The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-02-20
SOUTH OF MARKET STREET.
Sidewalks i'm a Bad State-Cellars
Overlooked by Sewers.

The storm OF yesterday did no large damage
in the region south Of Market street. The
usual overflow occurred at Folsom and Four
teenth streets. delaying the San Francisco and
San Mate0 electric cars for some tlme and a
few more bOulders and tons of dirt slid down
from the sides OF the Kentucky street cut onto
the walk. The fssure under the forward part
of the house on the hill in the same district
widened foot or more. But that amounted TO
nothing. 1t increased the danger that already
threatened the lives of the inhabitants, but
neither The landlord nor the Street Department
was soleitous about il, said Tie parties con-
cerned- AT Twenty-siXth and Church streets
the sewer cayed in and left slight hole In The
street.
The interesting phase of yesterdays Storm
therefore, did not lay in the big landslides. or
sewer rupiu TeS, or falling houses, or Swamped
horses. 1t lay rather in the wrecked condition
OF some OF san FranciscU's streets, sidewalks
and public places. OF course, the lnsuflclency
OF the sewer system was again demonstrated
and made The ground for another story. III the
indications OF four squares could be taken as
basis on which 10 estimate, II would be Saie 10
say that at least 600 cellars were flooded by
OackwaterS from The sewers in the torty-e1ght
hour storm. On the corner OF Fourteenth ana
Mission streets TWO Easements were filled Win
over Il foot OF water I'D each. AT Fourteenth
and Folsom streets and along the block 10
Howard almost every cellar contained more or
less overflow Along Folsom street, where the
electric cars were delayed. the same state OF
stood since the storm of last mouth. aud some
tenants did not expect TO be able TO get rid OF
II until summer. What such u condition meant
in the way OF disease none seemed 10 care 10
contemplate.
Foot passengers along the plank walks were
distressed ali day wi h tile rotten and shahy
condition under foot. On the majority OF
streets where stone walks have not been laid
the planks are old and worn, the sleepers un-
derneath have decayed ana pools OF water COL
lectrd III their place. so that when one steps on
a board great splash OF muddy and cold
water is thrown up under his pantaloons OF
such sidewalks one becomes soaked TO the
skim and quite in a frame OF MIND TO say hard
Things against a municipal government that
Will suffer the walks 10 remain as they are.
The CALL reporter heard good many per
sous swear about It yesterday, and one person
actually suggested that d change could lie
made. Here is his theory:
There are lots OF men out of work In the city
and in the lumber camps. Let the city give 10
some of its unemployed labor at replacing the
old wooden sidewalks. That will create a de-
mand for at least some lumber, which IN turn
Will give labor TO men in the camps Also some
business will be enforced In nails and hammers
and several kinds of hardware. a bit OF COM
favOTably on the city finances. Against such a
scheme there can be no objection on the ground
that the city has no money"
The flooding OF cellars and such things are
evidently beginning 30 trTitate Tie MiSslOniteS
beyond the point of endurance. Some of them
yesterday, calling themselves 1.-THE committee"
ISSUED an announcement of a m3ss-meetng IN
Harmony Hall for Tonight To form an organl-
cation TO compel the city 10 fix the sewers.