The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-10-24
VETERANS TAKE ACTION.
OPPOSED TO THE PRACTICE OF
THROWING FRUIT REFUSE ON
THE SIDEWALKS.
PETITION FOR RELIEF FROM AN EVIL
WHICH CAUSED AN OLD SOL
DER TO BREAK HIS LEG.

The following letter, relating to the
practice of throwing refuse fruit matter on
the sidewalks, has been addressed to Mayor
Sutro by a committee OF George H. Thomas
Post of the Grand Army:
HALL OF GEORGE H. THOMAS POST No. 81
g. a: R., Saturday. Oct 49, 1895. I
,, TO Honorable 4dolph. Satro, Mayor Of San
leave 10 represent that they are committee
appointed by George H. Thomas Post No 3,
e. A. R., San Francisco, ar a regular meeting
held tuesday evening, october 10, 1895. in
structed to communicate with the proper
authorities OF San Francisco in regard to the
watehful care of the sidewalks and street.
crossings of the municipality, in one respect
That the formation OF the committee arose
IN this way: 1t was reported by the chairman
OF the Relief Committee that Comrade w. A.
Searles, q member OF George Il. Thomas Post
had recently stepped and slipped on some
grape skins which had been thrown on the
sidewalk on Grant avenue, causing the break
ing OF one of his legs. Subsequently it ap-
peared, in remarks to the post, and in CONVEX
sauons among comrades, that many other
members OF the post had OF late suffered from
falls and sprains attributable to q similar
cause.
Therefore, while not protesting to be "good
government" organization in any special local
sense-and certainly in no partisan manner or
degree-it seemed right and expedient that a
committee be named and deputized to invoke
the notice OF the proper authorities TO the COM
mon and perncous habit of throwing the
Feelings and skins and cores and seeds or
stones OF fruit upon the sidewalks of the City;
and to ask that the habit be checked, If not en-
tIely done away WITH by the vigilance and
the exercise OF the arresung power OF the
Police Department
1t is respectfully submitted that while our
citizens are often justly warned and punished
on account OF failure to strictly comply with
orders which require that they shall not in
trude upon the sidewalks with signs or avn
ings, that thew shall within brief given
time remove from the walks in front of their
premises any rubbish or debris in any manner
accommodating there, it is seldom if ever the
case that persons guilty OF throwing refuse
matter on the sidewalks as they pass along
which causes the slipping and falling and seri-
ously injuring OF other pedestrians-are appre-
hended and prosecuted.
In excuse-if need be-and in justification
of our appointment and appeal, we beg leave
to say that our society is com posed OF citizens
whose average age is over 80 years, and who
have, therefore, far more than the usual liza
bility 70 be the victims OF the careless viola
ton of the municipal law referred 10.
We concluded, in the discharge OF the duty
assigned 10 us, to address the honorable Mayor
of the City on the subject, believing that he
will at our request admonishingly call to this
com laint the attention of those who have
direct police supervision of the sidewalks and
street-crossings OF san Francisco, aud thus
secure the enforcement of the law found in the
first lines OF the first paragraph of section OF
Order No. 1883.
We submit that if ii shall become generally
known and understood that the throwing or
dropping OF the skins and Feelings of fruit and
any other such waste matter and debris upon
the sidewalks of this City likely TO be fol-
lowed by the immediate arrest and punish
ment of the offender, and especially if the
probability of such personal retributive res ult
was indicated by few actual arrests and fin
source named and deplored would be almost
wholly removed. Very respectfully,
GEORGE HARDcAsTLE,
JOHN C. CURRIER,
mil