The morning call., 1892-11-03
PROPERTY-OWNERS PROTEST.
Against the Extension of Po-
trer0 Avenue.
They Obi ct TO Being Assessed for Building
Road TO Supervisor Taber's Cow
Pasture

About 200 property-owners in the district
assessed for the extension and opening OF
POtrero avenue south from Twenty-fourth
street TO the county line assembled last
night in Teutonic Hall, on Howard street
between Ninth and Tenth. They met for
the purpose OF taking active measures to
defeat the proposed work and formulate a
protest 10 the Board OF Supervisors against
the confirmation OF tho commissioner re-
port.
After some preliminaries and the election
of officers Attorney James F. Smith adj
dressed the meeting. lie explained the
legal methods OF procedure to further the
ends OF the property owners.
lie denounced street extensions generally
and the Ubiquitous law under which these
extensions have been operated.
This Potrero avenue extension" said
Mr.. Smith, us without doubt the worst Job
of the lot. not only because of the outrage
Gus methods Of assessment, which Is equal
20 robbery, but because the whole scheme
appears TO be coneocted TO further the selfish
designs of 4 member of the Board of Super
yisoTs, whose lands embraced in milk
ranch down near the county line are to be
benefited by the execution of this mOnstrous
job
1T is an outrage on both justice and de-
cency that the prOpeTty-owneTs in the
vicinity OF Ninth street should be taxed
10 pay an exorbitsnt price for cow pasture
for the sole benefit of the owners Of the adj
Jaeent pastures. even though one of the
owners is Supervisor Taber of the Eleventh
Ward" Loud applause
The speaker urged prompt action on the
part OF the propeTty-owners to get up
formidable protest TO the Board Of Super
vsors as q preliminary measure. and 70
protect their legal rights in case that IL be-
came necessary 10 obtain redress through
the courts.
A Mr.. Tobln spoke and called attention 10
the fact that he had heard that Supervisor
Iaber had openly stated that he would see
this extension through before his term OF
office expires. He spoke disparagingly Of
Taber as a man and as a statesman and
said thai he was glad that he CrabeD could
not get the denomination.
why, tie values placed by the commits
soners upon the lands TO be taken are ex-
brilliant in the highest degree, and in fact
the whole commissioners report shows
that the scheme Is q piece of j0bbery that
would be a disgrace 10 civilization.
Just look at the bill they presented"
resumed Mr. Tobin. Lands Sf73 677 sur.
veyOrs $1,000, searcher and appraiser S6JO0
other expenses S6932. contingent expenses
S16,9S7. These are but few of tho entries
which In all amount 10 nearly quarter Of
a million dollars. What is this item of
'other expenses'P Nobody knows: and this
contingent expense? No one ever heard Of
any such thing. This is bare-faced rob-
berry,"
Mr. Murphy also denounced the meth
DDS employed in this job. He said that after
paving this assessment of cne-quarter of a
million dollars for an imaginary street over
swamps and hills they might have 10 hand
over about $1,000. 900 10 make a passable
road 10 Supervisor faber's cow pastures,
lie also said that the San Bruno road was
now n better road i'm the same direction
than The other one could be expected To be
Inside Of twenty years.
Father Seaman, representing St Joseph's
parish, also expressed his opinion on the
robbery lie was opposed TO hundreds Of
poor people taxing their little homes 10
benefit the owners OF outlying barren lands.
even though one OF these owners was a
member Of the Board Of Supervisors.
lie then moved that the executive rom-
mittes, together with Attorney Smith. pre-
pare the necessary headings in legal form
for protest to the Board of Supervlsors
and that they proceed at once 10 get ss
many signatures as possible TO the docu-
ment.
The propertyowners will meet again To-
morrow evening In the same hall. when tho
executive committee will submit q definite
plan Of action.