The morning call., 1893-04-20
OVER IN OAKLAND.
Lake Merritt Boulevard
Not a Success.
A STAGE-CARPENTER'S FALL
Sewer System for ftaywards- Old
Man Jee damages His Property.
Alameda Officials Bonds.

A VANISHING BoULEvARD.-When the
proposition to build n boulevard at Lake
Merritt was before the people to be voted
on there was an overwhelming opposition
TO the scheme, as it then existed. one point
raised being that it would be a hopeless
task TO attempt to establish proper founda-
ton by dumping earth and broken rock into
the lake along the shore line. In support of
this claim it was urged that the only effect
OF dumping rock and earth into the soft mud
around the shore line would be to force up
Islands of mud in the center of the lake.
The b6ulevarders, however, attempted to
pooh-pooh this argument, and seemed to
have no difficulty in obtaining favorable
opinions from more or less competent en-
gineers. The boulevard proposition was
beaten at the polls. but the boulevarders,
nothing daunted, set aside the will
Of the people by causing the then
money for boulevard. and set the contrac-
tors sat work. This work has been in prog
ress Tor several weeks. and now, despite
the arguments of the boulevard schemers
and their engineers, the former assertion
has been proven correct, one section of an
earth dam, which was estimated to require
but 1000 yards of filling, having already alb
sorbed nearly three times that amount, with
the result that 1t is still m0desty retiring
from view, while an island of mud, abouta
quarter OF an acre i'll area, has risen in the
lake just north of the filling. The trouble
does not end here. even, for this dam is in
tended to retain the mud thrown behind it
by the dredger, and il it sinks and refuses
to serve the purpose of retaining wall the
taxpayers may find that their money is
being expended for the dredging of mud
from one portion of the lake, only to see it
run back into the lake at another point.
For THE WATER FRoNT--There was a
meeting of the Board OF Trade and others
Yesterday afternoon TO select delegates to
the Trans-M Mississippi Congress, which is to
assemble at Ogden, Utah. next Monday.
Edison +. Adams, chairman of the citizens
committee, presided. The object of send
Ing delegates is to advocate an appropria-
ton Tor the improvement OF the water
'front.' resolution was adopted asking
Mayor Pardee. S. G. Hilborn and w. B.
English to 90 as delegates. A committee
of three was appointed to wait on these
gentlemen to try TO induce them to attend
and to get others to attend.
MORE WATER.-The City Council has
authorized the employment of thirty add
tional Street-sprinkllng carts. and these will
be- take out about the 30th prOX. There are
now less than half dozen carts trying to
keep down the dust. The Haywards street.
car line has begun running water carts 10
the rear nf the last cars at night in the
effort to keep down the clouds of dust that
have given SO much annoyance since the
rains ceased.
REALISTIC ACTING. - Mark Ellsworth.
stage carpenter of the Park Theater, Is at
the Galindo Hotel suffering from serious
internal injuries caused by falling upon
the sharp corners of table while taking
part in play at the theater Tuesday night.
IL was part Of his business to Jump down
an apparent embankment, and in dong so
he misGaleulated his distance and struck the
table, falling TO the floor lnSensible.
EX-MAYOR CHAPMAN BACK-Ex- Mayor
Melvin Chapman has been absent from
Oakland since the time DIR. Pardee sue
ceeded him. He went with his wife 10 Los
Angeles and returned yesterday. A part of
the time was spent on his ranch at Montal-
We, ventura County. It was the first vaca-
ton Mr. Chapman had taken since entering
upon his term Of Office. He will devote his
attention to the practice of law.
ESTATE OF THE JEEs. = The estate of
Mrs. Lucy Jee. deceased, wife OF Arthur w.
Jee, has been appraised at $3.50. 1t consists
of a lot in North Oakland. Jee, who was
lately declared an Incompetent because of
old age. is improving and IS now giving
personal direction as to his estate of $1,000
He is able to be out in the fine weather, but
is still looked after by Judge Catlin of Sac
ramento, his guardian.
A SEWER SYsTEM.-The town of Uav-
wards was recently reincOrporated so that
an elaborate sewer system could be estab-
lished. County Surveyor Nusbaumer has
submitted plans for a system, which the
Trustees are now considering. The drain
age Is to be into the bay OF San Francisco
and the total cost. for which bonds will be
issued, will be about $4,000
THROWN FROM a BUGGY-James Fisher,
the coal merchant, and his stepdaughter,
Miss Mcfarland, were thrown from a
buggy in runaway at Fifth and Clay
streets yesterday afternoon. Mr. Fishers
leg fractured and the
was seriously hurt about the head. Both
were taken to the Receiving Hospital
THE SLIcER EsTATE.-1he appraise-
ment OF the estate of the late Hugh Slicer
was fled yesterday. The actual value is
S1195 $50 IL. which is considerably less than
the estimates that have been given. There
are several heirs and contest was begun
in the courts. but their interests have been
compromised.
A NEW OFFICE. - Robert Schulz has
asked the Board of Public Works to create
the new office OF public park keeper He
offers to take care of the eight parks of the
city at S45 per month per park. His petit
ton Is signed by Frederick Delger, w. j.
Dingee, +. w. Henshaw and numerous
others.
A. V. GREENE's PRoPERrY.-The estate
OF A. v Greene, the San Francisco insur-
ance man who committed suicide at the
Galindo Hotel last fall, has been appraised
at S11,042. 1t all goes to the two minor
children.
COUNTING THE CHILDREN.-Th school
census of Oakland is now being taken by
six eDumerators appointed by the Board of
Education 1t is expected that the work
will be completed next week
CHARITY FOR FABIoLA.-A check for
$1,000 has been sent tn the ladies of Fabiola
Hospital by General r. w. Krkham for the
endowment of a ward for ST. Johns Eplsco-
pal Church.
TAXES DUE.-The second installment of
city taxes Will fall delinquent next Monday.
The amount received yesterday was S10,-
49l II. Theie is yet SG5 coo due.