The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-03-24
LOST HIS BEER TRADE.
Iburg's Business Ruined by a
Grammar School.
They Were Both in the Same Building, and
the Children's Throbbing Intellects
Drove the Drinkers Away.


| corner Of Steiner and Hermann streets. An
| objection was raised some time ago by per-
sons living in the neighborhood who thought
that the attic OF a beerstcre was hardly the
| proper place in which to educate the coming
| generation.
No Investigation was made at the time,
| but yesterday communication was sent to
| The CALL in which the saloon was graphi-
| ca lily described as the vlest resort In town,
where dog fighters, low individuals and
| chlppy dancers nightly c0ngregated In
| drunken orgies. 1t was also said to be an
| unhealthy spot with peSthouSe In the dis
tance, and humps, measles and scarlet fever
microbes floating in the air. Altogether the
primary was not the best place in the world
In which TO learn grammar 'as she is spoke"
Yesterday afternoon CALL reporter
went out to Investigate. The first place Wis
tied was the receiving class above the
saloon where eighty youngsters of assorted
sexes and tender age are wrestling with the
first rudimentS of large and eomprehen-
slve education. He was referred by the
teacher in charge to Mrs. Woods, principal
OF the grammar school at Hermann and
Fillmore, one block east. When informed
OF the nature of the complaint Mrs. Woods
said II was all spite-work on the part of
some one. and that there was no trnth what
ever 10 the charge beyond the fact that the
primary was located over a saloon. As for
the saloon 1t was a most exemplary resort
considering the business, so far as she
knew, and she had never seen a drunken
man In the saloon or anywhere else in the
neighborhood. There are two beer saloons
directly across the street from the grammar
school. but Mrs. Woods has never heard
any complaint from hat source. One of
these Is kept by woman who has children
OF her own.
RESULT OF sPITE-woRK.
Some time ago." said Mrs. Woods. IAN
English family living In the vicinity tried
TO place three children in the primary in
this building, but we had no room. La fact.
we were so crowded that two classrooms
were partitioned off in the lower hall. Still
the children kept coming, and we placed
them IN the receiying-class over the saloon.
The English people were told that their
three children would be accommodated
there, but they objected to the surroundings
and said they would rather let the children
grow up in ignorance than go to such
place.
''Snce then have heard nothing more,
but suppose that some one is grumbling out
Of. spite. The Board Of Education has inyeS-
tigated the place and is entirely satisfied, and
an officer of the Health Department has
carefully inspected the plumbing. etc, and
found everything in the best sanitary con-
dition. OF course we do not favor the loca-
ti0n, but it is the best we can do now.
There are more children than we can ac-
commodate in the school building. and we
are therefore compelled to use the place
over the saloon until better quarters can be
provided"
Tie next person visited was William NJ
lburg, the owner of the saloon. He is an
Old and respected citizen and a large prop
erty-owneT. The saloon was formerly
known as the "Teutonia Garden" with
tbeater on the second floor. This portion
the owner leased for school purposes nearly
two years ago, aud then closed up the rest
of the place except small room in front,
which he uses Tor a saloon. A stair way
leads up from the outside to the scho0lro ON,
which Is IN no way connected with the
saloon or any of the appurtenanees there
unto appertainlng.
There is nothing about the exterior of the
building that would indicate the queer COM
binatl0n Of industries within except a long
thin sign reading "Haf-and-half always on
draught, cents per glass" swinging hope
les5ly TO and fro in the breeze. GA the
front of the building high up under the
cornlce. faint traces of the words "Teutonia
Garden" In yellow letters, still iinger, and
which might indicate TO the uninitated that
the place was devoted to kindergarten for
little German boys and girls. But it isn't
all nations are represented IN the school.
REGARDING IBUR6's BUSINESS.
In reply TO a question regarding his busI-
ness, Mr.. 1burg said he didn't sell one keg
OF beer In week. Improper characters
never came In at all, and he hadn't seen
woman around since the days when dances
were held in the hall. There are no pool
tables, INTERCHANGEABLE machines, auto
matte scales or other implements Of vice
nothing but four kegs OF steam beer, two
tables, few chairs, bottles and some saw
dust on the floor Trade is terribly slow,
so quiet in fact that he closes up and goes
TO bed every night before 9 o'clock.
III he did not own the place. Mr.. Iburg
would close up and quit As Ii is he is
thinking of retiring from that location be-
cause his business has been ruined. Instead
OF the saloon hurting the school, the trouble
is inst the reverse. The wild, tumultuous
thrObbipg Of juvenile brains and feet in the
educational works overhead has driven all
of Mr.. 1burg's customers away. They
couldn't stand the racket produced by eighty
little boys and girls in tue throes of learn
ing. and therefore acquire their jays else
where.
If Mr.. Iburg's statements are true. and
everything goes to prove their truth, then
San Francisco is on the eve of a bright and |
glorious reform. Let the ministers who
have lately taken up the discussion of i'm
morality in this city join hands with the
Board OF Education and start primary
grammar school on the second floor of each
and every one of the 1000 beer saloons in
San Francisco. What would be the result?
In less than three months the 5000 drunk
ards would either sign the pledge or jump
into the bay.
Inquiry in the neighborhood failed to con-
nrm any OF the reports regarding the evil
character Of Mr.. Iberg's place of business.
People living next door said they had never
heard the slightest disturbance in the sa-
loon that could be attributed to dog fighters,
low individuals or skirt-dancers. There
were no noises of any kind because MIR.
lourg is alone most of the time. and if he
dld make any noise he could not even hear
1t himself while school was in session. 1t
looks as II Mr.. lburg's place of business had
been cruelty Inaiigned by some person or
N tn hIna