The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-05-06
MAYOR DAVIES PROPOSITION
The Fight for Closing Saloons on
Sundays Made In Mass
Meeting.

the spirit shown by the members and has
undertaken to formulate definite plan by
which the streets may be placed in good
repair and kept in that condition.
Oakland will never be as prosperous
and cultivated as her population should
warrant" he said yesterday, "until she
has streets commensurate with her posi-
ton and Importance. A city without
streets is a city practically without pros
perity, and it is to guard against such a
condition that the citizens of this munich
pality must work.
"The Good Roads Association has taken
hold of this matter in business-like way
and I shall aid it to the best OF my ability.
1.-THE first thing to be done is to accept
the streets which have already been paved,
no matter whether poorly or well. Some
of these have been finished after fashion
for ears, and, not having been accepted
and kept in repair, are fast returning to
the condition in which the contractors
found them.
1.-The city shou Id take charge Of them at
once and proce ed TO place them in good
condition.
This work should be done by the city
itself and not by contractors. 1t can be
done much N ore cheaply and expeditiously
than by pr vate parties. Almost within
the city limits we have quarries Of as good
rock for street purposes as can be found
anywhere in the State, and it should be
utilized. We can save money by it. The
city owns property at various points which
could be used for storage purposes for the
materials and tools.
"We have city officials paid to look after
the streets, and the work could be done
under their supervision without extra ex-
penSe IN that line.
For those streets which would need
bltumlnOus paving the materials can be
purchased very cheaply now that the COM
bine has been broken and the work can be
done at far less expense than it could
year ago.
ITO pay for all this work large amount
of money would have to be raised, but I
think that would come easy. 1t would
cost say 100000 to put the streets in
tirst-class order. Suppose we bonded Oak
land Tor that amount, the obligation to be
met IN forty years. We would have no
trouble in getting the bonds accepted and
none in paying.
I'VE can save at least $50 900 per year of
the expense under which this city has been
running by dispensing with q few super
huous officials and by the saving which
good and properly cared for streets will en-
able US to make in the cost of street
sprinkling- That item Of expense now
amounts to nearly $4,000 year If that
saving was put into a sinking fund it |
would pay our bonds in forty years.
There Is another matter to look at in |
this connection and that is the increased
valuation in property which is sure to
come with good streets. Our assessed
valuation is now about $45, 100000. This
would be increased to probably $50 900 600,
and rates of taxation would be very much
lowered.
1.-The effect would be to bring moneyed
men here and cause a general revival of
prosperity. I shall address. the::associatio
on these subjects and they will no doubt
consider them"
Among those who do not favor interest
bearing bonds a scheme for issuing city
script is being talked over. 1t is proposed
to issue paper to the amount necessary to
put the streets in good condition, making
the same good for taxes or other municipal
obligations, and establish a bank or eX-
change for the benefit of those who desire
to exchange. whatever amount they may
accumulate for United States coin.
This script its advocates say, would be
readily accepted by the laboring men, who
would be employed in repairing the streets,
as the people of whom they buy the neces-
stiles Of life would readily exchange grocer
les or clothing for the same, using it in the
payment of their taxes.
In order to make it more acceptable q
premium Of one-eighth or one-fourth of
per cent could be placed on it.
At the end Of each year an amount equiv
alent to the amount of street work done
could be destroyed, thus withdrawing it
all when the streets were finally finished
This proposition will also be placed before
the association.
Sunday Closing Movement.
The mass-meeting called by the council
Nf ha 10 lorad Ay,fi Col I -
3 o'clock yesterday in Hamilton Hall.
Rev. Mr.. RAIDER of the First Congregational
Church, president Of the council, presided.
The attendance was large and included
considerable mum Der of the city clergy.
Seated on the platform were the Rev.
Messrs RAIDER, Chapman, Davis Wilson, |
Wendte, McDougal field secretary of the |
Ieague) and Maynard and Judge Thomp- |
son, Mrs. Van Pelt and Mrs. Sanford, sec
rotary of the Humane Society.
In his opening remarks Mr.. RAIDER stated |
that the Anti-Saloon League represented |
twenty-three religious and other societies, |
engaged in a mutual effort to rid the city |
of saloons. Their initial move was to |
close them from 6 P. NJ. on Satnr-
day to 8 A. NJ. on Monday. On Wednes- |
day evening next the City Council was to |
give hearing to the petitioners for clos |
ing, and 1t was desired to make so strong |
showing that The Council would be com
PSICo " SAoAL L. OppOolblOA W open |
saloons, especially on Sundays, was found |
to be very prevalent in the city. Hitherto |
it had been difficult to secure union |
among the friends OF temperance.
Mrs. Sanford made a speech arraigning
the saloon.
Professor Inskeep followed, asserting
that most of the citizens favored the sup
preston of the saloons.
Rev. DR.. Wendte was the next speaker |
.sIf the thousand millions annually ex-
pended in Saloons" he said, ''were saved |
and rightly expended there would be no |
poverty, no want"
Rev DR.. Chapman followed, telling of |
saloon in this State that was paved with |
$40 gold pieces and the bar inlain with $50 |
'slugs.
Rev. Mr.. McDougal, the father of the
movement, expressed his pity for the
and yet he prayed Father,
forgive them.'
On motion it was voted to include all
wholesale as well as retail dealers in their
petition and druggists who sold liquors.
!. Mr.. RAIDER said that among the speakers
from the City Hall steps on Wednesday
evening would be Roman Catholic priest.
The friends of the petition must be at the
Council chamber early or the liquor men
IL L