The morning call., 1893-05-18
A CHEAP CHANCE.
How the City Fathers
May Gain Glory.
FIX THE MISSION NUMBERS.
1t Will Only Require a Little Vigor-
Gus Action and a Large Section
Will Be Gratified.

There is unique chance now open for
the mucb-criticized Street Committee 10
add magnificent item to its record with
out the expenditure ofsa cent
All the committee has TO do is to approve
an order at its next meeting Uo-morrow)
for Strengthening out the tangled house
numbers at the Mission.
The streets whereon the mixed-up num-
bers stand "anyhow" are those running
east and west, south of Thirteenth 10
Army street. They run from the bay west
and the natural method of numbering
would seem to be to commence at the bay
and number right along block by block,
as usual.
But as matter of fact the streets at their
commen cement at the bay are called Napa.
Yolo, Nevada, ETC., and after they get
along little way change their names to
Thirteenth, Fourteenth. Fifteenth, etc.
This is one cause of the confusion.
Another cause is that in some cases tile
mum beripg commences at the eastern end
ard in others at the western end. Yet
another cause is the numbering of trac-
tions of blocks as whole blocks. The re-
suit is wild carnival of figures, which
dance dersively before the eyes Of any per-
son desperate enough to try,to solve their
plan.
That is just it-they have no plea-and
that is just what the Street Committee can
remedy.
There are two courses open to the Street
Committee according to precedent-either
to wrap up the matter in manufactured
difficulties and then drop it. or else pass
the necessary order laying down SYSTEM
attic change of numbers in the district
bounded by Castro, Thirteenth, Potrero
avenue and California avenue. The Su-
pervisors may say that general order No.
1897 gives the matter into the charge of
the Superni endent of Streets.
But yesterday Street Superintendent
AcKerson repudiated any responsibility
for the confusion in the numbering in the
Mission. If any individual complained
one special deputy. kept solely for that
purpose, was sent out to rectlfy 1t. In the
absence of individual complaints he had
n o official cogniZance of any irregularity in
the numbering.
Il would be pleased to rectify this ont
rageous state of things in the Mission"
power. The people of that district would
remember the work favorably. and it
would be a feather in tile cap of the
present municipal administration.
But as matter of fact it is out of my
power. Iwould require ten more deputies
To carry ont the work. L have sixteen
deputies and they have more work than
they can do. With ten more men could
do something; the Supervisors cannot ap-
ioint them. however. 1t requires an act
Of he Legislature"
But there is no occasion for the appoint
ment of ten more deputies or to wait
until the Legislature can get time 10
assemble TO that end. On Monday night
the matter was referred by the Board Of
Supervisors TO the Street Committee, and
the Street Committee cln, with vigorous
action, assume the honorS on Thursday.
Sotl l.
is 10 need for more street deputies or for
the expenditure of single cent by the
Board Of Supervisors. The people will be
glad to have the work done, and. if need
be. will do it thems selves-it would not cost
more than % cents in each case. All they
want is plan.
Let the Street Committee take the
street map and make an order authorizing
and enjoining the proposed changes and
the thing is done. Private contractors
i. e., painters-will Immediately snap at
the opportunity; many people will do
:heir own painting. and, hey prestoi the
Mission will be orderly once more, or.
rather, as 1t has never been. Painters
would get % cents number; that is S25
in block. and two men could do block
both sides of the street-in two days
That is good enough pay.
THE Street Superintendent has one
deputy Kept for this work of numbering
and he could be detailed to superntrnd
the work II necessary. But let the Street
Committee authorize the change; that is
all hat is necessary"
There is growing feeling in the Mis-
sion that the residents have not been
rightly treated in this matter of number
ing.
Many property-holders were seen yes
terday and said that they had applied for
relief again and again. without effect. 1t
was general need, but the Supervisors
would not even trV To helm them
The Postoffce had tried again and again
with the same result. No appropriation,
no appOlntees, no commission was wanted
The Missionites simply ask that system
attic plan for their section be formulated
and they felt that this was peculiarly the
care of the City Fathers. The existing
law OH the subject is very clear, as is alsn
the support it affords the Street Superin.
tendent to enforce all its provisions
Under the general order No. 1887 of the
Board oil Supervisors, relating 10 the num-
hering OF buildings" section reads as fol-
lows:
one hundred numbers or as many thereof as
may De necessary shall b.. allotted 10 each
pIock nm bounded by principal streets, numbers
loo, Zoo and 800 being respectively the num-
bers Tor commencing the block distant onr
Two or three srrees from The starting point on
tie side designated for even numbers and
numbers iO1, POI and 3oI IN similar manner
Tor the opposite side Of the street throughout
ltS extent, 20 that he initial number placed on
thc number OF main sheets each strt Ell cross
Ing IS from the starting point
Other sections of the same order provide
Tor the size and position of the numbers
The Superintendent of Streets is given
authority to notify property y-owners Of any
violation OF the order regarding street
numbers. or, IF the owner cannot readily
be found, then the occupant OF The house
where tho violation occurs" If after three
days the cause of complaint is not removed,
then the Superintendent shall have en-
forced the penalty provided.
The particular penalty referred to Is
comprised In section l of the order ,and
reads as follows:
Any person who shall violate any of the pro-
visions oil this order shall be deemed guilty OF a
mlsdemeanor, and, upon conviction thereof
Shall be punished by fine not less than SIS nor
more than $50, or by imprisonment ~ the
County Jail not less than Two days nor more
than Ten days.
Backed up by these plain little sections
the Mission could be REMEMBERED through
out in a few weeks.
During the past month three men at
least were killed in the United States from