Oakland Sequoia Mountain Park; Part 1, the Bond Measure

Pour yourself a beverage and block out a bit of time to learn about the history of Oakland Sequoia Mountain Park, the effort by Oaklanders to save the redwoods.

Ebay: Sequoia Park ~ Oakland California ~ c1910 PNC postcard 

Ebay: OAKLAND CALIFORNIA PC Postcard SEQUOIA PARK Alameda County CALIF CALI CA

This 1935 map shows Sequoia Park to the east of Joaquin Miller Park. The underlying green colors from the modern map show the modern extent of the park(s). You can visit the url in the caption and slide the opacity slider left and right to see more of the modern, or more of the original map. 

Oakland - Berkeley - Alameda - 1935

Short

Some quotes, from the newspaper clippings, below:

October 3, 1921 "EXTENSION PLAN IS PURPOSE OF PARK DIRECTORS"

"It is a mammoth problem," says Campbell, "and there must be some program of park expansion to keep pace with the expansion of the city. Trestle Glen is gone. Other park sites are going. Gradually a series of properties which might be invaluable to the city are slipping away to private owners.

It is not generally known that one of the most beautiful groves of redwoods in the bay region lies along the route of the proposed new road. It is some distance north and east of the Joaquin Miller property, some distance up hill, and is at present owned by the Havens interests.

November 27, 1921 "PARK PURCHASE TO BE VOTED ON BY CIVIC CLUB"

Regardless of the plans of the park board to save these wonderful redwood groves and miles of majestic pine woods within the city's border, the owners are proceeding with plans for their subdivision and placing on the market next spring. To halt this impending partition of these natural wilderness parklands, the park board is endeavoring to win the endorsement of the various development and civic organizations of Oakland.

January 16, 1922 "Outdoor Clubs Plead to Save Redwood Trees"

"The hills of Oakland have been my playground since boyhood. And today, with my associates on the Park Board and our staff, we are making our final effort to preserve these natural forests and hilltops of rare scenic charm for the boys and girls of this generation and of the future. They will need more than ever such open spaces in which to find such healthful recreation as you are enjoying here today.

"We have only to look at Trestle Glen today to realize with regret the loss of this natural park. It should prove an object lesson in showing the people of Oakland that the same condition will be repeated on Redwood Peak if they are so short-sighted as to fail to save this wonderful redwood park while they still have the opportunity to do so.

March 13, 1922 "REDWOOD GROVE PURCHASE URGED"

"According to available information this property was included in your chain of parks plan. While we are in favor of the plan we believe at this time that it would be advisable to concentrate our efforts in first securing Redwood Peak for the reason that the owners of this property are contemplating subdividing it in the near future.

June 29, 1922 "Oakland Sequoia Park Drive Definitely Decided"

[At a meeting of a citizen committee representing thousands of voters, these two measures received unanimous votes: - MF]

1. To urge the passage of a measure acquiring the entire acreage of 1491 acres at a cost of $750,000 with $400,000 additional for improvements, as against splitting the acreage into two sections and making two measures to be voted on at the election.

2. To have stricken of immediately 20,000 buttons at a cost of $100 to be sold for one dollar each, these buttons to bear a picture of a redwood tree, the letters "S. O. S. and "Vote Yes, August 29." The initial cost of the buttons was underwritten by Fred E. Reed, president of the Oakland real estate board. 

July 13, 1922 "Campaign for Redwood Park Opens With Rush"

The campaign to save Oakland's sequoias, to establish a 1500-acre memorial park, embracing the famous redwood grove on the crest of Redwood-peak, is under way in earnest.

The proposition will go before the citizens on a bond issue with $100,000, included for improving the park, on the primary ballot August 29.

July 18, 1922 "BAND CONCERT, TALKS TO OPEN S.O.S. CAMPAIGN"

For nearly three years the Contra Costa Hills Club, supported by the Park Board and the civic, social and labor bodies of the city, has endeavored to get the park issue before the people on a ballot. And now the City Council has voted to put the issue to the voters on August 29.

July 28, 1922 "SPECIAL ELECTION AUG. 29 IS CALLED BY CITY BOARD"

A resolution calling a special city election August 29 was adopted to day by the city council. The local election will be on charter amendments and the Sequoia park proposition.

July 30, 1922 "HUNDREDS SLEEP UNDER REDWOOD TREES AT NIGHT"

"This is to be your park, yours and your children's and your children's children to keep forever," Moorehead said. "It is the finest thing ever offered to the citizens of Oakland. It is a God-made playground for grownups and for the children. We must not fail to vote for the bond issue to acquire it, for it is our last chance to secure a real park at a reasonable figure."

July 31, 1922 "COUNCIL FAVORS ACQUISITION OF SEQUOIA PARK"

The city council by resolution went on record this morning in favor of "the acquisition of the Oakland Sequoia Mountain Park" as a public necessity, and requested the Board of Park Directors to furnish complete data as to cost, pending the bond election.

August 6, 1922 "EFFORTS IN S.O.S. DRIVE REDOUBLE"

The proposed Sequoia Mountain Park takes in all of Shepherd's Canyon, Palo Seco Canyon, Diamond Canyon, Redwood Peak and the wonderful grove of redwoods, embracing all that is most beautiful of the wooded hills and ravines which drop away from the shoulders of Redwood Peak, the highest pinnacle in the proposed park area.

August 10, 1922 "2000 SEE FILM AND PLEDGE AID TO SAVE SEQUOIA"
[Scroll down to see the proposed map, this one is definitely worth reading. - MF]

This is a map prepared by Howard Gilkey, city landscape engineer, showing the location of the proposed Sequoia Mountain Park of 1547 acres, which the people of Oakland will vote on August 29. The park bond issue is for $538,000 and will be used to purchase lands within Dimond Canyon, Shepherd's Canyon, Seco Canyon and Redwood Peak and surrounding lands. The recently completed extension of the Skyline Boulevard passes through the upper edge of the proposed park.

August 11, 1922 "OAKLAND TOLD NOW IS TIME TO SAVE SEQUOIAS"

"Oakland will never be able to correct her mistake if she fails to take the opportunity to purchase the redwood groves within her boundaries. The time to acquire open spaces for public recreation purposes is before such lands are settled and such an opportunity now confronts this city."

August 20, 1922 "Al Fresco Feast in Redwoods Planned To Show Beauties of Proposed City Park"

Rabbi Rudolph I. Coffee, who left yesterday for Mooseheart, Ill., where he is scheduled to speak with President Harding to a gathering of Moose, gave this parting request to the members of the Temple Sinai congregation, or which he is rabbi: "Only those who know God and who have seen him in all his natural wonderment can know what a great thing the redwoods and the park areas means to this city. Look into the future fifty years hence and realize that Oakland will then be a city of a million souls, and you will find an obligation to your children and your grandchildren, and obligation to vote for the Sequoia Mountain park.

August 23, 1922 "MAYOR APPEALS FOR SEQUOIA PARK IN PROCLAMATION"

There are remains of gigantic sequoias, having a diameter of 25 feet and a height of 300 to 400 feet, in many portions of the park tract. I myself counted the remains of 12 such trees within one acre. These trees were cut down 70 years ago, and today new trees are growing in their place.

August 27, 1922 "Will They Vote to S.O. S.? Look at 'Em!"

Here are some of the 5,000 visitors to the redwoods last Sunday, where they pledged their support to the Sequoia Mountain Park bond issue to be put to a vote on Tuesday. Towering wooded hills, included in the proposed park, are shown in the background. This scene shows the enthusiastic manner in which people of the Eastbay district are backing the “S.O.S." campaign.

August 29, 1922 "LAST PLEA MADE TO SAVE SEQUOIAS FOR PUBLIC PARK"

This is the day the citizens of Oakland decide whether or not they want to own 1500 acres of wonderful wooded hills as a perpetual camping ground and recreation park within the city limits.
...
"It will be the people's country club in which the poorest will have an equal share.

Long

Here are some newspaper clippings I've gathered, in chronological order, about the push to get a bond measure on the ballot, to create Oakland Sequoia Mountain Park. Sequoia Park, as it was later known, was eventually created, but as you'll see in this and subsequent blog posts, it was never a sure thing. It is now the eastern half of Joaquin Miller Park. It is one of the "chain of parks" envisioned by early Oakland officials, stretching from Lake Merritt to Redwood Peak.

EXTENSION PLAN IS PURPOSE OF PARK DIRECTORS Mon, Oct 3, 1921 – Page 9 · Oakland Tribune (Oakland, California) · Newspapers.com

EXTENSION PLAN IS PURPOSE OF PARK DIRECTORS

Board to Consult Civic Organizations in Solving Big Problems.

The question of park extension for the city of Oakland will come to a focus at the meeting of the board of park directors at 1:30 p. m. tomorrow, with representatives of many civic organizations in attendance. A comprehensive plan for park development for several years to come to is expected to evolve from this meeting, or at least a movement will be started.

The park directors, according to President Marston Campbell, are not now seeking to "start something." but they "desire to see if the people and civic organizations of Oakland cannot agree on a plan which will mean future breathing places for the people of Oakland."

"It is a mammoth problem," says Campbell, "and there must be some program of park expansion to keep pace with the expansion of the city. Trestle Glen is gone. Other park sites are going. Gradually a series of properties which might be invaluable to the city are slipping away to private owners.

SEEK PUBLIC SUPPORT. 

"We intend to look over all the sites which are available for all the people. For this reason, we want support of all the people."

The appointment of a landscape architect recently, to have charge of all the park and school garden beautification, was taken as a prelude to the present move. The acquisition of the municipal golf links site, it is admitted, has further stimulated interest in civic outing properties, as has the coming project for the extension of the Skyline boulevard to Redwood Peak, through some of the finest scenery in California.

It is not generally known that one of the most beautiful groves of redwoods in the bay region lies along the route of the proposed new road. It is some distance north and east of the Joaquin Miller property, some distance up hill, and is at present owned by the Havens interests.

The grove, however, is at present reached by a road which autoists term the worst grade in Northern California, being merely a trail between rocks, with 25 to 38 per cent pitch, so that an ordinary automobile coming downhill is almost certain to go out of control, especially as the rocks generally keep its wheels in the air. A recent driver on this road said that for thrills it equals anything that Coney Island can produce. The road is within the corporate limits of Oakland.

PLAN TO SAVE GROVES. 

A new plan to save the groves on the eastern border of Oakland will be submitted. Three urgent reasons for immediate action as an emergency measure by the city council are emphasized by Campbell as follows:

"That the extension of the Skyline boulevard to Redwood Peak, as projected by Commissioner of Streets W. J. Baccus, will necessitate the acquisition of adjacent areas as public motor parks and recreation grounds, which the development of the boulevard would otherwise enhance in value as villa sites. Should action be deferred by the council these natural park lands will either be lost to the people or ultimately purchased for park purposes at a much higher price.

"That surveys are now being made for the subdivision of Redwood Peak holdings by their owners which should be halted before these groves are chopped up into cheap lots and fences built by their purchasers to exclude the public from these wildwoods.

"That public ownership of these natural recreation grounds is the only practicable means of protecting these splendid forests within the city's limits from almost inevitable devastation by recurrent fires."  

Action favoring this park and boulevard project has already been taken by representatives of the Chamber of Commerce, the Merchants' Exchange, and the Rotary, Kiwanis and Lions clubs.

PARK PURCHASE TO BE VOTED ON BY CIVIC CLUBS Sun, Nov 27, 1921 – Page 24 · Oakland Tribune (Oakland, California) · Newspapers.com

PARK PURCHASE TO BE VOTED ON BY CIVIC CLUB

Questionnaire Sent Out by the Park Board To Gain Backing.

The Oakland Park Board has sent copies of a questionnaire to all clubs interested in the improvement of this community as a place of residence. Twenty-four proposed park areas are described in this document with an accompanying map showing distinctly their location. In a preface to the questionnaire is the request that full consideration of the public necessity of acquiring these tracts be given by each organization and that a vote he taken thereon and reported to the park board by December 1, 1921.

In addition to a number of small neighborhood parks, serving local needs, are submitted seven tracts known as "The Chain of Mountain Parks." These are designated as follows:

Three pieces of land in Contra Costa county on the eastern slope of Redwood peak, comprising 162.82 acres; the Havens grove of redwoods, adjoining Joaquin Miller park on the east, 387.01 acres; certain lands west of Joaquin Miller park to form a junction with Dimond canyon, 59.7 acres; Dimond canyon, below the Park boulevard, 173.28 acres; the Smith Reserve forest, a heavily wooded area reaching from Montclair and the Boy Scout camp to the Skyline boulevard extension, 400 acres; Shepard creek canyon, centering about the west portal of the Sacramento Short Line tunnel 412 acres; the land above the present Skyline boulevard in the Snake road sector eastward from Montclair, known as the "Piedmont Tunnels" property, 320 acres.

Just 1915 acres are included in these seven wildwood parks on Redwood peak and its approaches through the watershed of Dimond canyon. The principal owners of these properties are the Realty Syndicate company, the Havens estate, or Villa Site and Development company, and the East Bay Water company.

Regardless of the plans of the park board to save these wonderful redwood groves and miles of majestic pine woods within the city's border, the owners are proceeding with plans for their subdivision and placing on the market next spring. To halt this impending partition of these natural wilderness parklands, the park board is endeavoring to win the endorsement of the various development and civic organizations of Oakland. Its foreword to the questionnaire sent out emphasizes the fact that the city faces the certain loss of these recreation grounds through the sacrifice sale thereof now being planned by the owners.

Another point in favor of immediate action as an emergency measure is brought out by park advocates. They call attention to the extension of the Skyline boulevard to Redwood peak next spring with the probability of a marked enhancement of values resulting from the opening of these properties by the construction of the boulevard and its laterals.

The park board will go before the city council with a plan. The purchase price of each piece of land will be determined by a thorough system af appraisal. Just how the purchase of the park areas will be made will be determined by the majority vote on one of three proposals in the questionnaire - by a bond issue, by a yearly tax levy, or by a Special district assessment.

Ourdoor Clubs Plead to Save Redwood Peak Trees Mon, Jan 16, 1922 – Page 13 · Oakland Tribune (Oakland, California) · Newspapers.com

Outdoor Clubs Plead to Save Redwood Trees

Oakland and the Eastbay in general will not lose its natural redwood forest to be found on Redwood Peak, if 200 members of the leading mountain climbing and conservation clubs of California can prevent it.

Following the announcement that Redwood Peak is to be cut up into lots and sold for homesites, which would mean the removal of much of the redwood timber, more than 200 representatives of outdoor clubs met yesterday on Redwood Peak and adopted a petition, addressed to the City Council of Oakland within whose limits the peak is located, askins that immediate steps be taken to save Oakland's redwoods. The meeting was held under the joint auspices of the California Alpine Club and the Contra Costa Hills Club, in a natural amphitheater in the shelter of the peak's summit.

WOULD SAVE GROVES.

The petition to the City Council follows:

"We, the undersigned, for the most part residents of Oakland believe that it will be adverse advertising for this community to permit the beautiful groves of redwoods on Redwood Teak to be chopped up into building lots and sold through impending subdivision sale.

"We believe that the extension of the Skyline boulevard to Redwood Peak should serve a higher purpose by opening these redwood groves for future public enjoyment. And we respectfully make petition to your honorable body to take immediate steps to SAVE OAKLAND'S REDWOODS."

The delegates to the meeting walked from Piedmont over the Skyline boulevard and the route of its projected extension to Redwood Peak. Many came from San Francisco to view the varied scenery of the Contra Costa hills. Redwood Peak has long been regarded as "a second Tamalpais" by a large number of these frequent visitors from across the bay.

EXPLAINED BY MATTIS.

Considerable interest was evinced by those who followed the Skyline boulevard extension in regard to the purpose it would serve. To an inquiry in this particular, George Mattis, superintendent of streets and city engineer of Oakland, replied:

"We are to rush work on these four miles of new boulevard construction this coming spring. William J. Baccus, Oakland's commissioner of streets, has secured sufficient funds for this public improvement. As to the purpose it may serve, I can only say that if the City Council does not approve the purchase of property along the boulevard for park purposes, the owners will naturally take advantage of the transportation facilities afforded and subdivide and sell their holdings as they see fit."

Marston Campbell, president of the Oakland Park Board, said:

"The hills of Oakland have been my playground since boyhood. And today, with my associates on the
Park Board and our staff, we are making our final effort to preserve these natural forests and hilltops of rare scenic charm for the boys and girls of this generation and of the future. They will need more than ever such open spaces in which to find such healthful recreation as you are enjoying here today.

FITTING MEMORIAL. 

"For those boys who once roamed through these very redwood groves and who went overseas never to return, we propose to consecrate these sequoias as monuments to their memory. Monuments made by hand crumble and fade. But these natural monuments, wrought by the hand of God, will endure forever. What more fitting memorial to those who died for their country can we dedicate than this living legion ot redwoods within our city's border line?

"To acquire these natural park lands is an opportunity which Oakland cannot afford to lose. It is not a question of increased taxation. It is in reality a municipal investment, and such an investment is not a tax upon a city's resources. With the development of this scenic skyline boulevard during the coming year the city will create an ever-increasing value for its holdings on this height. It will mean something far more valuable than an investment in necessary park areas. It will prove an investment in enhancing the happiness of millions of Americans from childhood to manhood and womanhood in the generations that are to come to know and love these woodlands which we hope to save for posterity."

OBJECT LESSON SEEN. 

Prominent among the directors of the Contra Costa Hills Club is J. Carl Seulberger, well-known Oakland business man and club man. He adds this argument to these appeals on behalf of the crusade:

"We have only to look at Trestle Glen today to realize with regret the loss of this natural park. It should prove an object lesson in showing the people of Oakland that the same condition will be repeated on Redwood Peak if they are so short-sighted as to fail to save this wonderful redwood park while they still have the opportunity to do so. It is the Mill Valley of Oakland. These sequoias have grown up with three generations since pioneer days. They should be saved for use and enjoyment of the present and future generations of our people."

In a letter addressed to the meeting, H. C. Capwell adds this expression: "I hope the redwoods will be saved and many acres of park property added to that which the city of Oakland now has."

Of special significance at this meeting was the interest shown by visitors from across the bay in advocating the conservation of these redwoods, according to Harold French, president of the Contra Costa Hills Club. He stated that the various hiking clubs have become so accustomed to making pilgrimages to Oakland's miniature of Muir Woods that they are equally concerned in their conservation.

REDWOOD GROVE PURCHASE URGED Mon, Mar 13, 1922 – Page 24 · Oakland Tribune (Oakland, California) · Newspapers.com

REDWOOD GROVE PURCHASE URGED

Conservation of the redwood trees on Redwood Peak was the subject matter of a letter that has been sent by the Civic League of Improvement Associations to Marston Campbell, president of the board of park directors.

The letter, which is signed by J. M. Kinucan, secretary of the league, reads in part, as follows:

"Feeling that it would be little short of criminal to fail to secure and conserve as a public park the magnificent redwood forest on Redwood Peak, this organization unanimously carried a motion that we immediately take such action as would help secure this property.

"According to available information this property was included in your chain of parks plan. While we are in favor of the plan we believe at this time that it would be advisable to concentrate our efforts in first securing Redwood Peak for the reason that the owners of this property are contemplating subdividing it in the near future.

"Quick action is essential and we now stand ready to co-operate with your honorable body in any feasible plan that will lead to the desired acquisition of this magnificent grove."

REDWOOD PARK SITE GETS O.K. 18 Mar 1922, Sat Oakland Tribune (Oakland, California) Newspapers.com

REDWOOD PARK SITE GETS O.K.

Following the recommendations of some fifty improvement and civic clubs that Oakland acquire as city property the redwood grove at the base of Redwood Peak, a delegation from the Lakeview Improvement Club has made survey of the tract. 

Accompanied by Howard Kilkey, [Howard Gilkey] landscape engineers and Lee Kerfoot, superintendent of parks in the Oakland park department, a number of women, headed by Mrs. W. W. Robson, president, and Mrs. R. W. Kittrelle, chairman, of the civic committee of the club, visited the site. 

The survey is the result of a request by Marston Campbell, president of the park board, that all civic bodies co-operate in developing a plan for acquiring the grove before it has been converted into summer home sites by realty operators. 

The grove includes some two hundred acres of second growth sequoia sempervirens, descendants of a grove of at least 5000 years' standing which was cut down in the early-day lumber operations. The grove before the first cutting compared favorably with the Muir Woods and Santa Cruz trees. 

It is the plan of the civic organization to devise some means whereby this second growth, started some fifty years ago, be preserved and the city council will be requested to call for a bond issue purchasing the grove and converting it into a public park. 

The grove stands on a slight plateau about 200 feet below the summit of Redwood Peak, which marks the division between Alameda and Contra Costa counties, and is the only grove actually within a city's boundaries. At present the Skyline boulevard extension will cross one edge of the grove making it accessible to motorists. Heretofore its beauties have been for the hikers only.

Oakland Sequoia Park Drive Definitely Decided "Save Oakland's Sequoias!" Thu, Jun 29, 1922 – Page 17 · Oakland Tribune (Oakland, California) · Newspapers.com

Oakland Sequoia Park Drive Definitely Decided 

"Save Oakland's Sequoias!"

This slogan, adopted by the committee of that name fostering the movement to purchase Redwood Peak, by a bond issue in August, as a mammoth public park, will resound through the Eastbay community in the next few weeks, if the plans of the committee are carried out.

At a meeting in the Bacon building last night, attended by approximately fifty representatives of thousands of voters, it was unanimously decided to take concerted action to campaign for the passage of the bonds and the consequent purchase of the park site.

The meeting agreed on two important questions during the evening after several hours discussion pro and con. It was decided:

1. To urge the passage of a measure acquiring the entire acreage of 1491 acres at a cost of $750,000 with $400,000 additional for improvements, as against splitting the acreage into two sections and making two measures to be voted on at the election.

2. To have stricken of immediately 20,000 buttons at a cost of $100 to be sold for one dollar each, these buttons to bear a picture of a redwood tree, the letters "S. O. S. and "Vote Yes, August 29." The initial cost of the buttons was underwritten by Fred E. Reed, president of the Oakland real estate board. 

CAMPAIGN INAUGURATED.

The passage of these two measures marks the inauguration of an intensive campaign which will result in the ultimate acquisition of the park, according to Ernest J. Engler, chairman of the committee, and other details will be worked out at the next meeting on next Wednesday night.

At the forthcoming gathering it is planned to lay definite plans for the disposal of the 20,000 buttons, the appointment of a speakers' committee, the advertising and publicity campaigns and other essentials of propaganda of education in order to insure a two-thirds majority vote on the bond measure.

Last night's meeting opened with a heated discussion of the desirability of postponing action on the purchase question until another meeting, when L. B. Magoon, chairman of the Eastside Board of Trade and head of the committee's appraisement committee, could be present.

TWO PROPOSALS DEBATED.

This action was proposed by Charles Eggleston, a member of the appraisement committee, who said that final action should be delayed until Magoon could explain the desirability of presenting to the public a choice of one or two sections of the acreage.

In the report of the appraisement committee, submitted at the preceding meeting, it was set forth that the voters be asked to vote on a bond issue of $30,000 purchasing 706 acres of Redwood Peak property and secondly on the purchase of the whole property for $750,000.

The motion to delay the action was opposed by John Gelder, who said that delay at this time would be fatal to the issue as there is need of concerted action immediately in order to insure the passage of the bond issue. Other delegates joined him and the matter was taken up in open discussion.

The question of "how much property the city should buy" was then discussed from the floor for more than two hours before it went to a vote deciding to purchase the entire acreage, the consensus of opinion expressed being that a splitting up of the project would lose it.

706-ACRE PLAN FOUGHT.

It was the contention of Magoon expressed by Eggleston, that only 706 acres of the property was valuable for a park site, the balance being valuable only for its scenic properties, which would not be lost in the event that the property was not purchased.

This contention was fought by proponents of the purchase of the entire acreage on the ground that scenic properties would be irrevocably lost if the property thus omitted reverted to the real estate operators for disposal on the open market for home sites.

It was also said that once the city purchased a part of the general tract the price of the remainder would advance by leaps and bounds.

It was here that a danger of a split in the executive committee became evident and Reed, who is a member of the general committee, took the floor to address the delegates, representing civic and improvement clubs from all sections of the city, on the necessity of securing a harmonious decision through a complete exposition of both sides of the case.

"Is the East Side Board of Trade going to go out if this matter is decided against it?" queried Reed.

"I couldn't answer that question for the board," responded Eggleston. "Personally I would not."

According to the Save Oakland's Sequoias committee, the price set in the bond issue does not mean that that amount will be expended for the purchase of the properties. Once the bond issues is passed the question of valuations will be decided by court action on condemnation proceedings.

Campaign for Redwood Park Opens With Rush Thu, Jul 13, 1922 – Page 14 · Oakland Tribune (Oakland, California) · Newspapers.com

Campaign for Redwood Park Opens With Rush

The campaign to save Oakland's sequoias, to establish a 1500-acre memorial park, embracing the famous redwood grove on the crest of Redwood-peak, is under way in earnest.

The proposition will go before the citizens on a bond issue with $100,000, included for improving the park, on the primary ballot August 29.

Headquarters for the campaign originally sponsored by the Contra Costa Hills Club and now receiving the united support of all civic, social, labor and commercial organizations, will be established in the new Oakland Title Insurance and Guaranty Company's building at Fifteenth and Franklin streets.

Buttons inscribed with "Save Our Sequoias" will be the badge of membership in the great public committee backing the movement to acquire the park lands. Membership dues in the organization will be $1 and each member will receive an "S. O. S." button.

STEPS AT MASS MEETING. 

These steps in the plan to acquire the magnificent memorial park were taken last night at the mass meeting of representatives of various organizations in the assembly hall of the Bacon building last night, presided over by Ernest Engler, chairman.

"It was also decided to have the Oakland Real Estate Board and the appraisers for the various banks make an appraisal of the proposed park lands so that the precise amount needed to buy the property will be placed on the ballot.

The name "Memorial Park" has been given to the project. Marston Campbell of the park board and constructing engineer of the school department, speaking of the name last night, said:

"In that grove of trees there are stumps of giant trees which are more than 5000 years old. To me and to many of you, no doubt, there is this thought, what more beautiful tribute could we pay to those boys who gave their lives in France than to dedicate this park in their memory and call it 'Memorial Park'? The sequoias are the spiritual reminders of everlasting life. There on Redwood Peak is Nature's great cathedral of undying trees; a fitting memorial hall. And now the people of Oakland can give this everlasting memorial to those boys who fought and died over there.

UNIONS BACK PLAN. 

With 1200 car men behind the plan 100 per cent strong, according to William Moorehead, president of the car men's union, with Edgar S. Hurley, president of the Central Labor Council, pledging the united support of that body to the undertaking; with commercial, civic and social clubs solidly behind the movement, Oakland's sequoias are in a fair way to become a permanent asset to the city's great park system.

The finance committee comprises Fred E. Reed, chairman; Jack Millar; David E. Perkins, Arthur W. Moore, J. F. Hassler and Norman de Vaux.

In accepting the suggestions of L. B. Magoon of East Oakland in securing an appraisement of the property through the Oakland real estate board and the bank appraisers, Reed declared that East Oakland would undoubtedly get behind the proposition to a man.

CASH PLEDGE MADE. 

Indicative of the enthusiasm at last night's meeting were the following pledges of buying buttons to finance the campaign, thus enrolling in the Save the Sequoia membership committee: Contra Costa Hills Club, $100; Oakland Real Estate Board, $100; Whitthorne & Swan, through Samuel Swan, $50; Central Labor Council, through Edgar S. Hurley, $100; Lawrence W. Moore of Piedmont, $10 in addition to a pledge that each Piedmont councilman would take out a membership; Soroptomists' Club, through Dr. Pauline Nusbaumer, $25: Central Oakland Improvement Club, $10; Merchants' Exchange, $25; Central National Bank, $100; Glenview Improvement Club, $10; Leona Heights Improvement Club, $10; Bay View Improvement Club, $10; Elmhurst Improvement Club, $10; Dimond Improvement Club, $10; park directors, $50; Daughters of the Civil War, $10.

COMMERCE CHAMBER. 

Blanks Everett of the Chamber of Commerce promised to lay the matter before the directors at its next meeting, but was quite certain that the park issue would have the chamber's unqualified support.

Things moved rapidly at last night's meeting.

Even the campaign signs are completed to hang over headquarters. They are the gift of Robert Pettus, Howard Gilkie [Gilkey] of the city engineer's office, announced. "Mountain Park Bond Issue, Save Our Sequoias" read the banners. Then there is a green redwood tree in one corner with the letters "S.O.S." across it.

Gilkie also reported that Ira Abrahams of the title insurance company had donated the store for headquarters; J. A. Munro had contributed the desks and office furniture, and F. W. Wentworth & Co. the office files and equipment and the telephone company a free telephone.

MANY ORGANIZATIONS. 

At the meeting last night, representatives were present from the Chamber of Commerce, the Central Labor Council, the Merchants Exchange, the Kiwanis club, the Rotary club, the Business Men's Better Business league, Athenian-Nile club, Oakland Advertising club, Bay View Improvement club, Leona Heights Improvement club, Business and Professional Women's club, Soroptomists club, Park Board, Dimond Improvement club, Contra Costa Hills club, Mutual Business club, Fruitvale Women's club, Romany club, Civic League of Improvement clubs, Golden Gate Improvement club, Women and Girls Workers of the Civil War, Daughters of Veterans of the Civil War, Vernon Rockridge Improvement club, Pioneer Women of Oakland, Oakland Real Estate Board, and others.

BAND CONCERT, TALKS TO OPEN S. O. S. CAMPAIGN Tue, Jul 18, 1922 – Page 15 · Oakland Tribune (Oakland, California) · Newspapers.com

BAND CONCERT, TALKS TO OPEN S.O.S. CAMPAIGN

Prominent Speakers to Start Drive to Buy Redwoods at Meeting Tomorrow.

An open air concert by the Oakland Firemen's band, talks by leaders in the Memorial park campaign, will open the headquarters of the "Save Oakland's Sequoias" committee in the Oakland Title Insurance and Guaranty Company's new building at Fifteenth and Franklin streets at noon tomorrow.

Speakers will include Edgar S. Hurley, president of the Central Labor Council, supporter of the park project; Commissioner of Public Works Albert E. Carter: William Moorehead, president of the Carmen's Union, who has pledged the vote of the carmen to the bond issue, and Marston Campbell, member of the Park Board.

For nearly three years the Contra Costa Hills Club, supported by the Park Board and the civic, social and labor bodies of the city, has endeavored to get the park issue before the people on a ballot. And now the City Council has voted to put the issue to the voters on August 29.

NOON MEETING. 

The noon-day meeting tomorrow will emphasize the enthusiasm that is rapidly spreading throughout the city in behalf of the proposed park bond issue. The voters will also determine whether or not $100,000 shall be provided in the measure for immediate improvement of Memorial park should the bonds carry.

Meanwhile plans are under way, directed by Harold French, president of the Contra Costa Hills Club, to have hikers and citizens in general spend Saturday night in the famous grove of redwoods, on the crest of Redwood Peak.

Speakers on the proposed park bond issue are available at campaign headquarters. A telephone call to Oakland 835 will find John M. Kinucan, secretary, on the job, and he will provide a speaker for any day and hour.

"S. O. S." BUTTONS. 

Then there are the "S. O. S" buttons, which interpreted read "Save Oakland's Sequoias," the insignias of membership in the Memorial park committee which it is hoped will embrace thousands of Oakland
citizens. These buttons, in charge of Fred E. Reed, chairman of the finance committee, are rapidly making their appearance in the lapels of Oakland's citizens. Membership in the Memorial park committee is $1 and each member is given a button.

Special election, Sequoia park proposition Fri, Jul 28, 1922 – Page 6 · Oakland Tribune (Oakland, California) · Newspapers.com

SPECIAL ELECTION AUG. 29 IS CALLED BY CITY BOARD

Charter Amendments and Sequoia Park Project to Voted On Locally

A resolution calling a special city election August 29 was adopted to day by the city council. The local election will be on charter amendments and the Sequoia park proposition.

...

HUNDREDS SLEEP UNDER REDWOOD TREES AT NIGHT Shall Our Redwoods Stand or Fall? Sun, Jul 30, 1922 – Page 36 · Oakland Tribune (Oakland, California) · Newspapers.com

Shall Our Redwoods Stand or Fall?
Here are two of the many out-of-doors enthusiasts who camped under the Redwoods last night in connection with the tree conservation drive and the fire prevention campaign being carried on in the Eastbay section. The young women shown in the picture are (left) MURIEL MOOREHEAD and ELLEN MARCOVICH.

HUNDREDS SLEEP UNDER REDWOOD TREES AT NIGHT

Oakland Citizens Make Pilgrimage in Campaign to Save Sequoias.

In connection with the campaign to save the Sequoias, between five and six hundred citizens of Oakland spent last night in the open under the redwood trees in Havens' amphitheater on Redwood peak. Today they will view the park in its entirety.

The park bond issue comes up at the election of August 29 and is for $538,000 for the acquisition of 1547 additional acres of land for the park system. The land is entirely planted in trees, of which redwoods form a great portion.

The Oakland City Council will consider the proposition tomorrow.

The last week, it is said, has seen many social and civic organizations and improvement clubs of the city getting behind the movement and taking up an active campaign for the success of the bond issue proposal. The Bay View Improvement Club, approved the save the Sequoias campaign at its meeting Tuesday night and pledged its active support.

[Could this be the origin of the Sequoia - Bay View trail name? - MF]

B. W. Hoover, chairman of the "S. O. S." button committee, talked before the Bay View club in the Redwoods. Talks were also made by W. J. Moorehead, president of the Oakland Carmen's Union, and John Gelder, chairman of the speakers' bureau.

"This is to be your park, yours and your children's and your children's children to keep forever," Moorehead said. "It is the finest thing ever offered to the citizens of Oakland. It is a God-made playground for grownups and for the children. We must not fail to vote for the bond issue to acquire it, for it is our last chance to secure a real park at a reasonable figure."

The San Francisco-Oakland Terminal Railway Company has joined in the campaign and through W. R. Alberger has invested $250 in memberships, procuring 250 buttons bearing the legend "S.O.S." The company also agreed to carry free of charge in the cars of the system signs urging the citizens to vote "Yes" on the bond issue on August 29.

Since the opening of the Skyline boulevard extension hundreds of Oaklanders are seeing the redwood groves for the first time.

The chorus of mixed voices which was organized Friday night held its first campfire program in the redwoods last night. It is expected that within the week the chorus, which is under the direction of Charles E. Warner, will be enlarged to several hundred voices.

The hike to the redwoods began early yesterday afternoon, with members of the Contra Costa Hills Club, Sierra Club and Alpine Club of California acting as guides.

The idea of saving the Sequoias is being carried out by the Contra Costa Hills Fire Protection Association, which is putting forth every effort to protect the redwoods and other trees in this section from destruction by fire.

The skyline range on Oakland's border is being patroled by Deputy Fire Warden Barnes and his assistants, at the instigation of Professor Woodbridge Metcalf of the U. C. forestry department.

"No one is permitted to build fires in the hills within the limits of Oakland without well warranted permits therefor, issued by Fire Chief Samuel Short," said Harold French of the Contra Costa Hills Club today. "These permits have been granted to our organization with the understanding that the members of the club will confine such campfires to three safeguarded, places, Camp Cinderella, the motor park in Havens Amphitheater and "Howden's Range," on Redwood peak. And these fireplaces are only used in connection with entertaining the public visiting the proposed memorial park."

COUNCIL FAVORS ACQUISITION OF SEQUOIA PARK Mon, Jul 31, 1922 – Page 6 · Oakland Tribune (Oakland, California) · Newspapers.com

COUNCIL FAVORS ACQUISITION OF SEQUOIA PARK

Board Requested to Furnish Data Pending Election on Bond Issue.

The city council by resolution went on record this morning in favor of "the acquisition of the Oakland Sequoia Mountain Park" as a public necessity, and requested the Board of Park Directors to furnish complete data as to cost, pending the bond election.

The park board will furnish the data immediately.

The council also appropriated $156.60 and $499 as the city's part of certain election costs for the August primaries, and directed assistance to the county clerk for this purpose.

By motion of Commissioner Colbourn, who said that the Bureau of Fire Prevention "has more than justified its existence," and that it should be headed by a higher officer than a captain, the city council passed to print an ordinance creating an extra battalion-chief for this job. Captain J. F. Sandy, head of the bureau, is first on the eligible list for battalion chief and will be appointed.

The sum of $100 was appropriated toward the conference of the National Association of Post Office Employees in this city, August 4-5-6.

Because of allegations of bootlegging and the keeping of a disorderly house, the licenses of two establishments were revoked by the council. One is for Pat Slattery's soft drink parlor at 500 Peralta, and the other is a rooming house owned by S. B. Davis, at 670 Seventh street.

The first song program of the Save Oakland's Sequoia League was held in the redwoods of Oakland last night under the direction of the Contra Costa Hills Club, Alpine Club and the Sierra Club as a part of the campaign to save the trees from destruction.

Hundreds of Oaklanders again spent Saturday and Sunday in the redwoods and were taken on tours of the tracts to be purchased under the Memorial Park Bond issue plan.

Results of the camp in the redwoods are shown in the increased numbers of memberships in the S. O. S. League arriving at the headquarters, 1451 Franklin street.

B. W. Hoover, in charge of the S.O.S. League campaign, said that the campaign was gaining many volunteers workers each day, but that the supporters of the fight for the $538,000 bond issue must not relax their efforts until after the election, August 29.

EFFORTS IN S.O.S. DRIVE REDOUBLED Bonds Should Tie This to Oakland Sequoia Redwood Park photos Sun, Aug 6, 1922 – Page 33 · Oakland Tribune (Oakland, California) · Newspapers.com

[Here's the images and text for that one. The top-left photo should look familiar. Compare it with the second postcard, above. - MF]

Bonds Should Tie This to Oakland
The campaign to obtain for Oakland its priceless Sequoia Redwood Park of 1547 acres is gathering momentum daily. It will cost $538,000 to acquire and improve this wonderful property. The question will be submitted to the voteřs on August 29. Here are reproductions of photographs of the park and, lower (left to right), S. B. SWAN, Oakland business man, and WILLIAM J. MOOREHEAD, president of the local carmen's union, who represents two of the many interests behind the Sequoia Redwood Park drive.

EFFORTS IN S.O.S. DRIVE REDOUBLE

Information Concerning Proposed Purchase and Its Advantages to the Present and Future Broadcasted

With the election a little more than three weeks away, the men and women who are actively behind the Oakland Sequoia Park bond issue campaign, are redoubling the efforts to inform the citizens in general of this opportunity Ito acquire 1547 acres of beautiful wooded park lands, it was announced yesterday by those behind the drive.

The proposition comes before the voters on a bond issue calling for $538,000 of which $488,000 is to be used to purchase the lands and $50,000 is to be invested in immediate improvements of the acquired park, on August 29.

Action has been taken by the City Council placing the proposition on the ballot at the primary election under the title Sequoia Mountain Park Bond Issue.

The future of Oakland's progress in the matter of park area hangs on the result of the election, according to the Save Oakland's Sequoias Campaign Committee, headquarters 1451 Franklin street.

IMPORTANT ISSUE 

No issue before the people on August 29 is more important to the citizens of Oakland, in the committee's opinion.

The proposed Sequoia Mountain Park takes in all of Shepherd's Canyon, Palo Seco Canyon, Diamond Canyon, Redwood Peak and the wonderful grove of redwoods, embracing all that is most beautiful of the wooded hills and ravines which drop away from the shoulders of Redwood Peak, the highest pinnacle in the proposed park area.

The Park Boulevard and the Fruitvale and Dimond carlines form direct contact with the proposed park.

The Skyline Boulevard and its extension passes directly through the upper portion of the proposed
park while autoists can reach the heart of the redwoods either via the Skyline Boulevard or by way of the Joaquin Miller road in its contact with the Moraga Road, which divides Montclair, or by way of Thirty-fifth avenue which is known as Redwood Road above Hopkins street. [Hopkins street is now called Macarthur Boulevard. - MF]

At campaign headquarters, 1451 Franklin street, the merchant rubs elbows with the street car man and the every-day laborer, the housewife, finds herself solidly united with the office and professional women.

RALLYING CRY 

"Save the redwoods," is the rallying slogan around which the groups of citizens are aligning themselves.

Interest the coming week centers about the "Save Oakland's Sequoias Night,” Wednesday, August 9, at the Auditorium Theater, where the Hartman-Steindorff company will offer "Sho Gun" and the first showing of the remarkable pictures visualizing the proposed park land and the various activities, in connection with them will be presented.

This film has been prepared in scenario form. It presents the issue to come before the electors on August 29 in a clear and concise manner.

There is action, too, in the picture. There is the scene in which the vandal of the woods is “arrested” for daring to cut a young redwood tree. There is the trial, his conviction and his final redemption when he sees the error of his ways and enlists in the cause of "Save the Redwoods." He buys a membership in the "S. O. S." committee for $1 and is given a button, insignia of membership.

Tickets for the theater party are now on sale. They can be obtained at headquarters, 1451
Franklin street, or from various volunteer ticket sellers. The proceeds from the show will go to the campaign fund used in behalf of Save the Redwoods campaign.

The temporary auto camp site just off the Joaquin Miller road, entered through the redwood gate built by the Contra Costa Hills Club, was the mecca for the campers.

The campfire glowed late last night. Camp songs were sung and speeches made.

Today hundreds more citizens will avail themselves of the opportunity to visit the redwoods and
see for themselves why they should vote "yes" on the bond issue August 29.

S.O.S. FETE TO BE HELD TONIGHT AT AUDITORIUM Wed, Aug 9, 1922 – Page 30 · Oakland Tribune (Oakland, California) · Newspapers.com

S.O.S. FETE TO BE HELD TONIGHT AT AUDITORIUM

Proceeds From “Sho Gun" Will Be Devoted to Fund For Bond Issue Drive.

"Save Oakland's Sequoias Night" will be celebrated at the Auditorium theater tonight. Proceeds from the presentation of "The Sho-Gun," the comic opera by George Ade and Harry Luders, will be devoted to the Save Oakland's Sequoias campaign fund.

The "S.O.S." committee, Ernest Engler, chairman, in which improvement clubs, labor unions, women's clubs, social and business organizations have representation, is leading the way in the fight to secure a favorable vote on the Oakland Sequoia Mountain Park bond issue, which comes before the electors on August 29.

FILM TO BE SHOWN 

A feature of tonight's theater party will be the initial showing of a motion picture film revealing the proposed park area.

To those who have not seen the park the film will prove a revelation and stir up the urge to spend the next week-end in this wilderness within the city's limits.

$538,000 ISSUE PROPOSED 

The bond issue calls for $538,000, of which $488,000 has been set aside to buy the acreage and $50,000 for immediate improvement of the proposed park lands. This improvement would include the establishing of commodious municipal campgrounds for the benefit of the auto tourist and the local citizen; for piping and distributing fresh water and making all sanitary improvements necessary in developing the first unit of the great natural park.

Where Sequoia Park Will Save Big Trees map Thu, Aug 10, 1922 – Page 18 · Oakland Tribune (Oakland, California) · Newspapers.com

[Here's the breakdown of that article. I've georeferenced the map. It's pretty fascinating to look at. You can find a 300dpi version here. It's interesting to think about some of the things on it, like:

• Shepard Canyon Tunnel 
• the road "TO PINEHURST" which is now the Lower Huckleberry Loop Trail continuing to the Lower Pinehurst Trail, and used to be called the Moraga road, or the road to Redwood Canyon
• New Skyline Boulevard
• Palo Seco Canyon (now Palos Colorados trail / creek)
• Mountain Boulevard as pictured here is now Mountain Boulevard - Burdeck Drive - Burdeck Court - (gone) - Monterey Boulevard
• Camp Cinderella, now the meadow on Sunset trail
• What is here called Redwood Canyon was formerly called Little Redwood Canyon. San Leandro Creek canyon was known as Redwood Canyon.
• Sequoia Mountain Park, later Sequoia Park, easily confused with Sequoia National Park

Highway 13 would not be built for another 30 years. - MF]

Where Sequoia Park Will Save Big Trees
This is a map prepared by Howard Gilkey, city landscape engineer, showing the location of the proposed Sequoia Mountain Park of 1547 acres, which the people of Oakland will vote on August 29. The park bond issue is for $538,000 and will be used to purchase lands within Dimond Canyon, Shepherd's Canyon, Seco Canyon and Redwood Peak and surrounding lands. The recently completed extension of the Skyline Boulevard passes through the upper edge of the proposed park.

2000 SEE FILM AND PLEDGE AID TO SAVE SEQUOIA

Showing of Oakland Redwoods Picture Convinces Audience of Benefit.

Two thousand Oaklanders who last night witnessed the first showing of the film of the redwoods are today enrolled among the volunteer workers for the $538,000 park bond issue to be voted on at the special election August 29.

The initial showing of the Oakland redwoods picture, a film of more than 2000 feet in length, was made at the Municipal Auditorium between the acts of "The Sho-Gun," this week's offering by the Hartman-Steindorff company. The entire proceeds from last night's show went to the S. O. S. campaign fund.

The film not only showed the beauty spots of the proposed Sequoia Mountain park, but unfolded the story of the long fight which has been waged by lovers of the great outdoors to save these splendid trees from destruction...

CONVINCED OF ASSETS.

The people who saw the film last night left the theater convinced that the proposed park will be the biggest kind of an asset to the city of Oakland and are today lending a hand to bring about a favorable consideration of the bond issue at the election.

Each day also sees many new organizations getting behind the movement, Ernest Engler, chairman of the campaign committee, said today. The Oakland Chamber of Commerce has given its endorsement to the project and has termed the campaign as one "of the most forward looking movements ever inaugurated in Oakland."

LODGE FAVORS PLAN. 

Abi Said Temple, No. 201, Knights of the Khorassan, a side order of the Knights of Pythias, has gone on record in favor of the park bond issue. This endorsement was given by the lodge following a talk by D. H. Wyckhoff. At a meeting of Temple No. 103, Knights of Pythias, tonight Edgar S. Hurley, Oakland labor leader, will deliver a talk on the redwoods and ask the lodge's endorsement.

Eugene K, Sturgis, city clerk. announced today that the park bond issue proposal and the proposed amendments to the city charter to be voted on August 20 come under the head of a special election and for that reason these proposals will be placed on a separate ballot. A second ballot carrying the names of the several candidates seeking nomination for the various county and state offices will be supplied. One set of election officers, however, will handle both ballots.

OAKLAND TOLD NOW IS TIME TO SAVE SEQUOIAS Fri, Aug 11, 1922 – Page 18 · Oakland Tribune (Oakland, California) · Newspapers.com

OAKLAND TOLD NOW IS TIME TO SAVE SEQUOIAS

Acquisition of Park Easiest Before Settlement, Says U. C. Professor.

"Oakland will never be able to correct her mistake if she fails to take the opportunity to purchase the redwood groves within her boundaries. The time to acquire open spaces for public recreation purposes is before such lands are settled and such an opportunity now confronts this city."

This was the message to the people of Oakland today from Prof. Harry W. Shepherd, superintendent of grounds and head of the landscape division of the branch college of agriculture, University of California, at Davis. Prof. Shepherd was in Oakland visiting Howard Gilkey, Oakland landscape engineer and was loud in his praise of the campaign now afoot for the city to acquire the redwood groves and other timber lands within the proposed Sequoia Mountain park.

PARTLY PLANNED. 

It was announced today from the headquarters of the S. O. S. league that arrangements were complete for another week-end party among the redwoods and that already hundreds of Oaklanders had indicated their intention of spending Saturday and Sunday going over the ground to come under the proposed $538,000 bond issue to be voted on August 29.

Should the people of Oakland fail to approve the Sequoia park bond issue at the election on August 29, the thousands of hikers residing in the Eastbay cities may lose the freedom of the hills which they long have enjoyed as a quasi-public recreation ground, is the warning sounded by Harold French, organizer and past president of the Contra Costa Hills club.

Every habitual hiker, regardless of residence, who hopes to continue to roam these ridges back of Oakland and Berkeley should actively support the "Save Oakland's Sequoias" committee during the remainder of this campaign, French advises.

CLUB TO HOLD "CAMPFIRE."

The Contra Costa Hills club will conduct a "friendship" campfire entertainment in the motor park half a mile above The Hights of Joaquin Miller on next Saturday evening. For the accommodation of those who desire to camp out overnight in Oakland's own Sequoia grove, the club will provide free transportation of packs. It will engage a motor truck which will leave the end of the Park Boulevard car line at 5 p. m, and 6:30 p. m. on Saturday. Hot coffee will be served at the camp and on Redwood Peak the next noon. All necessary camp conveniences will be free to every comer.

OAKLAND LACKING IN PARK ACREAGE, REPORTS EXPERT Sun, Aug 20, 1922 – Page 10 · Oakland Tribune (Oakland, Alameda, California, United States of America) · Newspapers.com

Al Fresco Feast in Redwoods Planned To Show Beauties of Proposed City Park

OAKLAND LACKING IN PARK ACREAGE. REPORTS EXPERT

City Far Below Average in Size of Public Recreation Grounds.

Oakland is far below its normal quota of park lands, and the acquisition by the city of the proposed Sequoia Mountain Park will form an ideal means by which to remedy this defect, according to a report made to the Board of Park Directors and the City Council by Howard Gilkey, city landscape engineer, and Lee S. Kerfoot superintendent of parks.

According to these experts the new park will virtually pay for itself through its enhancement of the value of taxable property in its vicinity, and also through attracting "a multitude of tourists."

The ideal acreage of parks in a modern city should be one acre of park land for every hundred inhabitants, according to the report, which sets forth that these figures are the result of a survey of park conditions in the leading cities of the United States.

HAS LOW ACREAGE. 

Oakland, it is pointed out, possesses only 258 acres of parks, whereas it should have at least 2160, according to the population figures of the last census. The average park area for the other leading cities of the Pacific Coast, according to the report, is 1800 acres. These cities include San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego, Spokane, Tacoma, Seattle, and Portland.

"A large park serving the needs of a great city should be at least 1600 acres in extent" the report adds.

"The proposed park fills the requirements of being centrally located, and with the inclusion of Dimond canyon, it extends well into the region of dense population," continues the report.

"With the possible working out of a line from the eastern end of the city, the matter of street car service would be completely solved.

SITE FAVORABLE. 

"The site as selected is to all intents and purposes bounded by existing roads and boulevards, which can be transformed into splendid parkways in the future. The Skyline boulevard, already ranking as one of the three great scenic boulevards of the world, will, with its new extension through the eastern section of this park, become even more worthy of note, and it in itself provides a magnificent approach.

"To a remarkable degree the proposed park embodies all that is typical of the wonderful scenery of Central California. The view of San Francisco bay, the peninsulas and mainland, the Golden Gate and the ocean beyond flanked by Twin Peaks and Mt. Tamalpais, is of such charm that it is only excelled by such outstanding examples as the Bay of Naples.

"The construction work will be limited to the extension of roads, the perfecting of paths and trails, and provisions for the comfort of visitors to the park,

"It will be well to point out further," the report concludes, "that the purchase price of this investment on the part of the city will never be borne by those voting the bonds. The increased assessable wealth in the vicinity of the park, which will be created by the acquisition and development of the park, will in a few years amply provide the funds necessary to meet the payments upon the bonds. This is a fact rendered indisputable by the experience of many cities which we have investigated in this regard."

Today Oakland's Sequoia Park is the center of interest for hundreds of visitors. An "al fresco"

feast, music and other events are k on the program. (Upper)

SHEPPARD'S CANYON as viewed from Skyline boulevard. (Lower) MRS. JOHN M. KINUCAN and her to children, who entertained Thomas True, 72 years old, after he walked to Sequoia Park from the county hospital.

Legion Band and Group of Singers to Entertain Many Visitors. 

Thousands of Oaklanders are scheduled to visit the redwoods of Oakland today.

A mighty al fresco feast has been planned for the citien's by the Save Oakland's Sequoias Committee.

Hot dogs, light meats, bread, milk and coffee will form the menu and a possible watermelon feast for dessert is in sight.

Altogether it will be a big day in the redwoods. 

The American Legion Band, headed by Harry Nelson and Edward Hollister, has volunteered to furnish music for the afternoon and evening.

Thirty-five musicians comprise the band. Director Hollister promises some excellent music. The band will play in the temporary auto camp established just off the Joaquin Miller road.

SINGERS ON PROGRAM. 

Then there will be The Sequoia Singers, a group of hikers, elected from the Contra Costa Hills Club, the Alpine Club and the Sierra Club, who have formed a great chorus. They will sing this afternoon and tonight.

"Get acquainted with the redwoods and the beauty of the proposed park, then yote YES on the bond issue, August 29," is the slogan.

To those who travel by auto the best route to view the beauties of the park is via Moraga road to Montclair, thence up the Snake road to junction with the Skyline boulevard and thence south through the upper edge of the redwoods.

Another easy ride is via the Joaquin Miller road at junction with Moraga road and Park boulevard extension, thence south and east to the Skyline boulevard. Just follow the arrows.

The park can also be reached via Thirty-fifth avenue and Redwood road. Signs direct the autoist to Redwood peak.

PARTING REQUEST. 

Rabbi Rudolph I. Coffee, who left yesterday for Mooseheart, Ill., where he is scheduled to speak with President Harding to a gathering of Moose, gave this parting request to the members of the Temple Sinai congregation, or which he is rabbi:

"Only those who know God and who have seen him in all his natural wonderment can know what a great thing the redwoods and the park areas means to this city. Look into the future fifty years hence and realize that Oakland will then be a city of a million souls, and you will find an obligation to your children and your grandchildren, and obligation to vote for the Sequoia Mountain park.

"And my parting word to you is that I consider it your religious duty to vote to save the Sequoias."

The plan of Oakland's park board includes the investment of $50,000 of the $538,000 bond issue, in immediate improvements inside the park. The park covers more than 1500 acres.

IMPROVEMENTS MANY. 

This means a splendid autocamp with all the conveniences of free water and other things that make camp life enjoyable. It means a real outing camp within a few minutes ride of the city and yet set against a background of natural forest grandeur which will always be the proud boast of Oakland.

Oakland's proposed Sequoia Mountain Park takes in all that territory rising out of Dimond Canyon to the crest of Redwood Peak. Within its confines lie the three beautiful canyons, Dimond, Shepard, Palo Seco. Forests of Monterey pine, live and black oak, laurel, manzanita and the ever young sequoia or redwood, grace the hillsides.

The Skyline boulevard extension cuts through the upper portion of the proposed park area, starting at a point where Shepard canyon bumps against the crest of the Contra Costa hills and where the Snake road begins its descent and ending at a point just above the tjunction of the Redwood Canyon road and the Joaquin Miller road. 

Motorists may enter the proposed park lands either via the Skyline boulevard extension or via

the Joaquin Miller road. The latter may be reached either via the Thirty-fifth avenue and Redwood

road or via Moraga Valley road and Montclair or by way of Park boulevard.

MAYOR APPEALS FOR SEQUOIA PARK IN PROCLAMATION Wed, Aug 23, 1922 – Page 14 · Oakland Tribune (Oakland, California) · Newspapers.com

MAYOR APPEALS FOR SEQUOIA PARK IN PROCLAMATION

Value of Site for Future of City Described in Plea for Votes

A proclamation urging the people of Oakland to support the bond issue for the sequoia mountain park was issued today by Mayor Davie as follows:

Oakland's growth the past few years has been very rapid and our present rate of growth is so fast that it is our duty now to provide park lands and recreation centers for the Oakland of the future.

The proposed Redwood Mountain Park is a most ideal site for these purposes. There are thirty thousand redwood trees in the area included within the proposed park lands. No other city in the world has such magnificent trees within its limits as these trees are in Oakland, and they can be ours forever at a cost to the people of Oakland of only 20 cents per person a year.

There are remains of gigantic sequoias, having a diameter of 25 feet and a height of 300 to 400 feet, in many portions of the park tract. I myself counted the remains of 12 such trees within one acre. These trees were cut down 70 years ago, and today new trees are growing in their place.

I sincerely hope that the people of our city realize what it means to have such a wonderful forest inside the city limits, and I feel that it will be a lasting disgrace to us if we do not purchase these park lands and provide park spaces for the Oakland of the future.

We cannot afford to let these wonderful trees be cut down and the lands sub-divided and sold as a real estate proposition. They should be a perpetual playground for the people of Oakland, and I cannot urge too strongly that our people vote for their purchase next Tuesday.

Will They Vote to S.O.S.? Look at 'Em! Oakland Finds Common Cause in S.O.S. Fund Bonds Sun, Aug 27, 1922 – Page 43 · Oakland Tribune (Oakland, California) · Newspapers.com

Will They Vote to S.O. S.? Look at 'Em!

Here are some of the 5,000 visitors to the redwoods last Sunday, where they pledged their support to the Sequoia Mountain Park bond issue to be put to a vote on Tuesday. Towering wooded hills, included in the proposed park, are shown in the background. This scene shows the enthusiastic manner in which people of the Eastbay district are backing the “S.O.S." campaign.

RETURNS TO HELP SAVE SEQUOIAS

From three hundred miles in the Sierras north of Lake Tahoe, J. Carl Seulberger, Oakland business and clubman and president of Contra Costa Hills Club, returned to Oakland yesterday to assist in the campaign to save Oakland's sequoias.

Seulberger received a letter from Charles Warner, director of the Hills Club, and leader of Sequoia Singers, asking him to officiate at the Redwood Dance, and immediately cut short his vacation to bring his acceptance in person. He will remain in Oakland until after election day and continue by personal solicitation the work he has been carrying on by postcard, urging friends and acquaintances to get out and vote for the park bond issue, Tuesday, and to bring their friends with them. Seulberger believes that in this manner many votes may be added to what would be cast without such personal effort.

At the dance Friday evening, moving pictures were shown among the woods and hills in and adjoining the proposed park and many expressions of enjoyment and interest were heard, indicating unanimous desire that these wild lands shall be kept intact as a great playground. It is believed by Seulberger and others present that the dance has added materially to the active support to be accorded the park bond issue.

Oakland Finds Common Cause in S.O.S. Fund Bonds

Oakland's Sequoia Mountain Park election is two days away.

The question of acquiring more than 1,500 acres of wonderful wooded hill lands embracing famous Redwood Peak with its grove of giant sequoias, comes before the voters on a bond issue for $588,000 of which $488,000 is to be used to purchase the park land and $50,000 is to be used for immediate improvements, making the park readily accessible and providing water and other conveniences for the camper. The election is next Tuesday.

From all sections of the city has come pledges in support of the issue and the "Save Oakland's Sequoias Committee," which has taken the lead in directing the campaign to acquire the park lands is confident that the issue will carry by a tremendous majority.

UNIFIED ENDORSEMENT.

It is one issue where labor and capital, men who work in overalls and men who work in white collars, housewives and office girls, bankers and professional men and women, shop girls and the wives of the wealthy, have agreed on as the right step to take.

Yesterday a score or more of high school girls sold "S.O.S.” buttons on the streets in the most enthusiastic tag day Oakland has ever experienced. The buttons brought 25 cents each and enrolled the buyers in the great campaign to acquire the redwoods.

S. B. Swan of Whitthorne and Swan, treasurer of the S.O.S. committee said yesterday that the campaign fund was short considerable money.

Swan has kept careful check of all expenditures and a careful record of all moneys received.

"We want to wipe out all indebtedness accumulated through the earnest efforts of the campaign committee to carry the message of the redwoods into every home," said Swan today. “Certain expenses in such an undertaking are absolutely necessary and it is to care for these legitimate expenses that the committee is anxious to have enough money on hand by tonight to meet all bills payable."

CITY WIDE CANVASS. 

Under the direction of Mrs. S. E. Gamble, assisted by Mrs. Ed Ketchum and other prominent women who have volunteered to do the work, Oakland is being canvassed and active park bond supporters in each precinct are being sought out to handle their precinct on election day.

The One Hundred Per Cent Club held its weekly luncheon in the redwoods yesterday and today the Soroptomists' Club and the Business and Professional Women's Club will hold a joint al fresco luncheon within the confines of the proposed mountain park.

Last Sunday more than five thousand Oaklanders enjoyed a great barbecue under the trees made possible through the generosity of Oakland meat men, bakeries, grocers and merchant firms.

LIST OF BOOSTERS. 

But the best indication of the interest in the move to acquire the Sequoia Mountain Park is contained in the following list of organizations which have unanimously endorsed the bond issue and are taking active part in the campaign:

OAKLAND PLEDGES. 

Civic League of Improvement Clubs, Central Labor Council, Chamber of Commerce, The Merchants' Exchange, Electric Club, Kiwanis Club, Athens Athletic Club, High Twelve Luncheon Club, Lions Club, Rotary Club, 100% Club, Oakland Real Estate Board, Civil Engineers' Club, Oakland Advertising Club, Mutual Business Men's Club, Onward Oakland Club, Optimist Club, Oakland Round Table, Christian Citizens' League, Oakland Club, Fruitvale Women's Club, Fruitvale Business Men's Club, Hospitality Hikers, Alpine Club, Oakland Federation of Mothers' Clubs, Sierra Club, Women's Political Federation of Members of Ladies' Auxiliary, American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Oakland Board of Park Directors, Recreation Department, Pioneer women of Oakland, Romany Club, Woman and Girl Workers of Civil War, Daughters of Veterans of G. A. R., Building Trades Council, Carmen's Union, United Spanish War Veterans, Pioneer Men of Oakland, Appomattox Post, W. R. C., Lion Post, W. R. C.; Sciots, Elks, G. A. R., Glenview Improvement Club, Golden Gate Improvement Club, Santa Fe Improvement Club, Vernon-Rockridge Improvement Club, Central Oakland Improvement Club. Dimond Improvement Club, Elmhurst Community Club, Melrose Business Men's Association, Leona Heights Improvement Club, Civic League of Improvement Clubs, Contra Costa Hills Club, Bay View Improvement Club, California Botanical Society, Alameda County Automobile Association, Uptown Association, Rockridge Women's Club, Piedmont Civic Association, Oakland Center, California League of Women's Voters, Lakeview Club, Fruitvale Women's Club, Glenview Women's, Club, Soroptimist Club, Business and Professional Women's Club, California Congress of Mothers, Athenian Niles Club, Business Development League.

LAST PLEA MADE TO SAVE SEQUOIAS FOR PUBLIC PARK Tue, Aug 29, 1922 – Page 10 · Oakland Tribune (Oakland, California) · Newspapers.com

LAST PLEA MADE TO SAVE SEQUOIAS FOR PUBLIC PARK

Necessity of Recreation Grounds Set Forth in Urging Bond Issue.

This is the day the citizens of Oakland decide whether or not they want to own 1500 acres of wonderful wooded hills as a perpetual camping ground and recreation park within the city limits.

The $538,000 Sequoia Mountain Park bond issue will be determined at the polls today.

The proposition appears as the last item on the special municipal election ballot and reads as follows:

"Proposition to Incur Bonded Indebtedness."

"The proposition to incur a bonded indebtedness in the sum of $538,000, with interest thereon at a rate not to exceed 4 1/2 per cent per annum, for the acquisition, construction and completion by the City of Oakland of certain lands and improvements to provide a public park to be known as the 'Oakland Sequoia Mountain Park,' as set forth in Ordinance No. 2403, N. S. of the City of Oakland."

PEOPLE'S COUNTRY CLUB.

To those who will vote late this afternoon, this summary of the "Save Oakland's Sequoias" campaign is addressed.

"It will be the people's country club in which the poorest will have an equal share. Campgrounds, large enough to accommodate tens of thousands of our citizens at one time without crowding will be set apart. It is proposed to place the care of these camping places under the supervision of the recreation department, whose experienced staff will be kept busy planning and conducting 'good times' for young and older folk. Those who are no longer children are just as much in need of play in the open as any. Camping, picnicking, dancing on pavilions to be erected, outdoor plays and pageants in the natural amphitheaters will be among the privileges which they will enjoy.

"A large swimming pool is planned in Dimond Canyon where a dam may be constructed at small cost. Bus lines and street car tracks will be extended through the park so as to make it accessible to all.

DELIGHT FOR MOTORISTS.

"The motorist will not need to travel a hundred miles to find a place to spend the day. In less than half an hour's auto ride one may find a series of motor-parks with all facilities installed and free. The $50,000 included in the bond issue for improvements will develop wonderful pleasure features for the people free for all.

"And the price, set by the appraisal committee at a little more than $300 an acre for the 1547 acre park site is only one-fifth to one-tenth of the average value of similar adjoining acreage which has been recently sold along Joaquin Miller road, which skirts the tract. From two-bits to four-bits a year is all that the payments on the bonds will cost the average taxpayer. Many perfect days in the park each year will well be worth as much per hour or minute in 100 per cent pleasure. This is the last chance to have such a recreation park. Otherwise it will be subdivided and lost forever. 

TO BE CONTINUED