The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-02-21
GIBSON'S VISITORS.
The Special Agent of the Treas
ury at Work.
Interviewed by Advocates of the Seventh
Street site-Waiting Patiently for the
Directors 10 Materialize.

p. Heritage Gibson, the urbano represent
tative of the Treasury Department in the
investigation of the alleged fraudulent seIec-
ton Of the Seventh and Mission streets site
for the Postoffice, was one Of the busiest
mortals in the city from early morning till
late last night
All day he held public reception In his
rooms at the Baldwin Hotel and listened
over and over to a tiresome repetition Of the
facts and arguments which the promoters of
the scheme against the public purse have
been urging on the highways and byways
since the Commissioners selection was first
made known.
The visitors came singly and in clusters,
and. strange to say, there were few who
had a word in opposition to the project. 1t
looked, indeed, as if the railroad company
and its friends, the Commissioners, had
secured the town to drum up advocates of
the site and swamp the special agent at his
first levee with opinions favorable to them
selves. Some came with their opinions
briefly outlined on paper, others had type
written documents for submission, but the
large majority affected to believe that Mr..
Gibson kept a corps Of sten0graphers on
hand to take the eX-parte testimony they
were primed with and put II Into form.
Ii was mOnOtOnOus TO listen to the reltera-
tion of the visitors, but Mr.. Gibson, far from
showing signs Of WEAKNESS, rather en-
couraged them to talk In the hope OF gather
ing some grains OF gold in the discussion.
IN QUEST OF INFORMATION.
A CALL reporter who dropped in for such
information as the agent could furnish for
publication was an interested observer OF
several interviews. One visitor was Ferdi-
nand Vassault, who claimed the distinction
Of being the promoter of the historic plank
road to the Mission, though the written
history Of the city gives the credit for that
great work TO another pers0n-ColOnel VIII
son.
Mr.. Vassault was very niue mixed in his
ideas a location, but managed to say he
knew the site since 1649, and 1t was always
high and dry. When confronted with
photograph of the spot as 1t existed in
1S50-5!, be disputed its correctness and vol
unteered to bring his own blOck-bOOk and
show its location with reference to the
ran by it, lie admiAd, however. that on
the opposite side OF Mission street, when he
WAS putting up the big bridge there, the
piles sank out OF sight and hard bottom
could not be found until seventy feet below
the surface was struck.
On the subject of valuation Mr.. Vassault
pretended 10 be quite an expert. He had
bought and sold millions of dollars worth
Of property and thought the Pope 81 Talbot
lot bargain at the price asked.
" Now, Mr. NasSault," said Mr.. Gibson,
chow much do you think property in that
neighbOrhOOd Is worth per front foOtP'
well, | should say, in small lots, about
$500 a foot was the reply, but for a large
property like this it would be a little
higher
MI Vassault had no written statement
with him, but promised 10 prepare one and
swear TO it tomorrow.
BRIDGES AND HIS PARTY.
Lyman Bridges, the civil engineer, soon
afterward ushered In party of gentlemen
whom he introduced as representatives Of
the wealth and intelligence Of the city. One
was AbneT DOble. dealer in steel, another
Nathan W. Spaulding once United Sta es
Sub Treasurer in this city. These gentle
men were Of opinion that the site is central
and cheap, but under Mr. G!bsOn's Ques-
tiOning admitted that better plan for ac-
curing property here would be for the Gov
eminent TO select site and condemn it, If
the Government took that step with the
present site, however, Mr. Spaulding was
of the opinion they would not come off as
cheaply as they Will by accepting The present
offer
The gentlemen were a bit shaky on fg-
ures when valuations per front foot we're
called for but on other points they prom
lsed a sworn statement some time this week.
After they had retired Mr. Bridges gave
the special agent his emphatic opinion that
the Seventb-street Site Is a capital one. The
gentleman almost in the same breath went
back into ancient history to show what "a
public spirited corporation the Southern
Pacific Company IS He knew the history
Of all its noble enterprises for the benefit OF
mankind, and the steps taken to thwart its
benevolent intentions" These are the peo-
pie who are doing the kicking" he said. re-
feTring to the opponents, but a moment
later he knocked the bottom out of his argn-
m On fpt of
kickers; the biggest kIckers in the country"
POPULARITY OF THE SITES.
At this point controversy arose between
the special agent aud the engineer regard
ing the popularity of the several lots offered
10 the Government, Ar, Bridges maintain
ing that popular vote would result in the
choice Of the Seventh street or Mechanics
Institute property. and tho agent being
equally positive that the Calvary Church
property would prove the most acceptable
to the majority. Mr.. Gibson afterward
stated that he based his opinion on the in
formation gathered by him during his Sc
cret inquiry.
John F. irish was the first visitor Mr..
Gibson received ia the morning He pre-
scented the Commissioners view Of the case
briefly and accused the press Of treating
him harshly from personal motives. The
other Commissioners and Mr.. Harvey did
not materialZe. John Hayes was another
important advocate of the selection. as was
also y. =. Perine, a property-0wner in the
neighboThood.
Mr.. Gibson Sas resolved not to hold pri-
yate conference with any OF lis interview
ers hereafter. in consequence Of an intima-
ton from one of his visitors that every
man has his price" He deems it best for
his own protection and the interests of the
Government that conversations must be
held with him in the presence of third par
ties. He is most anxious that the public
will come forward within the next few DAYS
and furnish him with the data necessary to
sustain any objections there may be TO the
SeYenth-street location