The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-10-26
FRUITLESS EFFORTS OF PROFESSOR
DAVIDSON TO RESTORE
THE SURVEY.
WILL BE REMEDIED AT ONCE
The DISCOVERY MAY MEAN GREAT
CHANGES IN PROPERTY, TAXES
AND VOTES.

The City and County has no certain
boundary line on the south. San Mateo
County may be trenching on San Fran
cisco or San Francisco County may be
jumping San Mateo property, taxes, votes
and all sorts of things as far as the dwell
ers near the line ana the surveyors know.
People who live down Gonna way NAV
think they know where the county line is
but they are very much in error. The best
surveyors in the County gave up claim to
such knowledge some time ago. Like the
property they accept the line that
has been adopted by bearsay for years
back, but they know all the time that the
line is not official. Only tyros and
strangers in the profession here take any
stock in the old County line monuments
they see scattered along the southern Dor
der of the County.
All this important information came out
before the Finance Committee of the Board
of Supervisors yesterday when the ques-
ton OF the City's new official map was be-
ing discussed. Mayor Sutro, Chairman
Taylor and Supervisor Benjamin asked all
sorts of questions to get information on
this surprising condition of affairs.
The most startling piece of information
was that some of the original monuments
had been deliberately moved. OF course
the movers of the points" could have
only one object in view-to affect property
rights. Only a careful investigation, of
course, will disclose how much OF this
kind of work has been going on.
Surveyor Humphrey, talking for Official
Surveyor Tilton, admitted that nobody
know AafioItaiv OH bo
''only in spots" and that there was line
that ran from the ocean to the bay, but
nearly everybody who had studied the
matter knew it was not in the right place,
according to the original monuments.
Professor Davidson, who had been out
hunting for the lost line with all sorts of
scientific instruments in order to describe
it accurately in a history of the peninsula,
said he was positive it was not where
people generally supposed it was, and that
he had found nothing in his search "but
some monuments very much out of place. "
One of the monuments was moved out
OF Mrs. Mcguire back yard because it was
in the way.
The gist of the committees inquiry was
that the line of the City and County on the
south was in very razzle-dazzle condi-
ton, and that some very bitter lawsuits
might follow strengthening it out.
The discussion of the new map produced
a number of surprises. Mayor Sutro, after
arguing for over an hour on the kind OF
map he thought would be proper was
finally interrupted and told that the con-
tract for making the map was already let
for $4,000.
whats that" he and Supervisor Tay-
Tor calculated in one breath. They could
hardly believe their ears when the contract
was read to them.
But vetoed the order on October 49,"
protested the Mayor.
The contract signed by the parties is
dated October s, it seems" put in Super
visor Taylor, picking up the document.
The discovery was what the politicians
call "jolt." Mayor Sutro clapped on his
hat. seized his stick ard hurriedly left the
room. Later he collected himself, re-
turned and tried to get the board to report
favorably on his veto, so that the whole
business could be knocked out and new
specifications framed. The tangle ap-
peared so intricate that the committee let
the matter go over.
Mayor Sutro wanted big map made,
something to show the Typography of the
County, the sewer system and size of pipes,
the water mains and their size, besides
grades and all the regular details found on
official maps. He urged the commit
tee to order something that would be
a pride to the City, even if it cost little
more than $4,000.
The specifications as set forth in the con-
tract signed October Is call for map made
as follows:
That for and in consideration of $40, 900 the
party OF the second part agrees with the psrty
of the first part to prepare and make new
and official map of the City and County of San
Francisco, showing water front, docks.
wharves, with all blocks, squares, reserva-
tons, streets, lanes, alleys and places, with
their dimensions and width of streets, and to
make all necessary surveys to connect the
homestead surveys with those of the City
proper, ana set all necessary iron and stone
monuments to perpetuate the same; to index
every resolution opening, closing, narrowing
or widening of streets, lanes, alleys, places,
blocks, squares or reservations and place such
changes on said official map.
The said map shall be 10 feet inches by IL
feet inches, of the best linen paper, mounted
on cloth, the work executed in the most fin
ished manner, and so arranged as to be readily
accessible, the work on the same to be COM
menced Immediately after signing this agree
ment and completed thereafter as speedily as
possible on a scale of 400 feet to 1 inch, and
to the satisfaction of the Committee on
Streets, ETC., of said board.
The contract stipulates that $4,000 shall
be paid when the work is three months
under way and the balance "when the
work is completed"
1t was when Surveyor Humphrey began
to tell what other little things he would
add to the new official map that the truth
came out about the line dividing the coun-
ties of San Francisco and San Mateo. He
said that with the aid of old records and
by carefully locating the sites of the lost,
strayed and stolen monuments, he would
be able to run the line from ocean to bay
where it ought to be.
"There is not the slightest doubt" he
said, "but that it is very much out of place
at present. How far of course / cannot
say till after have definitely established
1t. l have been collecting data on the
point for some years past that will be OF
material assistance in the work / did