The morning call., 1893-04-15
ABOUT THE GRADE.
The Market-Street Cut
Once More.
No Signs of a Settlement of the Con.
troversy-A Big Delegation
and Lots of Talk.

The commlttee-rooms of the Board OF Su-
pervisors proved Ii ardly adequate to contain
the number of local residents ana tax
payers who wished to be heard by the
Street Committee for and against the change
OF grade on Market street, between Valen-
cia and Castro.
Although the topic has been discussed till
it would seem that nothing new could be
advanced by the most enthusiastic scru-
tinizer of vested rights there were certainly
thirty or forty gentlemen who had come 10
be heard, and mos; Of whom succeeded in
getting hearing of some sort. There
were others lying in wait for the committee
men in the anteroom, and still others in the
corridor and on the stairw avs. The COM
mittemen sat with an air of placid resigna-
tion like martyrs waiting for some ono to
suggest a memorial for them before they
should be talked TO death.
There were taxpayers from Lagun
street. and Buchanan. and Octayia, besides
the Narket-street contingent All of them
wanted to say just few words, and most of
them were fortified with arguments for half
an hour, not to speak of statistics.
One speaker complained bitterly of the
property-owners on small knoll interfer-
ing with great public measure as being at
variance with good government.
vi two succeeding speakers one de-
nounced the proposed change of grade as
an absolute il justice and another described
1t as an absolute necessity.
The committee decided that the petition
for change of grade would have to be modl-
fed and presented to the auditing board ac-
cording to the amended street law.
Supervisor Ryan. who presided, IntI-
mated that the whole city and county Of
San francisco was affected by The proposed
change of grade, which drew remark from
n gentleman present that $4,000, 600 were
affected by it anyhow.
1t was suggested that local residents
should meet and agree about the grade
Even II 1t took three months it would save
much time and litigation.
}. j. Haley. representing the Market
street Cable Railroad Company, laughed at
the talk Of grading the hill. My horses
don't have TO get out and walk up" said
he. ut is all nonsense to talk about that
being heavy street."
'Will they trot up it?" said a voice. and
the first and only laugh Of the session was
provoked when another wag cried out,
"Yes, and haul coal and lumber"
Haley went on 10 say that he knew many
taxpayers would be damaged by the change
of grade, but the city would be benefited.
The city has power TO make the change, but
II Will be responsible for any injury caused.
The real pegsons who should be called on
TO pay for the job are the pTOperty-Owner
whose premises front on that part OF Market
street, for the value OF their property will
De Increased lO per cent.
Supervisor Denman-You gentlemen un-
derstand your own business. You've got
lawyers. You can go to your lawyers and
find cut tho parties interested and settle on
what you thiHk is right. Then you can get
up supplementary petition, and the sooner
the better.
Clerk Russell then read the supple
mentary petition. providing that no change
Of grade shall be ordered except on petition
OF majority of the property-owners
affected.
j. II. Bartlett-You'll never change the
grade with that law.
The petitioners and objeciOrs then left
and resumed the debate al infnitum on the
stairway