The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-07-20
SURVEYORS REPORT.
An Improved System Of Sewer
age Suggested.

City and County Surveyor S. Harrison
Smith has completed his annual report to
the Supervisors for the fiscal year ending
June Both. Referring to the necessity for
establishing monuments or monumental
locations over the older portions of the
city, he states:
Never has there been exercised sufficient care
for The preservation Of the old monuments. The
result of this Is the almost total obllteration OF
these most important objects, and the gradual
creeping in OF errors which affect the titles OF
some of our most valuable property. These cor
have TO come in tlme and cannot be undertaken
too soon il true economy and the preservation OF
property interests be aimed at.
On the subject of system of sewerage,
Mr.. Smith has this to say:
We cannot land anywhere on our city front at
low tide, or pass during the summer by any
street. crossing, without having our nostrils as
sailed by poisonous odors arising from our
sewers. This state OF affairs eau never be I'M
proved until we have thorough overhaulng of
our present drains and system designed by
competent engineers and sanitariaDs substituted.
This result will. In my opinion never be accom-
pllshed In 4 satisfactory manner by what seems
TO be the popular method Of procedure, viz.
that OF advertising for plans do not believe,
even after all necessary data is obtained and
placed at the disposal Of bidders. that any engi-
neer OF prominence is going TO spend bis time and
substance In the formation of plan TO compete
with men OF lesser note, and to be passed upon
by persons unfamiliar with the best theories.
e There is no one in San Francisco who
has taken so much interest IN or studied this
su Dject OF sewerage more closely than myself,
and / have come 10 the conclusion, after re-
peated efforts TO bring the subject before the
people in some practical form, that the following
Is what will have to be ultimately done: APP
point a commission OF three local engineers OF
good standing with power 10 call In necessary
assistance for the collection and compilation OF
data, plans, etc., granting them the power TO
call in for consultation the best sanitary author
ity that can be obtained, and setting aside funds
for his remuneration. Furnish the commission
with first class legal authority for the formation
of such laws as may be necessary for the carry
ing out OF the plans The commission should
be granted at least one year in which To present
their plans and such laws as in their Judgment
may be deemed necessary.
He believes that the cost of the commits
sion and its labors will amount to between
$4,000 and $4,000. Mr.. Smith wants new
maps in his Office, and regrets that although
he had asked for an appropriation OF $4,000
at the beginning OF the last fiscal year. yet
he was allowed only $1,000.
He reports further that the most impor-
tant work undertaken by the office Is the
formation OF plans for the Point Lobos
sewerage district. The district comprises
about 100 acres of land lying between
Central avenue on the east, Thrty-second
avenue OIL the west, Golden Gate Park on
the south and the bay on the north The
plans are now all prepared, with the excep-
ton Of the Outfall. He suggests the adyis-
ability of opening aud extending Larkin
street as far as Twenty-ffth avenue; also
Twenty-fifth avenue from Lake 700 feet
north; also, Twenty-Seventh avenue to the
waters of the bay. He deems the extern
siop of those streets necessary to facilitate
drainage in the Point Lobos district; and
also states that Potrero avenue should be
opened from Serpentine avenue to Army
street, as it is the only outlet for the sew
age of a large district.