The morning call., 1892-03-02
TO HURRY THEM UP.
Agent Gibson Will Go in Quest of
Aifidayi.S.
Re VIII CAL Upon Large Property Owners,
Citizens Having Been Tardy in Tes-
trying Voluntarily.

Affidavit makers have not been coming to
the front with opinions regarding the Post
Office site as rapidly as Special Agent Glib
son desires, aud yery few sworn statemen IS
were filed yesterday.
In order TO hasten the procuring of testi-
mony he intends TO keep open house at the
Baldwin Hotel this morning. where he will
receive all callers. In tie afternoon he will
visit number of large property owners in
the city who have not volunteered their
testimony ard viii ask their opinions re-
garding the desirabiity OF the property at
Seventh and Mission streets as Postofice
site. tie will be accompanied by an official
stenographer.
William II. Bate of 1927 Sansome street
deposed and said that he had resided here
for thirty-one years. and that from Sixth to
Seventh streets, between Mission and How
ard, he had worked in the marsh knee q eep,
and that when the property adjacent was
being filled III the houses were capsZed at
an angle of twenty degrees. He thought
the corner would be dangerous as Post
Office site, and that the property was worth
about half the price asked. He believed the
Government should condemn a site If il
could not be procured otherwise al rea-
sonable figure. and added that, as POstotlice
stations had been established throughout
the city, the main Office should be located
70 serve the mercantile Interests rather lhan
the residence portion.
BRADBURY's RECOLLECTION.
W. B. Bradbury. 1000 Van Ness avenue.
President of two building ana loan assOcia-
tons, testified That in 1855 lie remembered a
marsh between Market aud Brannsn
streets, Sixth and Eighth, and in the
vicinity Of Howard, and said that "when
Howard street was being filed in that
viz ity bafo ha hot
tom was reached" he considered the pro-
posed site worth less than $500, 900, and
thought the ground would be unsafe for a
heavy building. lie believed tue Office
should be located as near the foot Of Market
street as possible.
Charles Geddes of AS Montgomery street
filed a statement, to which he bad sworn
before a notary. He stated that he was
pioneer of 1853; that the lot at Seventh aud
Mission had been sandhill. from five TO
grade Of those streets. He thought the
price was fair. when Uncle Sam was the
buyer, but was not sure that he would pay
so much if he were the purchaser.
MIR. VAN NESS AFFIDAVIT.
I. c. Van Ness. an attorney, filed
lengthy affidavit composed Of pioneer remi-
niscences but stated his inability to set n
valuation upon the Postoffice site, although
1t considered its location nconvenient for
business purposes, and thought That great
public building ike Posteffice should be
located where 1T would be a public orna-
ment to the city, and it certainly would be
on Mission street"
Agent Gibson's experience In examining
the POstoffice witnesses has made him some
thing of mind-reader, and be believes he
can tell when man enters the room whether
his affidavit will favor OF condemn the COM
missions recommendation. 10 relieve the
monotony Of hearing testimony bets are
booked in the special agents room as to the
afiidayl.-maker's opinion of Colonel Irish,
although little money changed hands on the
latter proposition. A visit from the Mill
tary Commissioner was anticipated yester-
day, but be did not make an appearance.
i. L. schmidt. iewcler residing on Sew
enth street, between Howard and Folsom,
called somewhat late in the afternoon to file
his approval of the location of the Postoffice
in his vicinity. He thought the properly
was well worth S1,0i0,000, but when Mr..
Gibson asked his estimate OF its frontage
valuations Mr.. Schmdts figures aggregated
less than $4,000 for the site.
Dir. Gibson thIuks that some citizens who
are strongly supporting the Commissioners
choice have lodged complaints in Washing
ton against him in the line OF threats made
In this city. The Special Agent, however,
gives no sign of trepidation.