The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-03-09
THIRD STREETS
BAD CONDITION.
RESIDENTS AND BUSINESS PEOPLE
DESIRE THE ABATEMENT OF
THE EVILS.
THEY ALL THANK THE CALL.
OPINIONS OF THE CITIZENS WHO
HAVE A RIGHT TO DEMAND
"A CHANGE.

The exposure of the condition of Third |
street in Thursdays CALL struck a re-
sponsive chord in the breasts of jewellers |
on that thoroughfare between Mission and |
Bryant streets.
That the agitation has done some good !
to the people of that district of the city is
evident from the fact that all the piles of
dirt along the railway track were removed
Wednesday night within a few hours
after the publication of the facts.
The people themselves are enthusiastic
in unfolding the crusade for improvement,
and freely express themselves where they
are not bound down by fear of the land
lords.
That the street itself is in disgraceful
condition is proved by observation. Even
the horses attached to delivery wagons re-
fuse to remain upon the uneven pavement
while left standing along the curbing. In
variably they turn and rest their feet upon
the worn wooden sidewalks, while the
| vehicles to which they are attached rest on
hillocks or in rutS.
1t must be remembered that Third street
is travelled more than any other thorough
| fare in San Francisco, excepting portions
of Market street. In preparing the street
! for the electricians the tracks had to be
! reconstructed. Immediately following the
| reconstruction of the road the company
| began filling in the chinks with finely
| broken rock, to be crushed by the heavy
| teams continually passing to and fro.
One of the principal complaints OF the
| teamsters who use the street is that they
can seldom turn from the track without
| going into rut, striking with such force
as to damage the wagon and iniure the
horses.
street, who has wood and coal business,
says:
Third street is in fearful condition. I
drive on it every day and know what 1 am
talking about. l am glad to see the CALL ex-
pose the condition OF that street, for it is
detriment to the city. Last summer 1 broke
an axle on my wagon while turning out to al
low car to pass, and l have known many
other cases of the same kind, caused through
| the bad condition of the thoroughfare. Ere
| quently a teamster is compelled to take a team
from his wagon or truck and help some other
man whose wagon has gone against one OF
those hillockS and cannot be moved by the one
team alone. The streets are the same as they
were when my wagon was broken, and say IL
is q shame that Third street should be lett in
such condition.
On the same subject E. Fox of Gerlach
& Fox said:
The fine rock which the railroad company
has been putting on the street is ground up
and makes dirt which ruins everything in
the house. The rails which have been put down
are of such character that it is hard for the
teamsters TO turn out. Now, just look at that
u.
for the electricians, and in doing so run their
horses into the ruts To make a long story
short, have a kick coming on the condition OF
! Third street, because we do considerable horse
, shoeing, and guarantee shoes to stay on for a
month. Do they do it on Third street? Well,
| should say not. Between the rails OF the
electric road and the bad condition of the street
l we kept busy putting on shoes which
! should usually be good for six weeks ! am
glad to see the CALL taking this matter up, for
Third street as it is at present is certainly q
) disgrace to the city.
No. 511 Third street is two-story frame
building worn and weather-beaten. The
occupant said:
! think the Superintendent of Streets should
look after this matter. AS far as the rents be-
! ing affected by the condition of the streets
can't say. l pay $16 for this store and guess
it is about the same as any similar place on the
street 1t used to rent Tor $1S though If
said anything about the sidewalks or streets
would offend the landlord, so on'tsay any
= thing.
is what the landlord would come around here
! and tell me if | complained.
/ One of the teamsters employed by f. B
Belcher said:
i We all use Third street because it has square
D blocks which are worn smooth and a double
:, track. But say, where We have to turn out il
Just rips - out OF the team and truck 1t is &
: shame that the street should be left the way il
u is The city ought to fix it and fix it at once.
i R, T. Bennett, who has carpenter-shoI
: at 443 Third street, was not at his place Of
business, but one of his men spoke for him
# He said:
q Mr.. Bennett is always complaining OF Third
street, and he has good reason for doing so
II He drives down here every day either in a cart
g or q buggy, and always complains OF a sore
v back from the jOlting. He was talking abou
!: this thing yesterday, and said it was abou
5 time one Of the papers took the matter up
T Every little town in England has better streets
II than San Francisco, and 1T is a shame that sucf
T a street MS Third should be neglected the we!
e it is We moved down here about year age
y on account of the rent, but of course can't Sa,
q whether the rent is higher or lower than /
% ought to be.
IS Joseph NJ. Lyons, who drives wagon To-
;. the Pacific Packing house, said:
l. have been along Third street for the pas
l. five years. 1 do not believe the street has eve
been in the condition it is at the present time
There should be an investigation OF some of tn
work done for the city.
:. William Kelley, a grocer at 337 ThirC
street. is highly indignant over the con
dition of the street. He said
pay my taxes and am entitled to deeen
roadway upon which to travel. Just look a
!, that rut two feet wide and six inches deep
can't even have my delivery-wagon in iron
of my own place account of the condition o
7 the street; | have complained, but what goo
L does it do? The CALL is doing a good thing
and hope it win keep it up until we get wha
we deserve.
Joseph Doyle, who is employed between
Howard and Folsom streets, on Third
said:
T worked on Market street for long time
and thought the streets were dirty, but
struck it hard enough down here to suit an
one. 1t makes double work to get the dirt GU
of the ruts, and l hope the streets will be IT
paired
ct George Mikens, grocer, 600 Third street
tie said:
Y, Nearly all the residences and lodging place
along the street are vacant, as you can see, o
account of the filthy condition OF the stree
J. Next door a few years ago there was littl
s. home with pretty garden which rented fc
70 $50 month. A man who bought II put up
~ cheap shanty, which is occupied by the Oh
g nese laundry, and..rents for but $35. Tn
lie want of public spirit in the property-ownel
a here, and the way the neighborhood has bee
~ treated by the Street Department has drive
is all the better class of people away.
y Henry Sturken of Sturken & Holling
le grocers, corner Third and Brannan, said
. The property-owners could do great deal
good il they would get together and act in col
le cert. What is most necessary now is for til
ut city to put the streets in decent condition
of Until that is done the property-owners eennC
ID be expected TO do much. Ii we had decor
4 street it would be great inducement to all th
~ owners to improve the sidewalks and put u
Ao%r A,.;1 1sY1rr1