Polk's Oakland (California) city directory, 1930, Part 7

Author: R.L. Polk & Co
Publication date: 1928
Publisher: Oakland, Calif. : R.L. Polk & Co.
Number of Pages: 1624

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CITY AND COUNTY GOVERNMENT

Reduced Tax Rate

This naturally brings me to the question of "City and County" government, which I have advocated for Oakland for fifteen years, but for which I have never been given ade- quate support, despite promises made me by commissioner candidates I have supported for office. City and County government would cut the taxes now pald by Oakland prac- tically in half. The waste of the taxpayers' money under the present dual government. system, whereby they not only support the Oakland city government, but, in addition, support the Alameda County government, is as clear to see as it is shameful.

For the present fiscal year the Alameda County government will collect $21,000,000 in taxes. Of this amount the taxpayers of the City of Oakland contribute $15,000,000. Of what is collected from Oakland, the sum of $5,000,000 is collected for the Oakland city treasury as city taxes. The sum of $5,000,000 is likewise turned over for the Oakland Public Schools. Another million is to pay for Oakland's share of the Municipal Utility District water bonds. Adding these, it is clear to see that the taxpayers of Oakland turn over to Alameda County $4,000,000 from which they get no return.

Where, then, does this $4,000,000 of Oakland money go? The answer is simple-it goes to support the government of Alameda County, whose functions simply duplicate those of the Oakland city government. This $4,000,000 represents $1.50 on the total tax rate-utterly thrown away under the present duplicating system, and which we pay after already having paid the running expenses of our city.

MAYOR'S MESSAGE

Likewise, under the "City and County" plan, the Mayor has a veto. During my first administration l ran the city on a tax rate of ONE DOLLAR, and ended the year with a surplus in the treasury. A year ago the Oakland city tax rate, not the huge additional county rate, was only $1.94-reduced by me from the $2,50 of three years ago-and Oak- land's population has grown to 400,000. This year the city rate is $2.11, raised to that amount by the three Commissioners who have recently resigned. If the Mayor had the veto, as he would under "City and County" government, the taxes could have been lower still, and the administration efficiently run.

Consolidation of City Tax Functions with County Proves Economy

For two years now the county has assessed and collected City of Oakland taxes through a consolidation plan I advocated and put through. Two hundred thousand dol- lars has been saved the taxpayers hy this one consolidation alone.

When Oakland maintained an Assessor and Tax Collector's office the cost was ap- proximately $110,000 per year-today the county does the same work for $10,000, saving the taxpayers four cents annually on the city tax levy. At the same time a great con- venience was effected. Formerly Oakland citizens received two tax bills, one from the county, one from the city. They had to go to two different offices to pay these bills. There was continual conflict when taxpayers found their property assessed differently hy two different assessors. Today taxpayers have one assessed valuation on their property, receive one bill, pay this bill at one office-as well as saving on the whole $100,000 per year.

Now, if one consolidation can effect such a saving and such convenience, why not, through forming "City and County" government, consolidate all offices? Why must we throw away $4,000,000 annually in supporting the Alameda County Board of Supervisors, the County Clerk and his huge staff, the County Auditor and his large staff, the County Treasurer, the County Law Enforcement Department, the County Board of Education and School System, the County Engineer, the County Jail, the County Purchasing Agent and staff, the County Health Officer with huge departments and hospitals, the County Library System, the County Civil Service Department, an so on. Oakland already has these required departments and officials.

Forming the "City and County of Oakland," then, would save us four million on one hand, and give us a million (gas tax) on the other. The total of five millions amounts approximately to $2 on the tax rate. The total tax rate now, including both the city and county tax rates, is $5.96. Reduce this by $2, and the beginning total tax rate for the "City and County of Oakland" is only $3.96. With internal economies and adjustments, made after the plan is in effect, I am convinced that the "City and County of Oakland" could operate, aud efficiently, on a total tax rate approximately ONE-HALF of the pres- ent total rate.

OUTSTANDING EVENTS

Conventions

Over eight million dollars were brought into Oakland during the year through con- ventions held in our city, according to the Chamber of Commerce estimates. This huge sum, spread among Oakland's hotels, restaurants, theatres and general merchandising concerns, gives clear proof of the high value that conventions mean to our city. But this money spent is not the only asset of convention sessions here. It is of direct benefit, of course, but indirectly there is the complementary benefit of the advertising Oakland receives, not only through newspaper publicity, but by virtue of the delegates from all parts of the country having direct contact with our growing city.

OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA

I regret that space does not allow listing here all the conventions held in our city during 1929. Among them, however, I will name a few outstanding ones, along with reported attendance.

International Association for Identification

600

Pacific Advertising Clubs Association.

8,000

Pacific Coast Association B'nai B'rith. 5,000

California Federation of Post Office Clerks 1,200

Improved Order of Redmen and Degree of Pocahontas

1,750

California Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

3,000

California Sheriffs Association and Peace Officers Association of California .. 1,150

California Highway Patrolmen's Association. 2,000

California Undersheriffs Association 1,500

California State Society of Ben Hur.

800

California Elks Association

15,000

Contracting Plasterers International Association

1,000

League of California Municipalities.

1,500

Grand Council of the United Portuguese of California and Auxiliaries.

3,000

Philatelic Society of California.

4,000

Pacific Slope Dairy Show Association and Affiliated Associations.

4,500

Pacific Slope Dairy Exposition.

75,000

Annual Poultry Show

20,000

Annual Canary and Bird Show.

1,000

California Teachers Association

10,000

California Association of Insurance Agents

750

Retail Clothiers of California and Tri-O Apparel Club.

1,500

Oakland Horse Show

65,000

National Grocers Food Show

30,000

Annual Kennel Show

8,000

Danish Societies of California and Nevada.

2,400

United Commercial Travelers of California

2,000

Sons of United Veterans, State Encampment

2,750

Grand Army of the Republic, State Encampment and Women's Relief Corps 16,000

State Convention of the Gideons.

1,000

Phi Chi Fraternity 800

2,000

California Retail Credit Men

500

California High School Principals Association.

600

Master Painters Association of California

500

For the coming year of 1930, I am happy to report, that Oakland's convention list, according to reports already in, will exceed any year in our history. Oakland may well be happy in the fact that we have a Municipal Auditorium of such great capacity, and so conveniently and beautifully located. I am happy to mention again that plans are on foot for the construction of a second exhibition building, just south of the present Audi- torium. When knowledge of this construction goes abroad our city may be assured of many exhibitions and shows for which heretofore our facilities have been inadequate.

League of California Municipalities

Attended by over 1400 delegates from all parts of the State of California, the annual meeting of the League of California Municipalities, held in Oakland last October, was the largest and most successful in the history of that body. Oakland's central location in the state, focal relationship to all lines of transportation, magnificent climate and ontstanding means for housing and recreation, are naturally largely responsible for the exceptional attendance.

Practically every county in the State of California was represented by officials of one or more of its cities. The program worked most smoothly with plenty of opportunity for the officials of this city, in capacity of hosts, to show the delegates the varions attractions and advantages our community has. The weather, normally beautiful in October, was even exceptionally so during the five-day meet. All Oakland can be sure that our city's name is held in even higher respect than hefore throughout the state.

Pacific Logging Congress

MAYOR'S MESSAGE

First International Lawn Bowling Meet

In Oakland's successful handling of the First International Lawn Bowling Meet our city spread its advantages far beyond the bounds of our state. For a period of two weeks, in February, 1929, Oakland, through the California Lawn Bowling Association, and more specifically the Oakland Lawn Bowling Club, was host to the champion lawn bowling team of Great Britain. The February weather again was perfect. Every day the games were played in full sunshine, much to the marveling of our foreign visitors. The publicity Oakland received when the news of each day's play was broadcast throughout Canada and Great Britain is of inestimable value. So pleased, indeed, were the mem- bers of the British team that it has already agreed to hold a similar international con- test in Oakland during 1930.

At this time it might be well to bring to your attention something of the facilities that Oakland offers for such recreation and for such contests. The City of Oakland probably boasts of two of the finest bowling greens in the United States. Located In Lakeside Park, they are full size, scientifically built as to drainage, banks and sod, and are surrounded by banks with excellent seating capacity backed by the choicest of Cali- fornia shrubbery. The clubhouse, built by the city, is commodious and houses the Oak- land Lawn Bowling Club, Lakeside Lawn Bowling Club and the Oakland Women's Lawn Bowling Club. The greens are open every day of the year and tourists wintering in Oakland appreciate the opportunity of enjoying a season on the greens at a time when their home greens are covered with snow and frost. The Oakland Lawn Bowling Club is the second oldest in the state, organized in 1903, following the organization in 1901 of the San Francisco Scottish Bowling Club. The other two clubs noted were organized in 1914 and 1915, respectively. With the growing popularity of this outdoor sport, and of the high advertising value such contests, as noted above, have for our city, it is my hope that in the future other greens may be developed, not only in Lakeside Park, but in other park areas.

Arrival of the Motorship "Oakland"

In direct relationship with my visit to Hamburg came the arrival of the Motorship Oakland on November 19th, after her highly successful maiden voyage from Hamburg through the Canal and up the Pacific Coast. The entire city turned out to greet the ship. It is estimated that over 10,000 men, women and children inspected the ship on the day of her arrival. I, myself. with an official party, was the first to board her and welcome Captain W. Zelgenmeyer, W. O. von Hentig, German consul of San Fran- cisco, and officials of the Hamburg-American Line. At noontime, under the auspices of a committee, composed of my secretaries and representatives of the Chamber of Com- merce, a luncheon at Hotel Oakland was given in honor of the Oakland's arrival. This was attended by nearly a thousand representative citizens of Oakland, among them being officers of the vessel, officials of the Hamburg-American Line, and many representatives of the various German societies. From Oakland the motorship went north to take cargo at Seattle, and upon her arrival at this city on her return trip to Hamburg, Captain Zeigenmeyer and Hamburg-American Line officials tendered a return dinner to city officials, representatives of the Chamber of Commerce and others.

At the luncheon the Captain was presented with a large framed aerial photograph of the City of Oakland and a bronze plaque commemorating the motorship's first arrival at her namesake's port. At the same time the compliments of the City of Oakland were conveyed to the Captain, Mr. Ebey, Pacific Coast representative of the line, and Dr. Wil- helm Cuneo of Hamburg, president of the Hamburg-American Line, in the form of in- scribed resolutions from the City Council.

5.9

OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA

Armistice Day

Oakland can well be pround of the Armistice Day celebration of November 11, 1929. From reports received, it was the finest ever held in the country in a city anywhere ap- proaching the population of Oakland, and vied with the celebrations held by the great cities in the United States. Not only was it proper that Oakland, in commemoration of Armistice Day and in memory of the many Oakland men and women who lost their lives in the World War, should fittiugly celebrate Armistice Day, but the magnitude of the last year's celebration was of high value from the national advertising standpoint. The sum of $2,000 appropriated by the City Council, and $1,000 for Oakland's celebration by Alameda County Board of Supervisors, are insignificant compared to what the Armistice Day celebration did for our city.

To head the committee, I appointed Colonel Charles I. Anderson, an outstanding Legionnaire, now Commissioner of Streets. With him I appointed fourteen other veterans -the majority of these, naturally, are American Legion men; but all veteran organiza- tions had representation as well. Most of these committeemen had had experience on previous committees and were familiar with the details and method of procedure. Over ten thousand marchers were in the parade, some four thousand visiting Army, Navy and Marine Corps men were given a barbecue in Lakeside Park, and over four hundred officers and visiting officials attended the luncheon at Hotel Oakland. In the afternoon the great Pacific Coast Army-Navy football game was held in the University of California Memorial Stadium before an audience of over seventy thousand.

It is my intention, in view of the success of this committee's activities, to appoint a skeleton permanent committee which will be perpetually active to make such celebrations as Armistice Day and Fourth of July ever bigger and hetter. It is my belief that the people of Oakland owe the 1929 Armistice Day Committee their thanks, and I give the names and the organizations which they represent herewith:

Committee

Organization

Col. Chas. I. Anderson

American Legion

Col. C. P. Mader

American Legion

Captain Rufus M. Whaley

American Legion

Judge Howard Bacon

American Legion

Harry A. Nelson

American Legion

Lieutenant Howard Riggs

American Legion

Colonel Walter K. Knox

American Legion

Major Leroy Bartlett ..

American Legion

Lee Brown.

Disabled American War Veterans

H. W. Winne Disabled American War Veterans

Major W. H. Loving ..

Retired Army Officer

Colonel Theodore H. James

.Grand Army of the Republic

Peter Van Houtte. United Spanish War Veterans

Roy Day. Veterans of Foreign Wars

Eugene Sturtevant

Naval Reserve

Dale Hollingsworth

ex-Navy, World War

Captain S. H. Grant

British Great War Veterans

Captain A. C. McGilvrey

British Great War Veterans

MAYOR'S "OAKLAND PUBLICITY" TOUR OF EUROPE

In January, 1929, I received notice from Mr. Harold Eby, Pacific representative of the Hamburg-American Steamship Line, that his company was starting construction in the spring of a large freight and passenger ship to he named Oakland in honor of our city. The company, through him, requested me, as Mayor, to visit Hamburg and take part at the christening ceremonies. Following receipt of this information I received, on February 10th, an invitation from the Alcalde of Seville, Spain, to attend the Fourth

MAYOR'S MESSAGE

International Congress of Cities, to be held in conjunction with the opening of the Seville Iberio-American Exposition, during the perior of March 17 to 21, inclusive.

I saw a double opportunity for Oakland in these two invitations. With our city announced by the United States Chamber of Commerce as the "fastest growing and most prosperous city in America," with Oakland's harbor commanding the interest of the shipping world, with Oakland Airport, one of the finest and surely the most famous on earth, the name and achievements of our city could be further magnified through these two scheduled events. By the Mayor of Oakland's personal visit to Seville and to

The medium altitude, dry air and pure water of Oakland's mountain camps attract thousands of Oakland citizens annually.

Hamburg in accordance with invitations received; by his personal meeting with foreign city and governmental officials; by his inspection of the great ports, capitols, and indus- trial cities of the great countries across the Atlantic; and through his examination of municipal facilities of all cities visited, I was confident that the name of Oakland would receive international advertisement of inestimable value.

Many prominent business men of Oakland, hearing of the Hamburg-American Line's decision and of these two invitations, and believing that the time had come for Oakland definitely to make an outstanding gesture based upon her remarkable achievements, came into the public press insisting that I go-and I did.

The results of this publicity tour on behalf of the city have been excellent ones and fully justified the necessary outlay.

OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA

As the only American Mayor present at the Seville Conference I was enabled to bring the name of Oakland continually in the foreground. Every visiting delegate, repre- senting practically every nation on earth, received copies of my annual message, of Chamber of Commerce publicity phamphlets, of Harbor and Airport bulletins, and pub- lications issued by the Oakland Women's City Club.

Following the conference I continued on northward to Hamburg. Here I aided in ceremonies contingent upon laying the keel of the new motorship Oakland, and here, too, the name of our city received excellent publicity.

The "swimming hole"-Tuolumne mountain camp.

In every city I visited, word had been sent ahead of the anticipated arrival of the Mayor of Oakland, California, the "fastest growing and most prosperous city in America," and in each city the newspapers gave Oakland much desirable and valuable space.

BOND ISSUES

The record of remarkable achievement that Oakland already has made, the advance during the past year, and the growth and development that are so sure in the immediate future, demand a continual expansion of municipal facilities. Oakland today needs pub- lic improvements of practically every nature,

MAYOR'S MESSAGE

However, it is my fundamental belief that all such public improvements of a per- manent nature should be paid for through the issue and sale of bonds. Through this means such improvements are paid for as they are actually used-in other words, future generations of taxpayers will participate in the cost of those facilities and improvements which they themselves are using.

I most emphatically recommend that in the near future a bond issue be brought before the public for the purpose of constructing all vitally needed improvements. I have already mentioned the necessity for a new Public Library building program; and the demands of our citizenship require expanded park areas and additional recreational facilities-but one improvement absolutely mandatory is that of the city's main drainage and sewer system. Much of the downtown system now in use was originally con- strueted for a city of only 60,000 population. It is inadequate today, and will surely be totally inadequate for the half million population that will soon be Oakland's. Again, the opening of arterial highways, necessary if our city's traffic problem is to have relief, should be paid for out of bond money. In my estimation the entire program of necessary improvements can be met by one issue, but I repeat again that the matter should be laid before the public at the earliest possible date.

I must again emphatically urge, as I did in my message of 1928, that in any and all bond issues all monies be appropriated to a definite and specifically determined use and that no money from such bond issue be put to any other use than that to which the tax- payers specifically roted it. Too often in the past have the people, not only of this com- munity but of many others, voted sums that they were told were to be used for a specific purpose only to see those same sums later deflected to another and often unanticipated channel of expenditure. In any future bond issnes, therefore, I urge that the wording of the bond issue ordinance be such that the public clearly understands what the money is to be used for, where the improvement or construction is to take place, and further worded so as to make it mandatory upon the expending powers to see such money laid out only for the specific purposes outlined.

OAKLAND'S DESTINY IS HIGH

Statistical tables, comments through personal observation of men and women in authority, and the confidence of our citizens themselves, indicate clearly that Oakland's future will be a great one. All authorities concur in the declaration that Oakland is one of the fastest growing and most, prosperous cities in the land. Our healthful climate, our low death rate, our rich and productive background, our unexcelled dockage and transportation facilities, our exceptionally meritorious schools and recreational facilities, our inexhanstible supply of pure mountain water, all combine to encourage the coming here, not only of homeseekers, but of persons looking for business opportunity and in- dustries seeking manufacturing sites. With the continued development of our harbor; with the expansion of our schools, our transportation systems, our public places of recreation and amusement, and our airport; with the widening and extension of our arterial highways; with proper architectural supervision of our buildings, and more comprehensive control of new subdivisions: with efficiency and beauty-making zoning laws, Oakland's progress is assured.

If, in addition to this, the people of Oakland adopt the "City and County" plan of local government, and thereby cut in half the present exorbitant taxes, due to our sup- port of unneeded county institutions, our city need never fear a rival. The biggest nat- ural advantages combined with the smallest tax rate-these will make the name of Oakland ring with invitation throughout America, and our destiny will be assured.

Very truly yours, JOHN L. DAVIE,

Mayor of the City of Oakland.

POLK'S OAKLAND 1930

Street and Avenue Guide

Giving names, location and description of Streets, Avenues, Drives, Boulevards, Ways, Courts and Places in the boundary city lines between Berkeley, Oakland and Alameda, including the Cities of Oakland, Emeryville and Piedmont, in accordance with the County recorded maps with designated dedicated streets and the Cities' ordinances and as exist- ent up to date.

E, W, N, S for name, East, West, North,

fr from

june junction

trds towards

A- Fm 1300 82d av e to 99th w 1 s of E 14th

ABBEY-

Second e of 35th av fm Brookdale av n to Penniman av ABERFOIL AV-

Fm Elvesaa av w to Roderick

ACACIA AV-

Fm Prospect dr opp Lawton e to Buena Viata av

ACTON PLACE-

Fm Athol av and E 19th nw to Lester av

Athol av 102

Lester av

251

ADA-

Fm Bryant av se to Bway Arst s of Manila av

ADAMS-

Fm 252 Lee ne to Perry

Lee 82

Perkina

159

Perkins

350

Euclid av

400

Perry

450

ADAMS PARK-

E a Harrison nw s Grand av w of Bay pl

ADELAIDE-

Fm Huntington av e to Car- son 3 n of Tompkins av

ADELINE-

Fm lat no to 62d and Bkly city line First 100

200

Third

300

400

Fifth

500

600

Seventh

700

Eighth

800

900

Tenth

1000

Twelfth

1200

Shattuck av

601

Eastman

West

800

Market 900

Linden 950

APPLE-

Fm 105th av ne to E 14th

APRICOT-

Fm 107th av se to Royal

AQUARIUS WAY- N fm Mountain blvd 1 e of Floren av ARBOR AV-

Fm 482 Hudson ne to Te-

mescal cr 1 e Claremont av

ARBOR DR (Pied)- Fm 1100 Okld av e to Je- rome av first n of Grand av

ARCADIA AV- N end Fruitvale av n to Mel- vin rd

ARCHMONT PLACE-

Thirty-fourth

3400

San Pablo av

3500

College av 300

Benvenue av 330

Hillegass

350

Fm Proctor av to Agnes

ALTA VISTA AV-

Fm Jeane to Mira Vista av

ALTAMONT AV- Fm Simson to Seminary av ALTURA PLACE- E and w fm end of Rifla la 1 n Mountain hlvd ALVARADO RD- se Hotel Claremont off es Tunnel rd

AMELIA- Fm 84th av se to 86th av sixth s of E 14th AMPLAR PL- Ss Bellevue av 1 w of Mo- raga av AMY DR- Fm Bellevue av n to Proctor av w of Moraga av

ANDERSON- Now KELLER AV

1 blk w Shone av fm Green- ley dr to Mountain blvd

ANDERSON- Fm Butler ne to Clifton, 1 a Bway

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Polk's Oakland (California) city directory, 1930, Part 7

Author: R.L. Polk & Co Publication date: 1928 Publisher: Oakland, Calif. : R.L. Polk & Co. Number of Pages: 1624

Author: R.L. Polk & Co
Publication date: 1928
Publisher: Oakland, Calif. : R.L. Polk & Co.
Number of Pages: 1624