The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-04-14
HIGH LICENSE.
A Measure to That End Before
the Supervisors.
The Ordinance Prohibiting Overhead Wires
for Electric Railways Unani-
nOusly Adopted.

The Supervisors held an unusually long
and important meeting last night. Inc
ordinance against allowing overhead wires
for electric roads within certain hmu'
described in THE CALL of last Tuesday, was
finally passed by unanimous vote, out not
without a long discussion.
When the matter came up Ellert proposed
that the many interested parties present be
given a hearing, and j. W. Hartzel, one OF
the company that owns the road now being
built on Steuart street. WAS the first to re-
spond. He appealed to the boards sense OF
Justice He said the company had not taken
a single step in any direction that was not
in strict accordance with the law and the
privileges granted them. Their road was 10
cost upward of a quarter OF million OIL DOL
lars and over $4,000 had already, Uee1
expended. Not a foot OF ground naQ
been broken until the law authorized
all of the work contemplated by the com
pany. He had made long study OF TINS
Question and was satihed that there was no
unusual danger in the electrical system.
Without a doubt the electrical motor is the
coming motor power. An ordinance OF tnls
kind will completely stop the work OF this
company aud prevent the development of
millions Of dollars worth of property.
AGAINST THE POLES.
Captain Nhitelaw spoke against the poles
and the ONerlea0 WltPS. lie WIS SdtlSHtu
from his own observation in other cities
where the electric railroad is being operated
that the eleCtri al system Is very dangerous.
He had been riding in cars ana seen the
bottom take fire from the current. tie had
seen also many other instances OF their dan
gerous nature and thought that, considering
the unusually inhammable nature OF this
CITY, the board would be doing a great wrong
to permit overhead wires within the district
named in the order.
William Hollis argued that the board was
taking a hastY and unwiSe step In placing
such a restriction on the development OF the
electric system. Over 800 cities in this ma
ton have encouraged electric roads. They
have proven a great success, and an unusual
accident bad never been recorded against
any of them. He was not opposed 10 the
enactment Of the law il the board thought
it best after a thorough Investigation; but
he was satisfied the board had not been
thorough, because they had not had
chance.
A lengthy protest to the order was re-
ceiyed from the North Beach and Mission
road which now runs entirely by horse
power, but has reserved In its franchise the
right TO run by electric power. 1t was
promptly referred TO the Street Committee.
HIGH LICENSE ADVOCATES.
DR.. Horatio Stebbins and many other
members Of the Hlgh License Society were
present and asked for the privilege of sub
hitting an amendment to the present liquor
license law. Dr. Stebbins, as spokesman,
presented the following:
To the Honorable Board Of Supervisors Of the
city aud county or san Francisco: Your petl-
ttoners Tie High License Association of san
Francisco. pray your honorable board, In view OF
Tie present almost unbridled condition OF The re-
tail liquor Traffic and The lameBtaole injury It Is
causing to our people, to amend The existing mu-
niciua ordinance licensing the sale Of intOXl
ealing liquors By raising The quarterly license
thereof from $50 10 $3.50. The amendment rec
commended reads
Every person who sells spurious malt or
feTmruted liquors OF wines In less quantities. than
one quart shall he designated as retail liquor.
dealer and q grocery and retail liquor
eaeaer, and SHAH pay license s OF
day OF -, 1891 10 license as retail liquor
dealer, or as a grocer and retail quor-dealer,
shall be issued By the Collector OF Licenses, IN
less tue person desiring the same shall nave OBJ
tanned ftHe written consent OF majority OF the
Board OF Police Commissioners OF the city and
County Of san FIauc SEQ to carry on or conduct
said business. All licenses issued under this
section shall be known and designated as retail
HqCur-deaer and Rroc ny and retail liquor dealer
NO license shall be required BY physicians,
surgeons or aTOthecaries or chemists for any
wines or srirtuOus liquors they may use IN tn g
preparation OF medicines, or WHICH may be dls-
fyr,ed by them for medical purposes, provided
however, that the same shall not be sofa by the
g!a-s or be CONSUMED on the premises oil the
vendor
slgucd: James Eastland, President; William
A. Ftattv. SecIetaty; r. Balfuur Horatio Steb-
bins. James 5. Bunnel, Charles shtOn, George
a. Moore, Archbishop RioIdan, George Mont
gomely
OPPOSED To PIGEoN-HoLEs.
Burning wanted TO see the matter referred
to the Judiciary Committee, but DIR. Steb-
bins expressed the fear that sucn course
would result in its being pigeon hOled.
we deplore delay" he said. This IS
something that urges haste for humanlty's
sake, The legal phases Of such law can
be easily and readily determined. All We
ask Is a chance 10 appear as soon as posi-
be before Committee Of the Whole IN be-
half OF our measure"
1t was finally referred to the License
Committee, and the board asked to be
present.
PAvEMENTs.
The new pavement order. that was re-
fprred hack from the Street Committee with
out alteration, was finally passed, Ebert and
Heyer voting against 1t and DR., Aver tenn
porarily absent from the room
The same course was taken with the order
giving to the Stradamant Asphaltie Paving
Company the right to pave Sansonle street
from California to Sacramento with sam
pie pavement
SPRING VALLEY RESERVOIRS.
A resolution was proposed asking George
L. Mendell. Colonel of Engineer Corps, U.
s. A, aud Marsden Manson, Chief Engineer
Of the State Board of Harb0r Commissioners,
to pass upon the following questions in rela-
ton to the Spring Valley Conpany'S pro-
posed reservoir on Seventh avenue: Can O
reservoir be constructed and maintained in
what is now called the waste pond with
safety to all persons and property IN the
vicinity? Can the water in such reservoir,
when constructed, be kept from being con-
taminated or polluted by the sewage
which ordinarily flows into said waste pond
from the surrounding watershed? Referred
to the Street Committee to see what these
gentlemen would charge fer their services
All tile bids for the grading of MaripOsa
street, from Arkansas to Carolina, were or
dered rejected and the Mayor requested TO
sign a private contract with james b. An
gell, at the rate Of % cents per cubic yard.
Kilhp q Co., the book-nakers, were given
permission to build large wooden shed on
the corner Of Van Ness avenue aud Fell
street, and maintain the same for ninety
days, in which to hold an auction sale Of
horses.
NEW SEWER DISTRICT
Superintendent of Streets Gilleran sent
in a communica tiOn recommending the for
nation OF Il district to be asses sed for build
ing a large sewer to drain about 400 acres
east of Golden Gate Park. For many years
the sewers leading from Stanyan street
SuutheasteTly across Market TO the 3x5 brick
sewers in Howard, Mission and other streets
have been bursting in places during every
heavy storm. This has been caused, so it is
claimed, partly by the fact that the sewers
are not large enough TO carry of the storm
water and partly from the fact that they
follow an ancient: water-courSe in which
the sand is wet and yielding, which causes
frequent collapses.
II is proposed to build a AXIS feet sewer
with q concrete foundation, beginning at
Baker street, running thence TO Scott, to
Waller, to Fillmore, to Ridley, to Church,
gradually increasing in size to 5x6 feet
Such a sewer would be about $500 feet long
and cost between $4,000 and $4,000 To
overcome the law which provides that not
more than $1,000 shall be expended monthly
repairing sewers in accepted streets, Mr..
Gi;leran recommends the formation OF
district to pay the cost, bounded by Stan
yam, Fulton, Grove, Scott. Hayes, Buchanan,
Dolores, Sanchez, Ridley, Waller and Fred
eTick, excluding that portion Of Oak street
which was recently taxed Tor a sewer next
TO the park in that street.
Referred to the Street Committee.
IMPORTED LEPERS.
DR.. Aver, as Chairman of the Hospital
Committee, called attention to the recent
importation from Salt Lake City of Chi
pasa lamar This 10 dpp1a nraa-