The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-04-20
FAVOR ISSUING BONDS.
Retail Grocers Are Anxious
for Necessary Improve
mentS.
With Better Streets and Sewers a
Greater Population Is
Expected.

After an entire afternoon had been spent
among the leading retail grocers of San
Francisco not a single man was found who
opposed the proposition to issue bonds for
the improvement of the streets of the city
and the completion of its sewer system.
They expressed willingness to meet the
extra expense on the ground that the city
would be beautitied and rendered more
healthful.
This fact, they argued, would bring a
good class of people to make the city
their home. In this way enough new capital
would be brought in to repay the expen-
diture.
Another argument adduced was that
general prosperity would ensue among the
laboring classes. These men would then
be able to spend money, and the merchants
would be more than reimbursed by addi-
tional profits for the increase of their taxes.
No class of people are more interested
in the advancement of San Francisco than
her small tradesmen," said James K Tay-
lor, the attorney of the Retail Grocers'
Z Mon, yesterday. "They are the first to
feel the effects of depression and to profit
by good times. They make up the sub
stantial part of a city aud are the founda-
II have talked with many of the retail
grocers. [ can assure you that they are
without exception in favor of the issuance
of bonds for the payment of the city's Just
debts, the Improvements of the streets and
the recUifcation of the errors in the present
sewer system"
Mr.. Taylor explained that at present the
city owed its tradesmen about $500, 600 for
goods delivered. This sum would have to
be paid eventually. If San Francisco be-
gan extensive improvements, he explained
the desirable people of the East would
come out to settle here because the CITY
would be known as progressive. This he
explained meant prosperity.
Marsden Manson, formerly of the Sew
erage Commission, said that if he could be
assured that the money would be spent to
the best advantage, he was willing to paw
his share Of any sum from 81 200, 900 to
$40, 100000. He was sure that the expendi-
ture of a sufficient amount of money on
the city would be fully repaid in results.
AT present about $1,500,000 is spent
on our streets and sewers every year." he
said. 1--WE have already built over $50
miles of sewers that cost So, ia, 225. Yet
our sewers arc in deplorable state be-
cause the money has not been spent in
diligently.
& IF a sufficient sum were raised bv bonds
and were employed advantageously to bet
ter our streets and make sewer system,
the city would be repaid many times. The
first great result would be the reduction Of
the death rate.
'sThere would be decrease in sickness
from health diseases and hence a lessening
of the expenses of the taxpayer more than
enough to counterbalance his extra taxes.
But this is not all.
MANY new people would be attracted bv
the beauty, healthfnlness and progress
iveness of the city. This would increase
the value OF realty The demand for labor
would be greater, and every class of citi-
zen, from the lawyer to the scavenger
made more prosperous.
John G. Nobmann, president of the Re-
tail Grocers' Union, whose store is at Cali
fornia and Fillmore streets, saws he favors
the issuance OF bonds because it is mat
ter OF principle with him never to grudge
dollar when there are two in sight.
1--WE need better streets and sewers he
said. TO improve them would benefit us
all. We would have necessary work done,
and would attract many new people. The
only thing / am afraid of is that a corrupt
Board OF Supervisors may handle the
money"
Look at our Solid Eight 7 would not
want to trust the issuance of bonds to
them. Lit can be rightly expended,
say raise the money!
is the vice-president of the organization.
He says: II don't care if my taxes are
made % cents on the $100 larger, as long
as l get more than that back If bonds
are voted to make necessary city improve
ments that will have to be the result"
I. Solomon, grocer with a stall in the
Central market at Suffer and Dupont
streets, thinks the issuance of the bonds
would be a matter of economy. He ex-
planned: 81 have to sell three times as
many goods now to make the same profit
as l did ten years ago. If we had larger
population | would have more customers.
1t we can give steady work to many labor
ers and make our city more beautiful am
sure the. people will come. The improve
ments will bring the better class who want 4
to livewell'
James O'Connor, pioneer groceryman,
OF III Mason street, is very conservative
business man. He favors the issuance of
the bonds though.
ga phanOp rOucf ne rnoda