The morning call., 1893-05-05
IN AND ABOUT TOWN.

GERBER's AERIAL FRANCHIsE.-Jean
BAPTIST Gerber, the old man who IS an en-
thusiast on the subject of air transporta-
ton, sent an application yesterday 10 the
Street Committee of the Board of Super
visors for a franchise for an aerial route Tor
his machine. The petition was addressed
10 the venerable Mayor. His company, he
SAID. was to be known as the San Fran
cisco Benevolent Railway Company The
petition was long and filled with the verest
nonsense. 1t was read with great vigor Of
voice by Clerk Russell, and formed the butt
OF continuous joking by the board. Accom-
panyng the petition for franchise for the
construction OF the aerial railway was
large picture of the applicant. On motion
OF Supervisor Ryan, the petition was re-
ferred to the Committee ON Air and Aerial
Routes TO the Moon.
IHE STREET CoMNITTEE.-At a meeting
oil the Street Committee of the Board of
SUPERVISORS Yesterday q petition was re-
ceived from proper;y-owners in the Sunny
side and Lakeview district asking that
street be opened along the westerly line of
the Industrial School tract from the grand
ocean boulevard to Spreckels avenue.
Colonel Little. representing Adolph Sutro,
who owns land on the line of the street,
said that his employer had not been con-
suited about the matter. The petition was
placed ON file. The committee decided TO
allow property-owners to grade Polk street
between Lombard and Greenwich. This
VIII result in the removal of the hill which
has for twenty years caused such ineon-
venence 10 travel.
FRUIr-TREE PEsTs.-Santa Clara County
prime orchards are represented to be de-
vastated by the span-worm, a very scourge
OF the prune-growlng districts of the coast.
The crop Is seriously threatened.
Alexander Craw, State Quarantine OFF,
Ger. is progressing rapidly with his cultiva-
tion OF lady-blrds. He says that the
weather has been against him, but that in
short while he will have enough lady
birds TO destroy all the cottony cushion
scale in the State. Boxes of the bugs will
be sent TO all parts and they are SO prolific
tnat 1t IS said one male and female lady
bird Will prove sufficient TO remove the
scale from large orchard.
PETTY TH1EvISG.-Complaint is made
that number OF petty thieves are operat-
ing IN the Western Addition, tools and
hardware being stolen from houses IN
course OF construction. A few DAYS since a
tali woman. dressed In gray, accompanied
by two boys. ascended the steps of the
residence of n. King, on Baker street, near
Clay, emptied the contents of a large china
flower-pot. tucked the pot under her cloak
and went away. Shortly thereafter the two
buys-one while, the other black-off-red
to sell the f0werpot to Chinese laundry
man.
RICHARD GERKE's DEATH.-The stomach
OF Richard Gerke, who was found dead in
bed at 1869 Mission street on Wednesday
| morning. has been sent to a chemist for
| analysis. I. Vulicevich of Ala Hyde street
called at the Morgue yesterday and said
! that he knew Gerke well. He married e
kanaka woman, and his wife and family
| are in Honolulu. He had a heavy insur-
ance on his life in company in Honolulu.
| He used 10 suffer greatly from heart disease,
and Nulicevch knew that he had been in
the habit OF taking morphine to ease the
| pain.
GRADING OF SUNNYsTDE STREETs.-City
| Surveyor FiiZhugh says that when the
| grade of J0ost avenue was established there
| was no outlet for the drainage in the hollow
! between Congo and Baden streets. For
this reason lie had 10 fix grade which
would require the hollow to be filled. He
| confirms the Statement of bis deputy to the
| effect that the official grade would be
| lowered if the proprietors Of the Sunnyside
| property would give right of way from
| Joost avenue to Sunnyside avenue.
The STRAW BOND CAsE.-The pre-
| liminary examination of J. b. Jordan
| charged with perjury iI falsely swearing to
| bond Tor $1,000 for the release of Clinton
X. Smith was to have been resumed before
| Judge Conlan yesterday afternoon. In the
| absence OF Judge Conlan at the new City
| Hall Judge Law ascended the bench, but
| declined to proceed with the case As both
| sides expressed anxiety for q speedy hear
| ing 1t is likely that the case will be reached
| this afternoon.
COMMISSIONERS WILL HAVE TO WAIT
| Auditor Bro1erick yesterday sent a letter to
| 5. e. Tucker. who recently wrote the Au-
| ditor protesting against the payment of the
| salaries of the officers and employees of the
| Sewerage Commission. According to Brod-
| erick's letter, which asks for argum, nts
from Tucker, Engineers Manson ana Grun-
| sky and those under them will have to wait
ten more days for their salaries.
| STANTON SENTENCED.-Edward Stanton
| of go Third street, who was convicted on a
| charge of battery upon Gus Lippe, ap-
| peared for sentence before Judge Conlan
| yesterday This was the case in which an
attempt had been made to square it, but
which failed through Lippe being locked
up in the City Prison for contempt Stanton
was fined $40. with the alternative of forty
| days in jail.