Polk's Oakland, Berkeley, Alameda city directory, 1925, Part 2

Author: R.L. Polk & Co
Publication date: 1925
Publisher: Oakland, Cal. : R.L. Polk & Co.
Number of Pages: 1884

USA > California > Alameda County > Alameda > Polk's Oakland, Berkeley, Alameda city directory, 1925 > Part 2
USA > California > Alameda County > Berkeley > Polk's Oakland, Berkeley, Alameda city directory, 1925 > Part 2
USA > California > Alameda County > Oakland > Polk's Oakland, Berkeley, Alameda city directory, 1925 > Part 2

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).

The Chamber of Commerce is co-operating with the city government in work- ing on a city plan. When compieted and carried out, Berkeley should become one of the most beautiful of American cities. It is calling to men and women of dis- tinction in science and art to come to the college city, destined to become more and more the center of learning and culture of the Pacific, to help to plan and to build here a city worthy of this peerless site.

The Indo-European stock from which builders of western civilization have grown, took its origin in the shadow of the Himalayas. The Indian Ocean was its first theater of action. Thence it traveled westward through the Red Sea into the Mediterranean and buiided there the civilizations of Greece and Rome. Through the Pillars of Hercules it swept, on into the Atlantic, and Spain, France, italy, the Netherlands and Britain grew into maturity and strength. Then still westward it moved into the New World, conquering the American wilderness and building the first great democracy that spelled the doom of kings. On it pressed, westward, ever westward. over prairie and plateau, over desert and mountain, until Fremont stood upon the Contra Costa Hills and named the Golden Gate.

Today Berkeley, christened by the founders of the University of California after the idealistic Bishop of Cloyne, stands upon the western-most rim of West- ern civilization, looking through the Golden Gate, out over the vast waste of the Pacific. Beyond the sea is the ancient East, that land of hoar antiquity teeming with its millions. California is the farthest west where the New World must pile upon the last margin of the Indo-European migration. Berkeley, the intellectual center of California, standing upon its hill slopes with the vision of the setting sun in this mystic portal, must look steadfastiy through this gateway, and must ponder long on the problem which it conjures to the imagination. The Pacific, now linked by the Panama Canal with the Atlantic, is the center of the civiliza- tion of tomorrow. Here where West meets East in trade and the interchange of ideas, is the theater of the mighty deeds of the world to he. Berkeley, the Pacific capitol of learning, must fit itself to be worthy of the leadership which fate has thrust upon it. It must rear a city of supreme beauty wherein men will think great thoughts and exercise that leadership which flows from knowledge and high ideals. Come to us, all you who see the vision, and help us to worthily fulfill our destiny. Berkeley, looking through the Golden Gate, is calling you!

ALAMEDA

Alameda, the Dahlia City-the city of beautiful homes, of an unexcelled climate. This is the appellation which is frequently given to Alameda which is within forty minutes' ride by fast electric train and ferry hoat from San Fran- cisco.

Alameda is one of the most beautiful of the San Francisco bay cities. It is situated on an island three miles long and one-half mile wide, with San Francisco bay gently lapping the southern and western shores while San Leandro bay borders the east side, and the tidal canal, separating Oakland and Alameda, bounds the city on the north side.

The city hall of Oakland is hut 31/2 miles from the central business district of Alameda and may be reached by three different street car lines.

Because of the excellence of the climate and the splendid school system in the city, hundreds of San Francisco and Oakland business men make Alameda their home, and some of the most beautiful small estates in northern California are here.

Taxes in Alameda are low. This is due to the fact that Alameda owns and operates a municipal electric light plant which gives electricity to consumers at a much lower rate than other neighboring cities pay, the plant profits annually approximate $75,000.

Alameda's school system has reached that pinnacle of efficiency where it is one of the most talked-of systems in the entire United States. There are four elementary, three primary schools and a high school.

Five of the most beautiful public parks in northern California are located within the boundaries of the city. They are the mecca each year for more than one million people who come from miles away to take advantage of the cooling breezes while their children frolic among the trees and foliage or on the sandy beaches or enjoy themselves on the most modern play equipment found anywhere. Attesting to the popularity of the pleasure resorts located on San Francisco hay in Alameda, a careful check shows that between 75,000 and 100,000 people each Sunday during the summer months, visit these resorts to enjoy the surf bathing and other pleasures provided for their entertainment.

Alameda has more than 160 miles of excellent paving, and the streets and parks are under the supervision of experts who yearly plant, prune and care for the thousands of beautiful trees which horder each boulevard.

Flowers grow in profusion in the city. the dahlia being the most prolific, and some of the prize winners in the large dahlia shows are grown in Alameda. Scores of other blooms are also to be seen, while many houses are partially hid from view hy the gorgeous flowering vines such as the wistaria, climbing roses and others.

Besides the advantages of home life which the city offers, it has an un- excelled industrial district located along the shores of the tidal canal where ship- ping facilities are of the best. This district is also served hy a Municipal belt railroad connecting with all transcontinental railroad lines.

Such industries as the Alaska Packers' Association, the largest fishing corpora- tion in the world; the Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation; Pacific Coast Borax Co .; The Listo Pencil Corporation; Saylor's Chocolates; lumber, coal, bridge and oil companies are located in the industrial district.

A newspaper, the Alameda Times-Star, carrying the full United Press tele- graph report of world news and covering every section of the city in local hap- penings, is issued each afternoon.

And there is room for other large industries along the tidal canal. Alameda is under the city manager form of government and all branches of the city ad- ministration come directly under this official's supervision.

OAKLAND CITY HALL

CITY COUNCIL, 1925

CITY COUNCIL OF OAKLAND

I'pper Left -- WM. J. MOOREHEAD, Com- missioner of Revenue and Finance

Upper Right-FRANK COLBOURN, Com- missioner of Public Health and Safety

Lower Left- , 1. BACCUS, Commi -- Lower Right-LEROY R. GOODRICH, Com- sioner of Stre missioner of Public Works and The Port

enter-JOHN L. DAVIE, Mayor of Oakland

OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA

Annual Message of MAYOR JOHN L. DAVIE To the City Council of Oakland

HONORABLE CITY COUNCIL,

City Hall, Oakland, California.

GENTLEMEN :

With the close of the past fiscal year and our entry upon another anual municipal period I take pleasure in presenting to yon, in accordance with charter provision, my annual message for the year that has just closed.

BUILDING DEVELOPMENT

As has been the case in previous years Oakland has continued its un- interrupted march of progress, A few years ago we were highly pleased if our building permits went to a figure of $25.000,000; for several years past we have exceeded $30,000,000; and the present calendar year bids fair to see. the splendid record of past years outdistanced.

Since I presented my last annual message to your honorable body. down- town office building has continued at a rapid rate. Since that time the Ray Building. the Wakefield Building, Richfield Oil Building, Alameda County Title Insurance Building, all of them high class modern office and store build- ings. have been completed. In addition to these commercial buildings, the Athens Athletic Club has nearly finished its magnificent club building at 12th and Clay Streets, while Oakland Lodge of Elks is making rapid progress on their beautiful new home on 20th Street and Telegraph Avenue. These two splendid structures will make valuable additions to the fraternal and social life of our city-additions much needed in any city growing as rapidly as ours.

At the present time the Central Bank has under construction a new six- teen-story banking home and office building at the location at 14th and Broad- way. Recent announcement has been made of the proposed erection of a sixteen-story office building at the northwest corner of 16th Street and Telegraph Avenne. The construe- ויו tion of the Leamington Hotel at 19th and Franklin Streets, and a fourteen- story hotel at 28th and San Pablo Streets is also planned for the near future.

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Central National Bank Building

Development around our beauti- ful lake is keeping pace also. In ad- dition to the Regillus Apartments constructed approximately two years ago, a group of Oakland financiers are now constructing a building, similarly beautiful. for apartment homes on Lakeside Drive. This build- ing. 12 stories in height, of fireproof concrete construction, is indeed an attractive addition to the new con- struetion on our lake shores.

This continued development of our

MAYOR'S MESSAGE, 1925

downtown district is being planned to keep pace with our industrial expan- sion. Residential development continues at an unprecedented rate. We are and for several years past have been finishing homes at an average rate of one every twenty minutes during the working day. This is a record I believe which can be exceeded by only a few cities, and which is far in advance of many. That Oakland was the eighth city in building in the United States is evidence of the rapid growth which is taking place in all parts of this city.

The last Federal eensus in 1920 credited Oakland with a population of 216,261. Conservative figures of today, five years later, credit Oakland with a population of slightly more than 325.000, an increase averaging more than 20.000 in population per year.

Retail business conditions in Oakland are fine. Recent statistics show that out of six cities on the Paeifie Slope. Oakland had the highest percentage of inerease, 18.5'2 in retail business over June of 1924, exceeding the per- centage of increase in San Francisco by 10%. and of Los Angeles by 2%. Sinee November, 1924, Oakland bank desposits have inereased by more than $8.700,- 000, indicating a generally healthy business condition.

NUHIA

FUT

1177

Athens Athletic ('lub Building

OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA

INDUSTRIAL GROWTH

That our industries are keeping pace with general development is ovi- denced by the fact that after their first year in business in Oakland, Mont- gomery, Ward & Company found it necessary to double the mammoth build- ing which they had first erected. and an official of the company re- cently announced the necessity for again doubling their present space. The Fageol Motor Factory has more than doubled its floor space in the past year, and our other industries are continually increasing their capacity and out- put and extended their markets further and further afield.

As evidence of Oakland's con- tinned superiority as an industrial city is the recent announcement Richfeld Oil Building that the Willys-Overland Auto- mobile Company have selected this eity as the location for their western factory and distributing plant. This selection was made after a careful survey and weighing of advantages of various eities in the West, and it was only after two years of deliberation that our city was finally selected. I feel that we can well be proud of this evidence of Oakland's superiority from an industrial and distributing standpoint.

It is emphasized by the fact that approximately one hundred and fifty new industries have located here since the presentation of my last annual report to this Council, increasing our workers by about 3.000 and with an investment of more than $10,000,000, adding $5.000.000 annually to our pay- rolls.

That Oakland's growth and development is receiving national recognition and is being followed closely by national financial and other authorities, is evidenced by the speech made recently in Oakland by B. C. Forbes, an inter- nationally recognized economist and authority on financial matters. Two years ago Mr. Forbes made a prophecy of Oakland's development. Recently hc reviewed the progress that Oakland had made in the two year period be- tween that prophecy and his recent address and stated that even his most optimistic predictions had been more than recognized. He predicts that our city will eventually be the colossus of the Pacific Coast and urged prepared- ness on our part for this mammoth city which is to come. A review of the work undertaken and accomplished in the past year, together with the private and municipal projects now under way, indicates that as a city Oakland is making ready for the city of the future.

PUBLIC DEVELOPMENT-BOND ISSUES ADOPTED

One of the crying needs in the development of our city has been that of an adequate supply of pure water. Last fall the people of the east bay com- munity adopted a bond issue of nearly $40,000,000 for the purpose of develop- ing an adequate mountain water supply. Certain technical difficulties have delayed the construction program under this bond issue but the Directors of the East Bay Municipal Utility District have announced through the press that bids will be ealled for the construction of the Mokelumne water project in the early fall and that work will start shortly thereafter. Completion of the project, which will bring mountain water into our city, will satisfy that need and will provide ample water for domestic and industrial use for many years into the future.

MAYOR'S MESSAGE, 1925

The sewer bond issue totaling One Million Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand Dollars, which was approved by the voters, provides funds for much needed sewer construction in various parts of the eity. Upon its com- pletion much of the problem of disposing of sewage and storm waters will be solved for many years to come. Work has already commenced on two of the improvement projects under that bond issue-the Seventh Street outfall sewer and the Elmhurst storm sewer, both projeets of vital neces- sity.

MUNICIPAL BUSINESS

Municipal business has kept pace with general development in our city. Harbor statistics show that during the twelve months ending April 30th of this year we had the following traffic into and out of Oakland harbor. For purpose of compari- son, the same figures are given for the year 1916:

No. Vessels

Cargo

Feet

Year

Revenues

Arriving 2,713

Tonnage

Total Tons

Lumber

1916

$ 67,355.06

701,135

531,560

78,849,937

1924

280,421.26

10,029

6,230,411

1,444,401

313.824,298

333

31111111 B1

331

336

Oakland Bank Building

In my last annual message to this Council I recommended certain harbor developments. Since that time the Council has employed three prominent engineers as a Board of Harbor Survey. These engineers are conducting an exhaustive survey into the needs and possibilities of Oakland's harbor, and will present their report and recommendations to this Council at a later date. I feel confident that they will include in their report recommendations similar to those which I made for construction of a mammoth pier development on our' Western Harbor front, and for the erection of additional wharves on the Inner Harbor between Washington Street and the Southern Pacific wharves. This will provide accommodations also for landing passengers and eargo from Sacramento River points on our western harbor, as recommended by me for several years.

More than two years ago, at my direction, the Harbor Department con- structed a fill from the 16th Street station to the Western Harbor front on which we could extend West 14th Street to the water's edge. The work has been completed and we have today a splendid paved thoroughfare directly from the Southern Pacific 10th Street station to the water's edge. Within a rela- tively short time proper street work to connect this street with the ex- tension of Seventh Street will also be finished ; and we now have a direct artery from the heart of our city to the rapidly developing west- Alameda County Title Insurance Co. Building

OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA

ern harbor for the accommodation of industrial and commercial interests loeating there.

During my very first administration as Mayor of this city, I advocated filling of the West Oakland "marsh lands." The work was begun at that time and the land where the Bayview playground has since been established was a portion of that then reclaimed. During my absence from office the reclama- tion work was neglected but has been carried on again until the present accom plishments. The West 14th Street fill was one of the last items on the program.

The Richfield Oil Company and the General Petroleum Company are spending several millions of dollars in the development of oil distribution facilities on the western harbor and with increased oil movement in their use of Oakland harbor will add materially to our yearly harbor tonnage and port revenues. The General Petroleum Company recently held a public opening at which time they put into service their new plant, constructed at a cost of $1,000,000.

Sinee completion of the filling of the West Oakland marsh lands and their preparation for industrial development the Southern Pacific and Santa Fe Railroads have applied for and obtained permission to lay a large amount of industrial track in this area and industrial development is occurring there at a rapid rate. A number of industries have constructed plants there during the past year and additional industries have announced their plans of construe- tion for the near future.

15 9.

Hotel Coit Building

MAYOR'S MESSAGE, 1925

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Wakefield Building

TRANSPORTATION- LOCAL AND INTERURBAN

I have previously recom- mended to the Southern Pacific and the Traction Companies that they make joint use of the tracks of the latter company between 14th and 20th Streets for their interurban trains and street car lines. This ree- ommendation was accepted and later developments showed the necessity for a special amendment to our eity charter to permit the Council to issue the neces- sary franchise. The people of Oakland, realizing the value of this progressive movement, voiced their hearty approval of such an amendment at the last elec- tion and I am informed by officials of the Southern Pacifie Company that the franchise will be applied

for in the near future. They have already displayed the type of equipment which they propose to operate on Webster Street, and at my recommendation it has received the formal approval of the Conneil.

This progressive step will soon be taken and will result in opening Frank- lin Street as a strictly vehicular traffic artery and will permit of the eommer- cial development of the railroad's property at 14th and Franklin Streets.

The general transportation situation is one which needs serious considera- tion. The City, the Traction Company, and the Railroad Commission have been engaged for some time past on a survey to determine methods of improving local street car transportation. A preliminary report has already been filed

Oakland Harbor

OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA

Oakland Harbor

with the Commission relating to re-routing of certain downtown car lines with a view to breaking up the present congested loops and speeding up street car traffic in the downtown district.

I do not believe that sufficient stress has been laid upon the development of a rapid inter-city transit. For years I have been recommending and nrging the establishment by the Transportation Companies of an inter-city rapid tran- sit between the East Bay cities. I have repeatedly called the attention of the C'onneil and of the Railroad Commission to the fact that both the Southern Pacific Company and the Key System Transit Company devote the major portion of their energies to improving transportation between San Francisco and Oakland and from other East Bay cities to San Francisco. With the rapid growth which Oakland has experienced and will experience a need for a more rapid East Bay inter-city transit is increasingly apparent. It is my recommendation that this C'onneil insist that the Railroad Commission and the transit companies inaugurate a more rapid transit from Hayward, Alameda. Berkeley and Richmond into Oakland. in order that our city may receive its just share of the East Bay business now diverted to the other side of the bay.

I have also requested the Railroad Commission to order joint use by the Southern Pacific and Western Pacific Railroads of the Southern Pacific track- age between San Leandro and West Oakland. This will permit the unhampered

Gilmour Building

MAYOR'S MESSAGE, 1925

development of city property below the Auditorium be- tween First and Seventh Streets now bisected by the tracks of the Western Pa- cific Railroad. It will also eliminate a very dangerous traffic hazard on East 12th Street now caused by the op- eration between 17th and 25th Avenues of Western Pacific trains through this very heavy vehicular traffic artery.

New Bungalow In my last annual message to your honorable body 1 recommended the establishment of bus lines in various parts of the city to take care of the growing transit needs. I am pleased to inform yon that we now have bus lines operating on 35th Avenue, Excelsior Avenne, Foothill Boulevard, and as far east as Jones Avenne, and in the Rockridge district, thus providing much needed additional transportation facilities. These busses are not municipally owned however, as I feel that they should be and I wish at this time to repeat my previous recommendations for the establishment of municipal bus lines in Oakland. About two years ago we established an ex- perimental line, in competition with the Traction Company, and it was a splen- did success at a 5c fare.

The Traction Company has recently applied to the State Railroad Com- mission for an increase in rates. I have previously filed a recommendation that this Council oppose that application, as I do not believe that the present inferior service rendered our people by the company warrants even the 6c fare they are obliged to pay. I have always believed that competition is the

Levy Residence

OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA

best method of obtaining service, and I have previously recommended that busses will provide that com- petition.

The East Bay Municipal Utility District has the legal right to establish an inter-city bus service in all parts of this community. In any event I believe that the city should establish a municipal bus system for our own people and operate it at a 5e fare.

I am now preparing a special message to the Council on this one subject, and which will show how

Roos Bros, Building

much a bus line can be financed this year.

STREET IMPROVEMENTS

Our street opening program has gone on with unabated vigor. Actual work will soon start on the widening of 20th Street from San Pablo Avenue to Harrison, an improvement which I first recommended to your honorable body several years ago and for which legal proceedings have just been finally completed. Widening of 20th Street between these two points will give us a much needed traffic artery between the northern and western part of the city and the rapidly developing eastern section, without the necessity of this traffic going through the congested downtown sections.

Jefferson Street opening has been practically completed and the street will soon be opened for traffic. The program for the paving of Shattuck Avenue to the Berkeley line, and East 14th Street to the city line has been carried out and these improvements now under way should be completed by the early fall.

The Castro Street opening will be completed in the near future providing another much needed opening from San Pablo Avenue to the Inner Harbor. The original road to the golf links, the major portion of which easement was given to the city by Cliff Durant, has been in service for nearly a year and a new golf links road from 82nd Avenue to Jones meeting the present golf links road at the entrance to the Durant Estate, will shortly be in service, thus providing a shorter and quicker route to the very popular municipal golf course.

Recently Oakland experi- enced a million-dollar im- provement day. The East 14th Street paving. Elm- hurst storm sewer, and a number of smaller projects were started on the same day, the total cost of the projects aggregating slight- ly more than $1.000,000.

I consider that our city has made a splendid record of actual accomplishments in street openings in the past few years. We have completed the opening or

New Residence

MAYOR'S MESSAGE, 1925

Apartment House

widening of 15th Street, 17th Street, Hobart Street, East 12th Street, Jefferson Street. the golf links road, and many others. The rapid building development following the openings has added greatly to business in our eity.

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Polk's Oakland, Berkeley, Alameda city directory, 1925, Part 2

Author: R.L. Polk & Co Publication date: 1925 Publisher: Oakland, Cal. : R.L. Polk & Co. Number of Pages: 1884

Author: R.L. Polk & Co
Publication date: 1925
Publisher: Oakland, Cal. : R.L. Polk & Co.
Number of Pages: 1884