The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-10-19
ALL ON ONE SIDE.
BernaI Heights People Oppose
an Assessment.

The meeting of the Board of Supervisors
tonight will be attended by many of the
jewellers on Bernal Heights, who will re-
strain the indignation they feel over the
proposed assessment for the extension of
Howard street within proper bounds, if
they can.
The aforesaid indignation is strong and
well developed and made itself manifest at
meeting of the North-avenue Improve
ment Club yesterday. Arrangements. were
made for holding the meeting in the open
air, on a lot, near the Bernal Heights
School, but owing to the prevailing fog and
wind an adjournment was had to house in
the vicinity, and there the wrath OF the in
habtants shook itself loose and spake long
and loudly.
Il was said that the people on the south
side of tie hill had been offered reduction
Of 12h per cent on their assessment, while
the property. owners on the north side,
among whom are the railroad company and
several other wealthy corporations, who
have been the most benefited by the extern
sion of Howard street, have had their as.
sessment reduced 60 per cent.
TIE OLD STORY.
In other words, FISH had been made Of
the POOR men south of the hill and fowl of
of the rich men on the north. Therefore
the south side people refuse to accept the
reduction and will fight
Thomas McDerm0tt was Chairman OF the
meeting. N. BOggs was the first speaker.
He claimed that Supervisor Taber of the
Street Committee of the Board of Super
visors had allowed personal motives to in
fuence his report on the work of the Com
missiOners appointed to assess the property
holders for the benefits they will receive by
the extension Of the street.
i. W. Newbird denounced the assessment
and declared that if he did not obtain relief
from the Supervisors tonight he would ap-
peal TO the courts.
K. NJ. Smith explained that the order for
the extension of Howard street made no
provision for the grading Of the thorough
fare but merely provided for the purchase
OF the property needed. Property valued
at $4,000 had been assessed tor the i'm
provement, and the salaries and expenses
of the Commissioners amounted to $4,000
The expert who was hired by the Super
viSOrs took the value of the lots at what
they were assessed for for city and county
purposes.
HAVE NOT DONE THEIR DUTY.
Mr.. Smith held that the Commissioners
had not done their duty. They had misap-
pretended the law. The property or one
sde of the hill is assessed higher than that
on the other. The Vest tract OF land, owned
by James G. Fair is assessed 100 per cent
lower than the property of the poor people
adjoining. The Commissioners valued the
old cesspoOl lot at Sl9, 900. yet it would not
bring more than $1,000 if offered for sale to-
day. The lands owned by tie railroads,
banks and politicians are assessed lightly,
and poor men are made TO bear the burden
OF the Improvement
Another member of the club stated that
Captain Lees property is assessed 100 per
cent lower than property of the same ex-
tent on the other side of his fence.
After an informal discussion of the mat
ter resolution was passed that the club
meet at the City Hall at Z 80 O'clock to-
night aud attend the meeting of the Super
visoIs, OF whom they will demand hearing.