The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-07-09
ASHWORTHIS UNPOPULAR.
Mission Property-Owners Criti-
Cize the Street Sup
erintendent.
ONE MOST UNsIGHTLY SPOT.
Taxpayers Prove That Their Com
plants Have Been Com
pletely ignored.

Superintendent of Streets Ashworth is
not popular in the Mission. Neither IS his
assistant, Andy Donovan. Property
owners all along the line say and stand
ready to prove that these officials are not
doing their duty and have not done 1t
since their tenure of office began.
In many sections south OF Market street
this feeling against the heads OF the Street
Department has risen to q high pitch, ana
many and uncomplimentary are the things
said of Ashworth and his assistant. Par
ticularlv is this the case in the vicinity OF
Mission and Eugenia streets, where I'M
slightly and unhealthy piles OF debris ana
putrefving water and filth attest most elo-
ouentIy the neglect OF the Street Depart
ment of San Francisco.
In SUNDAYS issue of The CALL Mr.. Ash
worth is quoted as saying that he was fully
aware OF the unhealthy, unsightly condl-
ton of affairs at the northeast corner OF
Fuoenia and Mission streets, but failed to
state any steps that ne had taken 10 rem.
edv the matter or to satisfy the claims OF
taXDavers in the vicinity whose property
is heinz ruined through what they charge
tn he his neglect. Instead OF explaining
yvhv he has not gone to work to clear up
This unsiahtIv, unhealthy spot, in an 9TH
erwise fine neighbOrhood, Mr.. Ashworth
takes occasion to attack George L. Gaden,
the Mayors expert.
"Yesterdavn he says in that interview
any chief deputy, Mr.. Donovan, called at
the neigh borhoOd complained of, and they
were indignant that they were so misrep-
resented bv Mr.. Gaden; and they also state
that the complaint was in regard to the
unhealthy condition OF the place, and
called the attention OF Mayor Sutro to the
matter as president OF the Board of
Health. ana only incidentally referred to
the sidewalks, and are satisfied that the
Superintendent of Streets performed his
duty, and want the Mayor TO do his duty
as president of the Board of Health"
That's what Mr.. Ashworth said. The
indignant" neighborhood fatty contra
diets Mr. Ashworth.
You can say for me, said John Geherty
OF 49S California avenue, one of the heay-
lest property owners in the neighborhood,
that M Ashworth tells an untruth
when ne says that the neighborhood is
indignant at Mr.. Gaden. We are indig-
naut, but it IS at Mr.. Ashworth and Mr..
Donovan and nobody else. They have
been fully notified of the condition of af-
fairs of which we have been mplaining
for months and not one OF them have
turned q finger to remedy the evil. We are
the ones who suffer and the ones who have
a right TO be indignant, and We are lndlg-
nant at the neglect OF Ashworth and Don
ovan in this matter They should be inn
pe2ched for neglect OF duty, and II there
were a chance to bring a criminal proceed
ing against them tomorrow L would be
the first one TO institute it. They ought to
be ashamed Of themselves.
Considering the fact that Mr.. Geherty
owns about $50 goo worth of property on
Eugenia street and California avenue ana
that during the past three years he has
paid out over $1,000 for street improve
ments. his word on the condition Of affairs
would seem to be as good if not better than
Mr. Ashwarth's and Mr.. DOnoYan'S.
Especially would this seem TO be SO when
Mr. Geherty is backed up by lncontro-
vertible proof Of his assertions. His neigh
bors, too, echo his words. and all of them
together point to the condition OF the
property on the northeast corner of Eu-
genia and Mission streets as a silent,
strong-smelling monument to the neglect
and ineffiCiency of AshWOrth and his sub
ordinates.
1t really is a sight and a shame For
blocks around in every direction III the
section the streets are nicely graded and
paved, slightly to look upon, pleasant ana
convenient to walk upon: the sidewalks
are good. On the northeast corner Of
Mission and Eugenia, alone, fifty feet
fronting on the former thOrOugbfare. twice
that much on the latter, alone is unslghtIi
ness. filth, disease breeding pools OF stag
nant water and pile on top OF pile of debris.
1t Is an evesore 10 the neigh5OrhOOd and
menace to its health. Aside from all this
it is in other ways a nuisance and causes
any amount OF inconvenience TO residents
in the vicinity. 1t is the principal reason
why the property-owners are indignant at
Mr. AshwOrth and Mr.. Donovan, and why
any number Of them openly state that his
neglect of duty IS almost criminal. He has
been asked repeatedly 10 take such steps as
were necessary and in the line of his duty
to remedy this state OF affairs, and IN no
instance has he manifested any inclination
10 do anything in the matter
The property stands now in the name OF
Michael Hassett, the attorney. The build
ing on the ground is ramshackle, two
story affair, fairly planted over a swamp
OF filth. Stagnaut water surrounds 1t on
all sides and in Wintry weather the piles
OF debris in front become impassa bic mud
dy wastes. over which 1t IS impossible for
pedestrians to cross. At the present time
the seepage from a dlsused well, an aban
doned sewer and a couple of old vaults
mingle in one broad stream which pours
across the sidewalk onto the bitumen, fest
erinc in the warm sunshine and breeding
germs OF disease to be inhaled by the help
less neighbors. For months and months
have they called on Mr.. Ashworth and his
deputies only TO be met now with the as
sertion from the former that 1.-The neigh
borhood is satisfied with the efforts of the
Street Department" Mr.. Ashworth and
Mr.. Donovan should go down and inter-
view the ''neighborhood, as CALL man
did yesterday He would soon ascertain
how well satisfied it is with the Street De-
partment. Mr.. Ashworth may also find
out how we'll the eighborhood" is salts
fed with his department if he will only
read the following letter sent by the neigh
borhood" to Mayor Sutro on June % last:
To his Honor Wcyor SutrO: We, the under
signed pTOpeTty-owners on Mission and Eli
genia streets, beg OF you TO relieve us OF pub
lie nuisance and public obstruction on Mis-
sion and Eugenia streets. There is fifty feet
front on Mission street, with about two ieet OF
dirt piled up on the sidewalk, obstructing
travel to men, women and children. Last De
eember Mr. AshWorth was notified OF this and
his deputies also, but it seems that Mr. Ash
worth and the owner Of this particular prop
erty defies the community and the law. The
sidewalk on Eugenia street is also blockaded,
and the rotten, stagnant water from this lot Is
running out on the street.
Your Honor is chairman OF the Board OF
Health, and we beg Of you to send a man from
your Office TO see for himself and report the
way we are treated. Hoping you will relieve
US OF this deaJhtrap OF sickness and disease, we
are +. REILLY,