The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-03-05
NOT MORE THAN HALF DONE.
City Assessor to Fix Values OF
Property.
A NEEDED ORDINANCE PASSED.
Debate Between the Boys and
Girls of the High School Ar.
raDged-Otfler Items.

OAKLAND.-An inspection of the work
thus far done by the unemployed on the
shore of Lake Merritt has been made by
some of the Councilmen and the City En-
gineer. While the work shows much &C
complished. it has been found that the
work the council had in view has not been
more than half completed.
About 700 feet OF the bank in front of
the Newton property has been cut down.
and il places where the bank was not very
high tile road has been well finished up,
while in places where the bank is highest
sufficient width has not been given the
roadway, nor has the bank been cut back
at sufficient angle to prevent caving, as
was specifically agreed upon when the
council entered into negotiations with Mr..
New ton.
The roadway as it stands is loose and
soft. and some time must elapse before it
is sufficiently packed for use for driving.
1t was the idea of the City Engineer that
a rock wall along the lake shore, behind
which the dirt could be thrown, would
work demonstrates that he was right.
The dirt along the waters edge was
thrown in maDy places into the water, and
il has made mudDankS that will have TO
be cTedged out sooner or later.
The engineers idea of a stone wall was
brosched. but the question of funds was
the main idea with the Council at the
time the work was given out. When il is
learned by the Council that funds can be
had for the purpose this stone wall will no
doubt be pat in.
An inspection was also made by the
Council of the ten or fifteen acres of marsh
land at the head of the lake on which,
when filed in. it is contemplated making
public park. This piece of marsh land is
claimed by private parties, but il Is
thought that the title under which they
claim il is not good, and that it can be con-
clusively shown that the land belongs TO
the city as part of the bed of the lake.
There is to be a meeting of the Council
tonight, but whether the matter of lake
Improvements will be taken up is not
known. But one thing is certain-the
city will shortly have TO invest some more
money on the lske-shOre road 10 save the
money just put in.
The Sexes to Debate.
For years past the two senior classes in
the High School have been at swords
points. Indeed, they never could agree on
any proposition because of the rivalry ex-
isting between them. and in settling their
differences the boys often met in Iushes
that settled nothing and invariably re-
suited in bruises, black eyes and hard
feelings.
Principal McChesnev determined to put
an end to these street fights ana proposed
football and baseball teams in each OF the
classes with the added Injunction that
further rushing meant expulsion.
This puta QuietuS on the rushing tactics
of the classes. but the girls of the classes
realized that they were no better off than
before. 1t they could not rush and fight,
neither could they indulge in the games of
foo ball and baseball.
This year, however, sees a change. The
boys will undertake something In which
the girls can compete. They have agreed
TO debate, and on March is the series will
open. Miss Palmer of the high seniors
was chosen by vote for leadership in the
debate, but at a caucus of the girls held
afterward it was decided to forego this
honor to their sister, and another vote was
taken which resulted in the selection of
Mr.. Bell as the leader. The following
resolution was then passed:
Resolved, That the ancient civilization
was superior TO the civilization of the pres
ent day.
The above will be the subject of debate,
and Messrs. Bell and Thayer and Miss
Palmer will represent the affirmative side
of the question. Three OF the teachers
will act as judges.
The City Assessment.
The Oakland City Council, with per-
slstence and patience, Saturday night
waited TWO and half hours until seventh
councilman had been rounded up and
brought in 10 make up quorum, and then
took fin al action on the matter of the city
assessment roll. They passed the ordi-
nance that authorizes and directs the City
Assessor to procure the valuation OF prop
erty within the limits of the. city, as fixed
by the County Assessor, for the year 1894
In using the County Assessors assess
ment roll the city acts under a provision
of the Political Code. The County AS
SCISSOR is obliged by the charter to furnish
the transcript from his roll for a Temuner-
manded on or before the first Monday in
March. After that date the city would be
at the County Assessors mercy, who
could charge whatever price he chose.
In view of this it was imperative that the
council take action last night. The fol-
lowing cOuncimen voted in favor OF the
ordinance: Dalton, Dow, Smell, BarstOw.
Capell, TOwle and Marshall.
The Council
The City Council will have a rest TO-
night from further discussion of the water
rate reduction. The ordinance will moi
nave been in print the required ten days
until the day after tomorrow.
1t is understood that the Council will
make no move toward approrriating
further moneys to the relief of the unem-
ployed until il is seen what public sub.
scTiptiOn can accomplish.
The Manuel plan of draining mud from
Lake Merritt to the West Oakland marshes
will have to lay over few months because
of the lack OF funds to prosecute the enter.
prise. This much was decided Saturday
night.
BERKELEY.