The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-01-31
The Only Sewer Engineer
to Remain.
THE COMMISSION ABOLISHED.
Supervisors Take an Economical Turn.
Sutro Explains the Saltwater
Controversy.

pOintment Of two additional watchmen and
a janitor for the new City Hall and
farmer fer county reformatory. Having
disposed Of this matter he introduced the
following resolution:
Resolred. That the services Of the Sewerage
Commission. consisting OF George 4. Mendel
Professor George Davidson, living NJ Scott
Marsden Manson and {. +. GTunsky appointed
by Tie last Board OF Supervisors, be dispensed
with after the II day Of February.
ResoIUed. That Tie work OF said commission
be continued under the supervision of Marsden
Manson and such assistants as may be required
under the control and direction Of the Committee
on Streets and The Clty and County Surveyor
ResolUed That tile salary of SAID engineer be
Fixed al $3.50 month, commencing February /.
1898.
Without comment or explanation the res
olu,ion was adopted by the appended vote ::
Ayes-Goodwin. Rogers. Montgomery, Ken
nedy, Forman, Ryan, James and Denman 4;
noeS-Reis, Day and Hunter; excused
Heyer.
After the meeting Mayor Ebert said he
was not at all pleased with the removal Of
the Sewerage Commission just at the time
when its work was becoming most impOr-
tant, but further than that be declined to
expTess his views.
From other sources It was learned that
the board took the action at the request of
the local Democracy. Before he was
elected City and County Surveyor Mr.. Fitz-
hugh paid q liberal assessment for campaign
expenses. expecting to be remunerated by
the fees Of his Office.
But nearly all the fat fees were cut of BY
the work of he Sewerage Commission. and
be had TO pay his assistants out Of his own
pocket So he appealed to the local Dem
0cTaCy for 2 way out Of the dilemma, and
the action Of the Board of Supervisors last
night was the result, but the true object Of
the resolution was concealed under plea
of economy.
Before the resolution came uD. however.
the routine affairs we're disposed Of.
The resolution was introduced by Chair
man Ryan Of the Building Committee pro-
yldlng Tor the appOln tmsnt Of two addi-
tiOnal watehmen for the new City Hall.
Mr.. Denman made & vigorous protest
against the useless expense when there was
8 deficiency of nearly SSOOO0O. he de-
mauded that the Supervisors keep 70 their
pledge Of economy and not sQuandeT the
city'S funds in salaries for useless employees.
The resolution was then passed to vote
and defeated.
Mr. Denmau again protested, when an at
tempt WAS made 10 appoint an additional
janit0T. A. Stather wanted the job, but a
majority voted against 1t
resolution to appoint a farmer for the
House Of Correction was also defeated
There promises to be a slight delay in
carrying out the latest stTeet-eXtensiOn job,
as the adoption cf the subI0ined resolution
would so Indicate:
WHEREAS. A petition was fled in the Office OF
the CLERK by property owners, through their a /
torHey Alfred Clarke, under date Of January ID,
1898. requesting hearing before the board 10
tile matter Of the extension OF Nineteenth.
Twentieth. IEenty-frst Twenly-secOnd and
TWenty-third streets; Also request that this
board decline 10 approve any proceedings 10 con
denim lands 10 be taken for the extension Of said
streets; therefore,
Resolred. That the subject-matte of tie said
petition ana resolution be ana are hereby re-
n ffs am a for "a
opinion as to-: Whether under section Is OF The
street Jaw OF 1889, in the event that the owners
OF he property propose 10 be taken 10 extend.
etc, tie said streets refuse the COMPENSATION
awarded therefor. can the Board CT Supervisors
refuse 10 allow the commissioners 10 lOce TO
scQuife The property under the Jaw OF eminent
domain, aud. Il 10 The power OF the board what
would be The effect as 10 The proceedings II tile
owners OF The property refuse 10 accept the COM
penSatiOn awarded BY the commissioners and BY
the Board OF SuperYisoTs2
The Health and Police Committee re-
ported that the order relating 10 offensive
trades. occupations and nuisances had been
amended so that the words "at any hours"
had been changed TO read between - p NJ
and A. n" The report was also il favor
OF declaring vacant the position OF guard
at the House of Correction, TO which A.
Statber was recently appointed. and in
favor OF giving the place to Hugh Higgins,
who has been retained IN that caPacity by
the superintendent. The committee rec
ammended the appointment by its chairman
of p farmer at the House Of Correction, at
salary of $50 a month; that the cOmmuni-
cation from Il. ". Murphy, calling aitsn-
ton to the necessity and Importance of
establishing Changing in the city as a
means Of esSenng crime and reducing
taxes" be placed on file.
Subsequently the recommendations in the
report were carried out by resolutions. ex-
&c that relating 10 farmer for the House
Of Correction.
The Spring Valley Water Company sent
in a protest against the repeal of the order
temporarily closing streets on Reservoir
Hill near the MaTket-street cut. An attor-
ney, NJ. B. Kellogg, also appeared and ex-
planned that the water company needed the
reservoir at the Market-stTret cut IN case Of
emergency. such as big FIRE or q break in
the mains from other reservoirs.
When the order TO reopen the streets
where tie reservoir is situated came up for
final passage it was referred back to the
Street Committee.
A communication from Adolph Sutro,
protesting against the confirmation of the
site selected By the olympic Club for salt
water pumping orks, was referred 10 the
Street Committee. After telling why lie
opposed the erection If pumping works
on the bluffs just below Sutro Heights MIR.
Sutro says: Il have been charged with sell
f,h motives In trying to sell reservoir
site at an eXtrayagant price. Your hon
orabls board and ths public have been mis-
led by the often-Tepeated statement that
these parties could not obtain a reservoir
site from me at reasonable rate. Now, q
pumping station and reservoir site are
two different things. They are distinct and
separate ard also independent of each
other. II / ask more for a reservoir site
than it is worth they could have bought one
elsewhere, for there are plenty OF them fol
sale by parties who own land situated at
higb elevation east Of the beach. Such a
site has nothing to do with a pumping sta
ton, which must necessarily be situated
near the ocean.
"As far as the introduction OF salt water
10 the city Of San Francisco is concerned.
am not opposed to it. but on the contrary
in favor Of It. Its supply to the Olympic
Club and It's Introduction into private
houses will be highly beneficial and viii
engender the habit of saltwater bathing
among all the people OF San Francisco
which will largely increase the number o.
visitors to the swimming baths. which
shall throw open to the public before long
while L 90 not propose TO furnish TO thu
Salt Water Company Ia speculative money
making concerD) pumping site free o.
charge, | will furnish them enc much bette
adapted than the one they have selected a
reasonable cost, but If the Olympic Clul
(which | consider an institution much cal
culated TO improve the health and physiqul
Of our younger generatiOD1 desires a pump
ing station for salt water for their own us
and benefit, and all the profits derived
from the sale of salt water to g
to the said club. / would ask you
honorable board TO grant such franchis
TO a set of gentlemen who Will agree to tuTl
over all the net earnings to said club
hereby agree and bind myself 10 deed Z
them a suitable saltwater pumping sta
tion, free Of any cost whatever. and to con
struct convenient road through my prop
erty to reach the same"
From the Supervisors OF Los Angelo
County came a letter informing the boar
that il has prepared bill to remodel tn
new road law, which has been found Of d
use in Southern California. The letter wa
referred to the Street Committee for futur
consideration.
Mrs. May B. Treat notified the board ths