The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-02-23
GIBSON'S LEYEE.
The Special Agent Receives a
Peculiar Affidavit.
E. ]. Baldwin Makes a Sensational Charge
Henry Toomey's Proposition - Will
Colonel Irish accept It2

table of the Baldwin Hotel.
The Colonel went over the same ground
covered in his first interview to explain the
why's and wherefores of the newspaper OPP
position to the site. Shortly aiterward,
being REINFORCED by the appearance of E. T.
Gendar, p. Creegan and A. Levy, he and
the newcomers made combined attack
upon the agent in favor of the site.
The deputation, for such it evidently was,
claimed that the swamp, or quagmire, so
often referred to as being on the corner of
Seventh ana Mission streets, was all of 80
feet away from the property offered TO the
Government, and that if it were put to
popular vote three-ifths Of the people would
be in favor Of the site.
A SIGNIFICANT WARNING.
When Mr.. Gibson read the affidavit pre-
scented by Creegan and Gender he was so
aSt0nished at lis contents that he remarked
it was a very peculiar one, and warned the
signers that the Government proposed TO
institute criminal proceedings against all
who made affidavit 10 things that were not
true. This did not ruffie the men in the
least and they were sworn.
When the paper had been duly filed
Colonel Irish attacked the correctness of
the Assessors figures, and the following lit
tie dialogue ensued:
Here's Creegan's tax receipt" said the
Colonel, showing a lot on SanSome street,
near Broadway, that's assessed at $3.50.
Now. he has refused $4,000 for that lot.
That shows the way our property is as
Sessed."
Yes, sir. $50, 600 is what refused" aid
MI CTeegan.
i will give any man, to-day, four times
the value OF the assessed value Of his prop
eTtV." chimed i'm Mr. lpayV.
"Ob, gentlemen, gentlemen" said Mr..
Gibson, that is what IS called bluH
Creegan might refuse million il he chose.
1 can't be Influenced that waY."
Later in the discussion Mr.. Creegan in
cautiously admitted that Mrs. Mary Sulli-
van, who owned a lot on the Stevenson
street side of the proposed site, had sold her
interest for Sl1,C0O. MIR. Gibson was aDX-
iOus to know who the purchaser was, but
not even Colonel Irish could enlighten him.
A sPECULATOR's ADMISSION.
Mr.. Leavy, waO admitted ne was a real
estate Spectator, then filed his affidavit in
favor of the site He thought the location
could not be beaten, and that the price was
cheap. but 10 Mr. Gibson he made verbal
admission Lhat he would not pay Sl,0400 600
for il If he needed it himself. He thought
ne could get II Tor at least $4,000 less, II
he wanted it. but would not add that state
ment 10 his affidavit.
At this iuDcture +. j. Baldwin came in
ana expressed his aStOulshmeut TO tiud that
MT. Heritage was Mr.. Gibson. On making
the discovery he stated chat he had seen
good deal Of buttOnholing going on in the
hotel Office, and he believed attempts were
being made 10 keen people from calling
with their statements, sad he, Il believe
10000 people here are against that site where
1000 are for H." He said he would willingly
make affidavit as to his objections to the
property. lie had no AK to grind He
would rather pay the Government 500 600
Than have the POst0flice on The Parrot
property Opposite the Baldwin HOteD He
was confident the Mission and Seventh site
is not worth over Sje0, 600.
TEILTALE MAPS.
Dr. Charles NJ Blake and Richard ID.
Maury were In the next batcn Of visitors
aud fled strong affdaYlts against the seleC-
ton.
During the morning two maps Of the city
and county Of san Francisco were loaned 10
Air. Gibson, both showing the existence Of
the qlagmlre and defining It's boundaries.
One was BXbY's map If the city published
in 1854, the other q geographical map pub
lIshrd by the United States Coast Survey in
1889. The surveys for the latter were made
in 1870 By LieutenaDts 4. Z. Rodgers and
r NJ Cuyler, L. 5. y. Both agree in
showing that the Quagmire ran across the
corner of the property now offered to the
Government.
In the afternoon this fact was placed
pearauce Of Thomas Iennent, the official
regulator Of city time. He presented an
affidavit against the location, aud in cor
rob0TatOn of his statements produced his
sketch-bOGk and field notes made in the
latter part of 1919 To prove that in cutting
through Mission street ut that date he was
stopped at the corner Of harris now Sew
enth street by the quagmire or lagoon.
a STRONG AFFIDAVIT.
Mr.. TeunentS affidavit was read by his
own consent TO tie reporters. 1t contains
the following statements:
Ait-r arriving here in the summer 81 1891
was emu.0yed by iiam VI. Eddy the CIV Sur
yeyoT, 10 lay out the lines OF Tie streets north OF
Market street, from Stockton 10 LalkIn street
and those southeast OF Market street from the
CITY front now hiuua slteeD southeast TO Price
steet NOW kieh streeU. aud between Market
aud Mission Bay.
lhc work was engaged on. south Of Market
street, was rendered difficult by level swampy
piece Of ground which extended from Mission
Bay, now JO"useud street between Thud and
Fourth. 10 westerly direction. crossing Folsom
street, between Fourth and Fiith, interseciing
the corner Of Howard street and simmons NOW
SiXthb and also m.erSecung AisSiOH street al
Harris now StveHtHj, thence extending nearly
along The line Of Mission sIIeet 10 Price now
Eighth, thence 10 an lTf regular form back 10 Mis-
slOu Bay nearly AZ IT'S intersection with Puce
street. rms sWdnTy ground Was so yearly level
that at very hi@h tides tie water covered the
whole extent of IT,
have resided IN this city and carried on nv
business Of surveying instruments and cbrOuOm-
eIets since that time. and as a citizen desire 10
express my opinion that the Mission aud Seventh
street properly is not the best location for an
expensive PuslOiHCe building, tor the reason
thai the security Of the foundation Is not posi-
lively certain. Moreover, lie fall from That
point to the outlet OF the sewerage system is not
sufficient 10 secure good drainage.
ESTIMATES OF VALUE.
Ia conclusion Mr.. Teunent gives as his
choice the Mechanics Pavilion site because
it is high, level, near the City Hall, and
affords good drainage
Regarding the value of the SeYenth-street
lot SIR. Tennent did not wish to commit
himself, as he did not feel competent to
Judge, but If his opinion were worth any
thing he thought $4,000 the most likely
value. There was one point, however. he
desired 20 impress upon the Government.
II was that If the purchase is made it will
cost all Of 100000 to put in a proper
foundation. :" would not erect a large
mercantile house there" he said, much
less an EXPENSIVE Government building"
Henry TCOmey is another of the op-
pOnents who does not fear railroad persecu-
ton ii he gives expression to his views. lie
proposes to meet the three Commissioners
and their friends in Mr.. GibsOn's parloTs
and argue the right and wrong of the selec-
tion. He is convinced, too, that he can
oyerwhelm the advocates of the selection
with his arguments.
THE PRoTEsTANTs.
Special Agent Gibson has received a num-
Der of callers, but they have all been
directly or indirectly interested in the site
recommended by the commission. He has
heard nothing yet from the gentlemen who
protested so vigorously when the commits
sion sent its report to Washington. 1t is
likely, however. that the Board Of Trade
will re-express its opinion on the matter to-
day. j. +. lie Count President of the board
stated last night that he proposed to file with
Agent Gibson copies of the resolutions con-
demnatory OF the site which were sent to the
authorities at Washington some months ago.
LOADING A REVOLVER.
Michael Greutmann Receives n Serfous