameda County > Alameda > Oakland, Berkeley, Alameda city directory, 1924 > Part 7
USA > California > Alameda County > Berkeley > Oakland, Berkeley, Alameda city directory, 1924 > Part 7
USA > California > Alameda County > Oakland > Oakland, Berkeley, Alameda city directory, 1924 > Part 7

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Another advantage of the completion of this plan would be the possi- bility of establishing a bathing beach for the children of Oakland at the location of the present small wading beach maintained near the band stand. The supply of clean water will do away with the present inflow of estuary water fouled by oil and other waste matter, and will make it possible for our children to be taught to swim at this place in the lake.

I have previously recommended to the Council that the land lying back of the Auditorium from First Street to 10th Street be filled and utilized, and have called attention to the fact that between First and 8th Streets, Fallon Street and 5th Avenue, there are 100 acres of avail- able property with a value to the city of $6,000,000, to be reclaimed and used. The dredging of Lake Merritt, which is now approaching com- pletion, has provided material which has been utilized to make an excel- lent filling for this low land and progress on the work is proceeding very satisfactorily.

I believe the members of the Council will be interested in learning that had the city condemned the present roadway and park area along Lake Merritt between Harrison and Oak Streets, the value of the land alone would have amounted to over $500,000. This information was given to me by persons familiar with property values in this location.

RECREATION DEVELOPMENT.

That portion of the city's property lying between 7th and 8th Streets, Fallon Street and the Estuary, has been completely filled and leveled and assigned to the Recreation Department for equipment as a centrally located downtown recreation ground. The Recreation Department is now installing facilities there for a baseball field, football field, and a running track. Bleachers are also being erected and it is our hope that the school children of our city can hold their city-wide inter-school track and field meets on this new playground in the coming spring. This track joins the Auditorium on the south, and will make it possible for School athletic contests to be held here, followed by literary exercises in the Auditorium, or an aquatic program on the lake, all as a part of the same general program.

169

OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA

We have completed construction of the Municipal golf links and it was opened for use for the public on Labor Day, 1923. Since its opening it has been a very popular feature of our recreation system and turned in $10,000 to the City Treasury for the period ending December 31st.

At my direction the City En- gineer has prepared plans for a permanent road to the golf course over a right-of-way granted the city by several public-spirited citizens, includ- ing Mr. Cliff Durant, the Se- quoyah Hills Company, the Church Estate and others. This road should be completed in the very near future and will shorten the distance to the golf course some two miles under View at Municipal Golf Links that of the present temporary route now in use. A modern clubhouse has been erected at the golf course at a cost of $15,000 and was opened for service to the public late in 1923. Oakland's municipal golf course, which I first recommended in 1920, is now said, by authorities on golf, to be one of the finest in America, and with the new clubhouse is complete in every detail.

The Recreation Camp in the Sierras closed an unusually successful season during the past summer with a net return to the City Treasury of $2700. This recreation camp on the Tuolumne River has been so successful that plans are now being made for the establishment in the future of two additional camps to relieve the present camp whose popu- larity has overtaxed its capacity. The success of the camp shows that the people of Oakland are deeply appreciative of the opportunity afforded them by this administration to have a wholesome mountain vacation at a moderate cost.

The city is also under additional obligations for payments on lands purchased on the installment plan. These lands include the museum site for the Snow African collection at 19th and Alice Streets ; playground properties in West Oakland; and the Municipal golf links, which require $65,000.00 per year and will not be entirely paid out for several years.

The Council has also recently obligated itself for the purchase of the Sequoia Redwood Park on the installment plan, which will cost approximately $60,000.00 additional per year until paid off.

Since July 1. 1915, the city has paid off over five and a half million dollars in interest and redemption of bond issues-incurred by former administrations, which has been accomplished without any increase in our tax rate. In fact, our tax rate is now lower than it was two or three years ago.

That all of this can be carried out without any increase in taxation is proof of the economical government which our city enjoys, and which requires strict and careful supervision over the municipal finances.

170

MAYOR'S MESSAGE, 1924

CITY HALL CHANGES

I have previously recommended to the Council that an office be opened on the first floor of the City Hall at which our people could pay their taxes. During the past year this has been accomplished and for the first time the first installment of city taxes was paid by the taxpayers without them being required to crowd in elevators and go to and from the ninth floor of the building. It is my further recommendation that as soon as possible steps be taken to enlarge the present tax collection office on the first floor and have this important function located there permanently.

LIBRARY CHANGES.

During the past year certain complaints were received by me in regard to the Oakland Free Library. I therefore recommended to the Council that a survey be made by the firm of Haskins & Sells of the accounts and operations of the libraries to the end that service to the publie might be increased, and that operating economies could be effected at the library.

Such a survey was made, accompanied by recommendations from these accountants, and put into effect by the Board of Library Directors. thus increasing the efficiency of that department and rendering better service to the public for the money expended.

PARKS.

The Municipal bandstand under construction in Lakeside Park for a long period of time has been completed and was formally dedicated during the past summer, providing a very pleasing addition for the public's enjoyment in Lakeside Park.

Mr. Cliff Durant has recently made me a very generous offer to

New Bandstand in Lakeside Park

171

OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA

provide sufficient additional money to permit of doubling the size of the band for the concerts in the summer of 1924-an offer which I was very glad to accept on behalf of the city. The details of this plan are now being worked out by Mr. Durant and the Board of Park Directors.

At my suggestion the Park Board is now engaged on a comprehen- sive plan for improving all of the present parks of Oakland and placing them in a satisfactory condition. This is a matter which has been neglected for some years to the detriment of our parks, but which is rapidly being remedied.

PROPOSED BOND ISSUE.

I wish also to recommend very serious consideration by the Council of calling a bond election for very necessary municipal improvements. In this bond election could be included the cost of the harbor develop- ment on the Western Harbor front and the Inner Harbor as previously outlined.

I favor also the inclusion of an amount, approximately $1,250,000, to provide storm and sanitary sewers in Elmhurst, Melrose, Fruitvale, West Oakland, and Yerba Buena Avenue. In my opinion it would be impossible to provide this amount of money from the tax levy and the only logical and possible method is through a bond issue.

I also believe that any bond issue should include an amount suffi- cient to purchase some 3300 acres of property commonly known as the "Stone" tract, surrounding San Leandro Bay. This would provide ten miles of additional harbor frontage for development as a reserve harbor, something possessed by no other city anywhere. This tract includes more than three times our present harbor, and by using our two dredges in its development we can add an additional thousand acres to the property available for industrial sites. At the present time two-thirds of this area is under cultivation and is the only remaining available property which could be developed for terminals should another trans- continental railroad desire to locate in our city. Two such systems now cross this property, and one of them has evinced considerable interest concerning the possibilities of its purchase and development by the city.

This extensive area provides excellent opportunities for both com- mercial and recreational development. There is ample area for indus- trial locations. together with development of aviation fields, additional golf links, football and baseball grounds, speedway, race track, a beauti- ful yacht harbor, and general recreation facilities. This property also has a frontage of three miles along San Francisco Bay, which in later years can be developed for additional harbor frontage, and in the imme- diate future as a salt water bathing beach. A beautiful marine drive can be developed along this San Francisco Bay frontage, and by connect- ing it with the Skyline Boulevard we can increase our present reputa- tion for motor drives of unsurpassed beauty.

View of 3-Mile San Francisco Bay Frontage of Stone Property.

172

MAYOR'S MESSAGE, 1924

San Leandro Bay Frontage Surrounded by Stone Property.

The territory east of Lake Merritt is developing more rapidly than any other portion of Oakland. Sixty-five per cent of the present popu- lation of our city resides east of Lake Merritt. For years they have voted for improvements in other parts of Oakland and have received no recog- nition themselves. Twenty organizations representing East Oakland people have requested that the purchase of this property be placed upon the ballot, and the time has come when this portion of our city must be considered.

I believe absolutely in the purchase and development of this prop- erty and will not be swerved from my endeavors looking toward its purchase, as I feel that it would be a crime should it be lost to the city. The tentative valuation of $1000 per acre which has been placed on this property is indeed low when its value is considered, and the absolute knowledge that it will increase in value in a few years, while the city will have forty years in which to pay off the bonds. I know that in no other part of Oakland can land be purchased today at less than twice this amount per acre, its industrial value being taken into consideration. Long before the expiration period of the bonds I believe the property will have paid for itself many times. Furthermore, I believe that this should be included in a bond issue because I am of the opinion that no bond issue can carry unless it has the support of the people of East Oak- land, and I shall not support any measure that does not include their just share of a bond issue.

I wish to reiterate that I stand for the principles outlined above regardless of the consequences. I also favor again placing on the ballot the purchase of the 1500 acres of redwoods as a public park for our people. We of today must prepare for the city that is to be here in the future, and I believe that were this matter to be placed again upon the ballot that the people of Oakland would approve the purchase of this beautiful area as a mountain park, something possessed by no other city in America.

3000 Acre Area Ideal for Industrial Development.

173

OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA

LOCAL TRANSPORTATION PROBLEM-HALF FARES.

An outstanding accomplishment of the year was the granting of a half fare street car rate to the school children of Oakland. This is a matter on which I have been working for several years past. Over one year ago in a resolution introduced in this Council by myself, the Trac- tion Company was requested to grant a half fare to the school children. This the company flatly refused.

In another resolution which I introduced the City Attorney was directed to bring proceedings before the Railroad Commission to remove the discrimination against the children of Oakland who were obliged to pay a full fare. As a result of these proceedings the Traction Company granted the concession, and the children of Oakland are now riding for a half fare as is done by the school children of every other city in California.

Another important step in connection with our rapidly growing traffic and transportation problem is the plan which I worked out with the Southern Pacific Company and the Traction Company of- ficials for the elimination of the Southern Pacific tracks on Franklin Street between 14th and 20th, and the operation of the Traction Company cars and Southern Pacific trains over Webster Street between 14th and 20th. Adoption of this plan has been agreed to by the Southern Pacific Company, which is willing to go to an expense of $250,000 in chang- ing their tracks and equipment, and the plan should become Type of Moderate Priced Homes Being Built in Oakland effective in the near future. Its adoption will permit Franklin Street to be used exclusively for motor vehicle traffic and will also permit the commercial development of the depot site of the Southern Pacific Company between 13th and 14th. Franklin and Webster Sts., which is now occupied by an unnecessary and expensive layout of tracks. I consider this and the half fare grant one of the most important transportation developments in the history of Oakland. The half fare grant, important as it is today, will be even more so in ten years with the continued growth of Oakland and the increased number of children taking advantage of its provisions.

In October, 1923, due to the refusal of the officials of the Traction Company to obey the laws of this city, and the lack of consideration of the transportation needs of Oakland, the city established the first active opposition to the transportation monopoly heretofore enjoyed by the Traction Company. Oakland's growth of recent years has been tremen- dous, particularly in that section lying east of Lake Merritt. In spite of this development no extensions or improvements have been made in local transportation service.

In fact, when the Maxwell Park tract was being developed. it be-

------

174

MAYOR'S MESSAGE, 1924

came necessary for Mr. Maxwell to obtain his own franchise in order to provide street car transportation for the homes he was building. A large area in East Oakland lying between High Street and 35th Avenue, Hop- kins Street and Foothill Boulevard, has been building up very rapidly, and is without adequate transportation. This is also true of the territory along Foothill Boulevard from Seminary Avenue easterly to the city limits, and the Rockridge district north and east of College Avenue. Residents in all of these districts have requested improvements in their local transportation as it has resulted in serious inconvenience to people in these portions of the city.

The action of the Administration in establishing a municipal safety coach motor bus line encouraged applications from other transportation organizations for permission to operate motor bus lines between portions of East Oakland and the downtown district. It is interesting to note that following these applications filed by a competing company the Trac- tion Company also filed applications for the establishment of motor bus lines. The important difference between the application of the independ- ent companies and the Traction Company is that the Traction Company applications are only for extensions on feeders to their existing lines and would necessitate transferring to and from the street cars in order to come downtown, while the applications of the independent companies provides direct service to and from the rapidly growing portion of Oak- land to the downtown districts at a five-cent fare.

ASSESSMENT PROBLEM.

Oakland's rapid growth and development has also emphasized an- other very serious condition facing our city. As the city has grown so have its needs increased, and we are today faced with the need of addi- tional police and fire protection, street improvement, street lights, in fact, all of the needs of the people of a rapidly growing city. Plans have been prepared for the erection of two additional fire houses to serve the East Oakland territory, one to be located near 50th Avenue. another near 73rd Avenue. These fire houses should be completed and in service early this year.

In spite of the rapid growth and development of the city and the increase in values of the property, the assessed valuation of the city has remained practically the same. In the face of building permits aggregat- ing from twenty to thirty million dollars per year, the assessment rolls furnished the Council by the City Assessor have failed miserably to keep pace with this development. The assessment roll of the city for the fiscal year 1921-1922 was $169,992.655: for 1922-1923, $181,176.265; and for the current year 1923-1924. $192.221.225.

For several years past the annual increase in the assessment roll has been not over $11,000.000 in any year. This is in spite of the fact that building permits have been over $20,000.000 per year in the same periods. For example, in the period between February 1. 1922, and February 1, 1923. building permits totaling over $24.000.000 were issued, and yet the assessment roll for this same period showed an increase of only $11,000,000.

The only source of the city's revenue is from taxes. Consequently a low assessment means one of two things, either a high tax rate to provide the necessary revenues, or if a low tax rate is to be maintained essential features in the city's development cannot be supplied by the

175

OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA

Administration. The State Constitution provides that the Assessor shall assess the property in the city for its full cash value. This is not being done in Oakland. I am citing below certain instances showing the sale price of property sold in Oakland during the past year and the valuation which is on the books of the City Assessor.

An "L" shaped lot fronting on 14th and Webster Streets was re- cently sold at a price of $225,000. The assessment on this property is only $70,600, less than one-third of its sale value.

Property on 15th Street condemned by the city for the 15th Street opening was valued in the condemnation case by witnesses for both the property owners and the city as follows: 36.75 feet on Franklin Street to be condemned, valued at from $2000 to $2500 per front foot, and 8,243,930 for which the city paid in all $87,600. 6,053, 086 This was carried on the assessment 5,401,017 rolls as $1000 per foot, less than one- 7, 018,679 half its actual value. 7, 108, 198

39.75 feet on Harrison Street valued at from $400 to $600 per foot was assessed at $120 per foot. 29.75 feet on Webster Street, valued at from $600 to $1100 per foot, assessed at $250 per foot.

The Stone property, which I have mentioned above, with a value of more than $1000 per acre, is carried by the Assessor at $50.00 per acre.

E261 7761 1261 0261 6161 9161 1161 9161 516I +161 8161 2161 1161 0161 6061 9061 1061

9,009,735

9, 106,188

4,717,520

5,045,285

5,368,290

4,442,520

5.382,159

7,134,572

9,489,886

15,791,616

24,468,233

The Owl Drug property, with a frontage of sixty feet on Washing- 27,628.175 ton Street and seventy-five feet on Oakland Building Permits by Years. 14th Street, was recently sold at a price of $425,000. It is assessed at $117,600.

ASSESSED VALUATION

181,244,545

100,434,412

103,653,400

107,793,550

116,881,725

129.467.400

137,727,750

/41,691.600

147,910,075

144.349.840

148.571,000

152,696,360

156.283.980

/63,314,120

/67,288.600

/27,548.050

The Spring properties on the western waterfront were valued by the Railroad Commission at $12,500 per acre, and two years ago was assessed by the City Assessor at $2500 per acre. This year the assessment on the same property was reduced by him to $300 per acre, and raised by this Council, sitting as a Board of Equalization, to the present assessment.

Every street opening case re- 1907 1008 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 1944 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 quiring condemnation shows Comparative Chart of Assessed Valuations 1907-1923. the same discrepancy between the value of the property and its assessments. Nearly every announcement of a realty sale reflects the same condition. I could cite many other instances similar to those given above, but they serve to show the condition as it exists and have been chosen at random.

176

MAYOR'S MESSAGE. 1924

Unless the Assessor makes a fair valuation and submits to the Council assessment rolls keeping pace with the growth and development of the city, municipal development must be throttled as the assessment is the lifeblood of the city's progress. I consider the assessment condition in Oakland today as very serious, and recommend that the Council give serious consideration to a re-assessment of the entire city, to the end that certain inequalities now existing be removed and that full recog- nition be given to the recent growth and development of Oakland, which should be and is not now reflected in the assessment roll.

Over two years ago I called together a committee consisting of prominent real estate men in Oakland and those familiar with property values for the purpose of discussing the inequalities of the assessments. After a careful discussion of the situation the Assessor flatly refused to make any changes whatsoever in the assessment rolls or in his method of assessing. although it is a well known fact that the assessment rolls do not reflect correct values throughout the city.

A man who will wilfully hold the assessments at a figure lower than their actual value is depriving the city of revenues which are justly due it. It would seem to me that the only solution and remedy is to be found in the election of a new Assessor. one who is not bound to or part of any political machine or organization, but one who has at heart only the best interests of the city as a whole.

Article VI. Section 23. of the Charter provides that "The Mayor shall annually and from time to time give the Council information relative to the affairs of the city and recommend to its consideration such matters as he may deem expedient."

It is in accordance with this section of the charter that I have pre- sented the foregoing data and recommendations to your honorable body.

Oakland today faces a future which is bright with promise. Our city is growing as it has never grown before. Federal statistics show it to be one of the most rapidly growing cities in the United States. Our healthful climate. our unexcelled transportation and dockage facilities.

New Stores Erected by The Midgeley Company at 15th St. and San Pablo Ave.

17'

OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA

Durant Motors Company of California 105th Avenue and East 14th Street, Oakland. Showing Durant and Star Factories.

our low death rate, and school and playground facilities all combine to encourage the location here of large factories and industries.

With the development of our harbor and other departments as out- lined above, and with an adequate assessment to meet the needs of the city, I confidently believe that the coming years will see Oakland con- tinue in its march toward its ultimate destiny, as a leader of the industrial and commercial cities of the Pacific Coast.

Very truly yours.

Mayor of the City of Oakland.

.. . .........

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Oakland Municipal Auditorium.

178

OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA

SONOMA

NAPA

SHELLVILLE

FAIRFIELD SUISUN

PETALUMA

TWINGO

CAL . N.W. R.A.

NAPA JUNC.

VALLEJO

MOTX BAY

NOVATO

MARE Is. NAVY YARD

SOUTH VALLEJO

Sactazey

BENICIA

PAX FOIN JAIL JORDIDERIVE

CON ANTIOCH

SAN RAFAEL

GIANTS

PLuan Pedia

SAN FABLE

CONCORD

Tema

RICHMOND PULLM

CLAYTON

LAFAYETTE

WALNUT CREEK

TIBIAON TET

BERKELEY&

BRYANT

WES GERNE !!

SAUSALIR

ETTER YVILLE

LAMO

KET CS

EN DANVALE

SAN FRANCISCO

ALAMEDA

SAN LEANDRO

DAT DOCK

BAY SHORE

VISITACION

HAYWARDS

PLEASANTON

SOUTHERN

SAN BRUNO

HALVERN

MILLBRAEX

EPECOTO

SUNOL

BURLINGAME

ALVARADO X NILES

SAN MATEO

FALCENTERVILLE

LMONT

IRVINGTON

Pillar Pi

WARM SPRINGS

REDWOOD

HALFMOON BA

PALO ALTO

PURISIRIA

ALVISO

MOUNTAIN VIEW

"QUIMERN PAC

SANTA CLARAS

SAN JOSE

SOUTHERN PACIFIC

PESCADERO

VASONALE

ELOS OATES

Pigeon Pt ..

FRANCISCO BA

PAC

JOUTHE

LIVERMORE RADIUM,ESTERN

PAC RR

Zend

SOUTH AN HAG. NEWARK

B MISSIONE SAN JOSE

Youth American Ports

Via Pannına Canal.

OCEAN SHORA

S.San Francisco

New York and Europe

OAKLAND

Pavel Sound and Pasit

MILL VALLEY

Mt Diablo

Pt Richmond

SOUTHERN.PAC. R.AF

SELBY

AVON

Potential

MARTINEZ

SPINDLE

ATCH- TOP. AND SANTA FE R.R

3 OAKLAND ARIOCH& BASTRAND SACRAMENTO

NORTH SHORE A.M

IGNACIO 90

SOUTHERN IPAG. Q.R.

PACIFIC A.R.

1.300. PAC R

OCEAN SNORE

ŞAN. RAMION

GENERAL INDEX

Abbreviations 239

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Oakland, Berkeley, Alameda city directory, 1924, Part 7

Author: Polk-Husted Directory Co Publication date: 1924 Publisher: Oakland, Cal. : Polk-Husted Directory Co. Number of Pages: 2232

Author: Polk-Husted Directory Co
Publication date: 1924
Publisher: Oakland, Cal. : Polk-Husted Directory Co.
Number of Pages: 2232