The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-05-26
MARKET-STREET PAVING,
The Movement for a Smoother
Thoroughfare Being
Agitated.
BITUMINoUs ROCK WANTED.
Gas, Water, Sewer and Conduit
Systems VIII Have to Be
Perfected First.

Now that the Board of Supervisors has
very wisely determined to appropriate a
sum of money sufficient for the paving of
Folsom street with bituminous rock the
street-improvement organizations and
wheelmen are directing their attention to
the permanent improvement of Market
street.
A large number of people advise that the
entire street from the ferries depot to the
intersection OF Valencia street be repaved
with oltumen, which, they say, will with
stand the heaviest draying.
The more conservative element state that
basalt blocks would form a satisfactory
pavement laid upon good foundation.
Nearly all agree that the present pave
ment is in disgraeeful condition. While
the agitation of improvement has been ex-
tended to other streets, such as Mission
and Howard, still the greatest interest is
conferred on Market street.
An examination of Market street was
made yesterday with the view of ascertain
ing what its condition is. There is little
fault to be found with the sidewalks,
which, with but few exceptions, are of ar
tifcial stone and asphalt.
The pavement is large piece of wretched
patchwork. Between the cable-car tracks
the basalt blocks are well laid in cement
the entire length. Three or four blocks
near the City front are below grade and
the sidewalks in front of recently con-
structed buildings are frequently two feet
above the street. At the crossings of Cali
fOrnla, Pine, Bush, Suffer and other streets
on the west side are patches of cobble-
stones and many irregularities in the sur
face of the street. In fact the space be-
TFr-as thaS 90 l. Nd h.
the west side from East street to Ninth is
bad, being full of dangerous ruts and
holes.
On the east side the pavement is in fairly
good condition. At Second street the
crossings are rough, but this seems to be
the trouble where all of the streets meet
Market. From Second street to Valencia
the east side is in comparatively good
order.
A noticeable feature is the way the basalt
blocks have been cut along the outside
rails of the car tracks. If the streetcar
companies running horsecars had complied
with the law or taken any care of the pave
side OF the cable-car rails, Market street
would be much better than it is. Between
the horsecar rails, however, is nothing but
the worst kind of patchwork.
Beyond Tenth street the rough basalt
pavements are in good order as there is
but little heavy teaming done at that end,
and no horsecar tracks with cobbles be-
tween.
The paving of Market street with a fine
quality of bitumen upon a firm concrete
foundation was a hobby with ex-Mayor
Il. B. Pond when he was in office. At one
time he nearly accomplished his desires,
and there was fair prospect of having a
beautiful street from the ferries to Ninth
street. The project failed because the
written agreement lacked few signatures
of property-owners.
81 have always favored changing the
pavement of Market street from basalt to
bitumen,n said Mr.. Pond Yesterday. aft
is the main thoroughfare of the City, and
the grade is so easy that there will be no
trouble in hauling over bitumen any kind
OF a load even in wet weather. Bitumen,
properly laid, will stand the wear and tear
of very heavy draying.
before any improvement is attempted
on the surface the sewer and conduit sys-
TENS should be perfected. / do not believe
that this preliminary work will cost so
much as many suppose it will"
As might be expected the Merchants
Association is deeply interested in the
matter of good streets and better pave
ments, and at their big meeting next
Wednesday several papers will be devoted
to this subject. One is being prepared by
a. S. Baldwin, who is very anxious to see
certain streets put in order at once. Speak
ing of Market street Mr.. Baldwin said that
he believes it is one of the best-paved
thoroughfares in the City. but it should be
better. He said:
81 am not opposed to basalt blocks upon
streets where there is heavy trucking, and
the basalt blocks on Market street should
be put in better condition. In a number of
places down toward the City front the
street is not on the official grade, but
whether this is. due to the sinking OF the
made ground l don't know. The people in
booming street improvements are liable to
act hastily, and if they do not be careful
they will make an expensive mistake in
regard to Market street.
Before the surface is permanently re-
paired, either with basalt blocks or btu
men, perfect sewer system should be put
IN that will last for 100 years.
Another thing should not be forgotten,
and that is to place under the street large
and perfect conduit system that will serve
Tor all telephone and electric light fran
chlses that may be granted for MANY years.
Otherwise the streets will always be torn
up and out of shape because of sewers,
Water-plpes and conduits. 1 hope the peo-
pie will go slow when it comes to operat-
ing upon Market street.
while it is true that this is the main
artery of the City and should present a
very attractive appearance to those who
visit this City, there are other streets in
HOIe uTSenL HeeQ OF repairs. FOR exam
ple, in the retail district there is Post
street, from Montgomery to Stockton Its
old cobblestones, ruts and chuckholes are
positively offensive to the eye and danger
Gus to life and limb. The same may be
said OF Geary. from Kearny to Powell, and
OF Stockton to Bush.
"Down in the wholesale district it is not
so bad, as nearly all the streets are paved
with basalt blocks, which are suitable for
the heavy teaming that is done in that
section. North of Clay and east of Kearny
the streets are rather rough, being nearly
all paved with round cobbles, but the
streets in that section do not demand any
immediate extensive repairs.
In the manufacturing district south of
Market and east of Third considerable
work should be DONE Take Mission street.
Part is on the grade and large portion is
below the official grade. The car tracks
are raised above the street and SO are MANY
of the sidewalks. Mission street is indeed
thoroughfare of gulches, bitches, eleva-
tions and irregularities. But even before
permanent Improvements are made there
the water, gas, sewer and conduit systems
should be perfected
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