The morning call., 1891-12-06

control of Point Lobos avenue were not
asked TO ratify the franchise until last july
six months alter it was obtained. When
the ratification was accorded the improve
ment club demanded that it be dated back
to the issuance Of the franchise, otherwise
ii was feared that the company would take
advantage of the additional six months to
prOlong its lease of one year. within which
the law provides that the work must be
done in order to preserve the franchise
After a deal OF squabbling the nunc pro
tune order was made. and now the statutory
year expires this month.
In the latter part Of September the Super
visors passed an order annullng the priv
ilcge of the Park and Ocean Railroad to run
dummies on Point LobOs and First avenues
the order to take effect January l, 1892. In
view OF the fact that the law gives to the
Park Commissioners jurisdiction over Pint
I.obos avenue that body was asked by the
club to ratlfy the order. Twice the request
has been made in person by the club repre-
sentItves, and it has not yet been granted
The club fears in this refusal a determin a.
ton TO assist the railroad company in STAY
ing off tie fulfillment of
THEIR AGREEMENT
With the people, and the determination Is
many times doubled on the part of the club
that the law shall be carried out to the
letter.
1t has been decided without n dissenting
voice that if the work of extending the
cable system has not been commenced with
in the year allotted, the Board of Super
visors will be asked to repeal the franchise
and if the dummies are rot stopped by
January lSt, according to the order of the
Board OF Supervisors, go men, members of
the club and citizens. will be sworn in as
deputies Of the Sheriff or Superintendent of
Streets and the trains will be stopped by
force.
The club has not determined upon this
course blindly or i'll advSedy. The best
of legal counsel has been obtained and they
feel perfectly secure in the determined
stand they have taken. After January 1st
the dummy must 90 and the pe0rle are
looking forward to some very lively times
The Point LoboS sewer system has been a
mighty undertaking, and, like the fUunda-
ton to great structure, OF first impor-
tance. But the smile may be extended by
saying that the foundation would be of lit
tie use without the structure.
The next great forward stride was the
surveying and grading of streets. This
work has been in no respect less extensive
and less wonderful than the Sewering, con-
siderng the time in which 1t has been done.
During the last eighteen months of rapid
strides ., 100000 square feet of macadam
have been laid ON Point LobOs avenue ard
tributary streets. TO prepare the streets
for this vast amount of grading had to be
done In many places, amounting in the
total to 100000 cubic yards of sand that
had TO be moved.
The total cost of this tremendous improve
ment, which really amounts after all to but
little more than good beginning, has been
something over 100000, every cent of which
has been promptly and willingly paid by
the pr0perty-Owners who constitute the
POINT LoBOs IMPROVEMENT CLUB.
The work mapped out for the immediate
future, though not quite so much like the
first breaking of ground as that already
completed, is yet mighty in extent and of
equal Importance. The entire district be-
tween Point LobOs avenue and the park,
First and Thrtieth avenues, comprising a
district of about 100 blocks, has been sur
veyed, and the grading and sewering will be
pushed ahead a fast as practicable; il may
be all completed within another year. The
preliminary measures are being even now
pushed through the Board of Supervisors.
The following streets are thuse already
graded, severed and macadamiZei: Collins,
Cook aud Blake streets, Parker avenue,
Williamson street, Johnson and Henderson
avenues and the numbered avenues from
First to Twelfth, inclusive, north of Point
LObos to Lake street, and in many cases TO
the PresidIO. Point L9bOs, as before stated,
IS completed to Thirty-second avenue. Glenn
ent, California and Lake streets are also
enjoying their share Of the general improve
ment. Fifteenth, Nineteenth and Twenty
third avenues are now being graded. On
the south side of Point L6bJs, Fifth avenue
Is the only one graded completely TO the
park, but Ninth, Tenth and Eleventh are
graded one block. The grades have been
all established out 10 Tnirty-siXth avenue
and there only remain twelve blocks to take
the work clear IL the ocean beach on the
west. An effort has already been made TO
get Clement street extended through the
city cemetery, but as yet without success.
The effort has not, however, been abau-
doned, and with the characteristic determi-
nation OF the club will doubtless succeed in
the end.
There are many annoying obstacles in the
way of the clubs march Of progress, and
they do not propose to sit down until the
last one OF them IS removed. In the first
place they find it great hindrance that
Point LObUs avenue should be under the
control Of the Park Commissioners. Moth
ing in the line Of progress seems assured
while that state of affairs lasts They have
already arranged to ask the next Legisla
ture
TO REPEAL THAT LAW.
The awkwardness of the law is illustrated
in this one Instance. When the Supervisors
were arranging the last levy it was pro-
POSED to fix that for the park at 5h cents
instead of Is, as provided by law. At the
urgent request of the Point LObOs Improve
ment CLUB the levy was put at the full
limit, cents, with the provision that the
extra half cent, amounting to $4,000,
should be expended on Point Lobos avenue
during the year. The Commissioners have
the avenue, and not dollar more.
The aid of the Legislature will also be
asked, II needed, to secure the extension of
Clement street
One of the first extensive improvements
contemplated for the Richmond district is
large pleasure resort, to be established about
TIE foot OF Thirty-Second avenue, at Bakers
Beach. a wealthy corporation Is arranging
to construct baseball ground, large bath
houses aid other conveniences Tor sporting.
all ta hf. a Il.
VIII be perfected as soon as the convent
ences for travel will warrant.
Inc prUperty-Owner5 are given to under
stand that capital stands ready to build
cable out Point LObos avenue to the Cliff
House whenever travel demands it.
The city authorities have been very con-
siderate OF the needs of tile district by
giving them better protection against FIRE
and other forms of mischief a fine, large
chemical tlre-engne has been stationed on
Second avenue, between Point LobOs and
Clement. The Police Department has also
detailed several more officers to patrol the
district
Dwellings are going up almost daily, and
new contracts of one kind or another are
made for improvements every week.
Among those who are taking the lead in
improvements OF whatever kind may be
mentioned Henry VOrrath, Treasurer of
the Point Lobos Club; w. Z. Henderson.
who is Investing largely; Percy Henderson,
VINO Is now erecting 5000 dwelling on the
corner Of Point Lobos and johnson avenues !;
w. b. Lyon, who has paid some of the
heaviest assessments in the district; John
Briekel, who owns $50 acres in the vicinity
OF Bakers Beach; George Fletcher, Presi-
dent of the improvement Club; John Cas-
sidy, 7. G. Parker, W. c. Richards and
w. &. Wise.
CURTIS PETITION.
"
The Slayer of Policeman Grant Tenn