The morning call., 1892-04-12
AT THE P0TRERO.

What II Going On I'm San Franchises
Lively Southern Suburb.
The work Of grading Kentucky street, be-
tween Sierra and Napa, is progressing
rapidly under the supervision OF j. w. Nc
Donald. Z. p. Smith, who Is In charge, has
20 men actively engaged in removing rock
aud dirt. He Informed q CALL reporter
that il is the intention to level the street
from tie foot OF the steep hill some eight
feet, making q uniform grade for the entire
street. This will also bring the horsecar
tracks down to the same level. Mr.. Smith
said that he expects to finish the grading in
two or three weeks. when the street will be
ready for paving, for which square basait
blocks will be used. II is thought that the
contract will be completed by July /.
While the Potrero does not keep pace, In
the matter OF building, with some other
portions OF the city, several substantial
residences have been erected during the
past year. among them some 30 neat one
story cottages put up by j. o. Reese, the
real estate man, which are all occupied at
fair rentals. These are mostly on Mime
sofa street. between Sierra and Napa, and
the cost of each averaged about 500. Mr..
Reese owns much of the land in the
vicinity and purposes to build several more
cottages, suitable for workingrGen, before
the close of the year. Mr.. Rasmus. another
landowner, is erecting two fine two-story
dwellings on Tennessee street, next to Ken
",
utilized for boarding houses.
The force at the Union Iron Works, which
formerly consisted of about 1900 men. is
said TO have been reduced BY some IG0 since
the recent launching OF the ligbtship: while
the Pacific Rolling-mllls are reported as
having "let oul" large number of men
within the past month.
One of the chief reasons for the lassitude
and lack OF enterprise generally at the
Potrero is attributable by the residents to
the greed and mulisnness Of the Southern
Pacific Railroad Company. which owns
much OF the land south Of Kentucky street.
These people allege that the company abso-
lutely refuses to sell foot Of land, but in
order TO make every inch bring a roGsing
income lease their lots to those who
desire to build at prices varying from
4 bits TO 81 month Der front foot.
is it any wonder" asked a business
man, that building operations are re-
tarded in view Of this fact? Why. there
are hundreds of workingmen here Who
would gladly buy lot and put up neat
the first step; but no, the railroad COM
pany's greed presents an effectual obstacle,
and the workingmen have to take their
choice of cheap and uncomfortable board
ing-houses or a long and unpleasant trip
twice day between here and the city.
Just think of paying dollar a
month per front foot for the occu-
pancy of the land. 1t is out
Tageous, and niDe-tenths of these men are
unable TO DO Ii, even if they could raise a
few hundred dollars to build a cottage.
This is what keeps the Potrero down in a
business way, and / see no hope for a
change. Instead of this great corporation
being public benefactor, as il should be.
it is actually positive detriment to the
community. in whose path it is continually
placing stumbling blocks. The Southern
Pacific Company has got California firm ly
by the throat and you may rest assured it
will not soon loosen its grasp"