The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-02-02
WANTED BUT ONE.
The Supervisors Prejudiced
Against Commissions.
Engineer Manson Declines Divided
Responsibilities and Duties Sug-
gestions Regarding Grades.

The Street Committee of the Board of
Supervisors held a special meeting yester-
day afternoon TO discuss the sewerage ques-
ton and other matters in connection
with it,
At the request of Supervisor Dsnman.
Engineer MarsdeD Manson gave an account
in detail OF the organization of the Board Of
Engineers to devise sewerage system for
the city. The first step taken. Mr.. Manson
said, was to ascertain the condition CT the
sewers Of the city. the mileage thereof and
what repairs were necessary. A system Of
sewer inspection was inaugurated under
Mr.. Mauson's personal direction. Where
ever breaks occurred they we're Immediately
examined. About 1l5 breaks in all were
found. In all 10 miles of sewers had thus
far been examined. A contour line map
had been secured from the War Department.
which had been used as the basis for the
map being prepared by the commission.
Mr.. Manson closed by asking that his future
position be defined In connection with the
sewerage work.
In reply to Chairman Day, Mr.. Manson
said he would require that the present field
and Office force be retained in the event Of
his remaining in charged the work. Within
in good shape and turn it over 10 any party
designated 10 proceed with the same he
had a great deal Of crude data accumulated
and be desired instructions what course he
should pursue with regard 10 IL.
Mr.. Manson said that he did not desire 10
accept the work under the resolution as
passed The order was too indefinite. Ii
divided the responsibility aud the duties,
AMI such division in the past had been the
cause OF a great deal OF defective sewer
work 10 this city.
Another objection was that the cOmpensa-
tion was a little too low. He expected at
least $4,000 q year. he had received $3.50
month salary from the HarboT Board, but
during his connection with that service lie
lad the opportunity 10 perform other pro-
fessioual work. He would not care 10
divide with others the responsibility Of the
sewerage Work.
IN reply 10 Surveyor FitZhugb. Mr.. Man
son said it would take about seven or eight
months to finish the preliminary work in
hand He was also asked by the Surveyor
what were the problems to be solved upon
the completion Of gathering Of the data.
MI Manson answered that after ascer
taining the amount OF rainfall and the
amount Of sew eTage collected upon certain
areas the question TO be decided was how 10
carry them of and properly dispose OF the
same.
Mr.. Filzhugh said he could see no reason
why Mr.. Manson should object TO working
with him IN devlsing q sewer system. lie
had as strong ideas on the question as had
Mr.. Manson.
Supervisor Denman said he had a deep
seated prejudice against all commissions.
The Board Of Supervisors had simply
abolished the commission and provided That
the work should be done under the diTec-
ton of one man. There was no disposition
TO discontinue the work. They thought Mr..
Manson was perfectly competent to proceed
with ii alone.
Surveyor Fitzhugh contended that he was
equally competent with MI. Manson to
proceed with all the details
Mr.. Denmen asked Mr.. Manson whether
he was not willing to carry forward the
work under the direction Of the Street
Committee. Mr.. Manson said he was. pro-
vided the responsibility for the engineering
details was left 10 him and the arrange
ments for the future were Of more definite
character than they had been.
At this stage the committee, at the sug-
gest0n Of Mr.. Denman, requested the re-
D0rters to withdraw, whereupon the remain
der Of its deliberations were carried on IN
secrecy. When the committee rose it was
announced that no agreement had been
reached, nor would be until the committee
had another conference with Mr.. Manson.
Later in the day the Board Of Engineers
filed with Clerk Russell their final report,
which recommended the following changes:
Raise the grade at the intersection Of
Van Ness avenue and Chestnut street eight
feet.
Raise the grade at the intersection of
Van Ness avenue and Francisco street nine
feet.
Raise the grade at the crossing Of Frank
lin and Chestnut streets ten feet
Raise the grade at the crossing OF Frank
lin and Francisco streets two feet.
Raise the grade at the crossing OF Cough
and Chestnut streets eight feet.
Raise tho grade at the crossing OF Cough
and Francisco streets three feet.
Raise the grade at the crossing OF Octavia
and Chestnut streets six feet.
Raise the grade at the crossing OF Octavia
and Francisco streets eleven feet.
Raise the grade at the crossing of Laguna
and Chestnut streets six feet.
Raise the grade at the crossing Of Laguna
and Francisco streets eight feet.
The commission states that If these grades
are established the cost of grading LOb0s
square will be reduced, az the total excava-
ton will be reduced to $4,000 cubic yards.
Particular attention is called TO the neces-
sity of raising the grade at the intersection
OF Laguna aud Francisco streets 10 order
that the drainage along Laguna street, either
toward Bay or Lombard, may be made pos
sible.
In regard to the petition Of A. HAYWARD.
G. ID. Mclean and others for changes of
grade in the district bounded by Main. Sec
ond, Folsom and Bryant streets, the COM
mission reports that these changes will be
absolutely necessary in the future, owing
to the increasing commercial and manufac-
turing interests in that section. The com
mission be,ives the grades should be lighter
and recommends changes at the following
street crossings: Main and Harrison, Main
and Bryant. Beae and Harrison, Beale and
Bryant, Fremont and Harrison, Fremont
and Bryant, First and Harrison, First and
Bryant
A Seizure on the China.
Seareher w A. Sprague made a seizitra