The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-03-26

Turning On TIE Itgftts
Fourteen million dollars is a good deal of
money.
What great benefit San Francisco might
derive from tie judicious expenditure OF
that vast sum.
How clean and attractive the city might
be made.
What magnificent public buildings might
be erected.
What great Improvements could be made
in the parks and in the streets.
" hat fine hospitals and free libraries
could be established and maintained.
IDLE talk" says some one. Where is
all that money to come from?"
Where, indeed?
That, however. is not the point under dis
eussion in this article.
Fourteen million dollars have been de-
liberately taken out of the hands of the peO-
nle of this city and given over to steam
ship monopoly-the Pacific Mail. This has
been done by the combined railroads, who
have paid that amount of money to the
steamship company to throttle competition.
THE CALL does not stand alone in max
ing this declaration.
"The city has been robbed of that steam
ship subsidy money!" say all the leading
shippers.
There Is nothing complicated. involved or
obscure as to this proposition. 1t is just as
plain "a the fact that there is a body of
water between San Francisco and Yoke
hama. Where else has this money come
from save from our people? Who pays the
subsidy OF q million dollars year if II does
not come out Of our pockets?
We have consented to be robbed in this
manner because we have not really known
what the robbery was, or how it was carried
on. II was such an insidiOus and carefully
coveredup robbery; such a quiet, gentle
manly. respectable robbery, that we did not
observe it, aud therefore made no fuss
about il.
But THE CALL probed into the STEAL
found out what it was. measured the length
and breadth Of it, and stood ii up for public
inspection, with a good, sharp, clear light
upon it-a search-light such as the Charles
ton and San Francisco carry when their
commanders want to look into dark places
Yes, THE Calls search-light showed the
robbery up in a most striking way. Before
The CALL turned on the light the subsidy
steal was faint and obscure to the sight. II
was like picture done in browns ana grays,
with a murky sky overhead-gloOmy, sod
den, impenetrahle.
The picture shown by THE CALL is in
black and white The lines stand out crude.
raw and harsh. There is no miStaking
them.
Now, having been robbed of S14, 900, 900
in order to enrich great fat steamship
monopoly, let US pause and consider what
might have been done with that money.
The CALL has its own ideas on the suu-
Iect but they will be reserved for the pres
ent. Let US hear what the people OF San
Francisco b ave to say regarding the matter
Here is a question that was put to many
wel-known citizens yesterday by reporters
Of The CALL:
In ,cItdt ,cay could Sf4, 900 900 best be en-
pended for the good Of the people of Sd,
Francisco
The answers were widely diversified.
There wers plans practical aud plan
chimercal. Solid. shTewd business mel
were given an oppo rtunity to answer tn
question. and perhaps their answers ar
best when our temporal benefit is consld
cred. But there are other things besides
worldly prosperity and money getting 10 be
considered. aud an attempt was made t
get opinions covering wide scope,
The frequency with which the word:
competing railroad occur in the inter
views shows that the public is alive to th
needs of the hour.
Here are the opinions:
Mayor Sanderson-I should say that Sa'
FTancisco's greatest need is thorough
sewer system. | think should next favo
the Improvement of our streets. Even the
the large sum would not be exhausted
Next in Importance l should think wOul
be a County Hospital. County Jail.
Pesthouse and an Almsh0uSe.
w. Greer HarrsUn-That sum cou Id bes
be expended IN complete system OF drain
age; in general md perm lrent system o
streets; an increased number oil parks;
system OF docks; tie erection and mainten
ance Of public lighthouses; in proyidin
competent teachers of hletics in the publ
schools; in giving to the city series 0
groups in bronze or marble Illustrating tn
marvellous progress, material and intellect
uaI, OF the State since 40
James q. Fair-In making the city clea
and healthful, and giving il a chance I
fulfill its natural destiny OF being grea
aud beautiful metropolis.
Joseph III. Litchfeld, Railroad Commi!
sioner-In widening the streets, giving th
city good sewer system, in identifying
and making 1t what 1t ought to be-the Pari
Of America.
Reuben ii. Lloyd-It could be spent In
good sewer system first; in making respec
able streets, and in identifying the park
Money spent In the parks brings big return
Lyman Bridges-The money could best
expended toward the luilding OF frst-clas
stands rd-gauge railway from San Francisc
by the shortest air Inc, to lrcn Count
Utah.
3. Van Praag-NeW sewers, Tor the preSe
ones are breeders of disease.
&. Liedichs-New sewers and the Ii
provement aud extension Of streets.
john Dobrindt-Sewers or street improy
ments.
L. Strausser-Most OF II should be o
pended on streets.
Thomas Pringle-Put every dollar In
building a new railroad that will come
on its own tracks.
j. w. Walker-A competing overland raj
road by all means.
@. C. Vocke-New sewers to prevent sic
ness.
Ex-senator Tim McCarthy-lf sl4, 900. 0
were placed in my hands now to expend
the benefit OF this State l would start rig
In to dredge and render navigable su
streams as the Sacramento, San Joaqu
and American rivers, put In mining dan
and open up the hydraulic mining OF I
State. Ii this were done without lnterft
ing with the farmers. then 1t would be I
greatest thing that could happen for Ii
State One or more competing rallroa
would soon be constr ucted by private ente
prise if we at once commenced 70 t'i9
oughly develop our mining resources.
Dennis Sullivan. Assistant Chiei 4
gineer of the Fire Department-Flrst the
should be a perfect sewerage system, a
after that attentio should be paid u .
Fire and Police departments, parks al
streets. This would make city out Oh d
Francisco. which is now great DIG j
town. :,
Chief Engineer David Scannell-Next z
.