The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-10-26
AFTER T|LTON'S SCALP,
GRAND JURY INVESTIGATION OF
THE ARMY-STREET
JOB.
CITY AND COUNTY SURVEYORS Els
INNATE OF THE QUANTITY OF
FILLING USED.

1t is calculated by some of the engineers
| that the filling in Army street has sunk tc
a depth CT forty feet below the surface OF
the water, but the Grand Jury, regardless
of depth. is showing a determination to
| get to the bottom. Facts are coming t.
| light at each session of the Grand Jury
| but it is not yet known to outsider.
whether the jury has found an appalling
| job or stupendous blunder.
1t is whispered around the corrid ors O
the City Hall that the investigation now
| in progress was lnstigated by eX-City anG
County Surveyor Fitzhugh and that the
| purpose is to secure all Indictment or ac-
cusation against the incum bent, City and
| County Surveyor Tilton.
| The witnesses in attendance yesterday
were: Howard Holmes, engineer Of the
Harbor Commissioners; Mr.. Taylor, ar
Army street property-owner, and J. K
Prior, a property-owner and assignee OF
| William Hollis, deceased.
| The Board of Supervisors which imme-
diately preceded the present board or
dered % feet of the center of Army street
to be filled from Pennsylvania street tc
Kentucky. The street is 66 feet wide,
and so space of % feet on either side is
| untitled or below the grade. The length
of the filling is 1920 feet. and four blocks
and six half blocks are in the assessment
district.
1t is said that a blunder was committed
in the original resolution of intention of
the board to order the work, as the dis
tances were not actually defined. Maps
were prepared and the work projected
without correcting the error.
The name of d. M. Ray appears as the
original contractor, but obviously the man
behind him was William Hollis, and the
man who furnished Hollis with the means
to perform the work was the millionaire,
J. K Prior. When Hollis died Prior sue
ceeded as assignee to the contract. If the
investigation result in withdrawing the
assessment Mr.. Prior, as a property
owner in the district affected, will be a
winner. If the inquiry show that every
thing is straight and the assessment
square Mr.. Prior, as the assignee of the
contractor, will be winner. Other prop
erty-owners are not so fortunate, however.
Emile Bauer has land on which the tax
for filling amounts to a sum three times
larger than the assessed value of his lots.
Mr.. Taylor has a lot assessed for $500
which is taxed 1926 for the filing.
Facts were presented to the Grand Jury
showing conclusively that the assessment
is conhscation complete. for the simple
reason that the property cannot be sold
for enough to satisfy the charge for filling.
The contractor, taking it all, does not get
enough to satisfy his claim.
Whatever may be the incidental facts
the Grand Jury's direct inquiry is to as
certain if the quantity of earth charged for
was really dumped in the swamp. Ex-
mated that the quantity of filling did not
exceed $4,000 cubic yards. The Grand
Jury is said to have received testimony
showing that Surveyor Tilton has certified
that the filling amounts to 5000 cubic
yards. This is wide discrepancy and in
wolves inquiry as to how much earth has
been dumped since Fitzhugh went out of
Office.
Property-owners have made calculations
to show that if the quantity was $4,000
yards the filling must have sunk to a
depth of seventy feet below the surface of
the water, as it does not stand more than
fifteen feet above.
J. K. Prior, the assignee of the con-
tractor, has in his possession the payrolls
of Hollis, and may relate an interesting
story before the investigation closes 1t Is
charged that some of the earth went to fill
in Prior's private property. Since Hollis
death, so Prior says, Fitzhugh sent him
(Prior) bill for 5000. Upon its receipt
Prior went to Fitzhugh and asked:
what is this bill of $500 for?"
"For work on Army street," replied
F1tzhugh.
'You were paid, were you not, for run
ming the grade hnes?" said Prior.
Yes" replied Fitzhugh, "but 1 had a
man there"
Prior answered.: "Why. Hollis paid the
man that counted the carloads of filing.
day was paid"
Prior says that Fitzhugb became indig-
nant then, and replied that he would not
have his bills questioned by any one
The Grand Jury was in session for an
hour yesterday afternoon after all the wit
nesses present had been examined The
discussion waxed hot, and it is surmised
that proposition TO accuse City and
County Surveyor Tilton of official miscon-
duct was the topic of the clamor inside.
Mr.. Prior was not examined as witness
yesterday. He got weary of waiting to be
called, and took the train for his home at
Menlo Park.
He is ready, however, to testify when he
is wanted, and may impart some impor-
tant facts communicated to him by Hollis.
Mr.. Prior does not hesitate TO say that at
one time his. advances to Hollis on the
contract amounted to $40, 900, but that the
amount now due him is not greater than
$4,000. He says the earth filling of Army
street sinks out of sight almost as fast as
it is put in.
Property-owners who have big assess
ments to meet and no advantages to con-
template aver that the Armv-street lob
was put up in the interests of persons who
have big schemes of improvement in view.
One property-owner remarked:
1T is the business nowadays of schemers
to employ cunning lawyers and project the
grading and opening of streets tn benefit
property wholly beyond the assessment dis
trict. Itisthe science of making one prop
erty owner pay for the improvement of the
property of another who pays nothing.
When all the facts are brought out it will
be shown that powerful influences. now
unseen, worked the Army-street Job.
Where the Army street fill Joins Kentucky
street one can take the electric cars and
get to the center of the City in twenty
minutes"