The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-11-28
WITHOUT PAYING ANY RENT.
The Fire Department Caught in
Trap.
HEY WERE OvERCONFIDENT.
Used an Adjoining Wall, and Had to
Give Up Two Large Floors as
Compensation.

The Fire Commissioners played game
OF hide and seek with the Bowers Rubber
Company over a piece of property on
Sacramento street, near the corporation
yard, and have come out second best.
They calculated that stroke OF policy
on their part would result in large profit
to the treasury, and so Informed the Board
of Supervisors. In turn the city fathers
sought to enrich the depleted municipal
Golfers as suggested, but find themselves
badly caught in a losing game.
An offer was submitted to them whereby
the city could have free use of fire
engine-house for twenty years by per
hitting the Bowers COMPANY 20 build
handsome tnree-stOTy brick structure on
city land under lease, and at the expira-
tion of twenty years the building would
revert to the city. Meanwhile the two
upper stories were TO be occupied by the
rubber company for storage purposes.
The proposition was refused and an eff 1T
to get rent out of the proposed building
from its builders. was made. This, how
ever, ala not meet the approval Of the mer-
camille firm, and SO negotiations ended.
Without losing any time the Fire De-
partment erected three-story frame
building on the lot. II is cheap affair,
with blind story and absolutely devoid
OF archite ctural pretensions.
The wise men in municipal Office
thought they fOTesaw considerable profit
and indeed cunning in their action. They
reasoned that the upper floors would have
10 be taken anyhow by the company, who
appeared so anxious to have them for stoT-
lug hose and other rubber goods In their
haste they forgot to put wall on the east
side adjoining the brick building occupied
by the rubber concern. IL was enough TO
have a substantial flTewall to lean against,
so they imagined.
The Fire Department building was I'm
ished this week, and then there was an
area OF 2jXl25 feet on two floors to rent. A
proposal was made to the Bowers COM
pany, who found it was their turn TO re-
jeCt
you cannot have the use of our firewalI
without paying for it" was their reply.
land if you wish to avoid annoyance you
must give US the two floors in lieu of COM
pensatlOn."
The TWO boards were dumfounded.
Alter putting UP a building it would not
pay to tear down the structure, and be-
sides the ground floor was needed urgently
for engines. No compromise could be
made. Either the building should come
down. or the two floors be forfeited. After
mature deli berat0n the latter plan was
decided upon 10 favor of the company.
And now there are two large lofts of a
city building given up to storage OF meT-
chandise fire. of rent for the privilege OF
using a neighbor's wall.
The frame building is inside the fire
limits, where private individuals are pro-
hibited from erecting any kind OF struc-
tuTe not strictly fTepr0Of. In this in
stance The Fire Department has set an
extraordinary example as we'll as allowing
itself to be caught in a ridiculous trap
On the east and north sides are the brick
walls of the rubber factory, with fl msy
lumber barn thrown up against them-s
significant contrast and n queer spectacle
of how fire ordinances ara observed. HaC
the original offer been accepted a hand
some red brick building would Ds il it,
stead without a dollar cost to the city, Il
which it would revert in twenty years.
Inc merchants in the block are laughing
over the singular transaction.