The San Francisco call., 1895-11-03
HOW IT WILL PROGRESS,
Merchants Associations Pro-
gramme for the Next
Twelve Months.
IT COVERS A LARGE FIELD.
Clean Streets, Pure Government and
the Proposed New Charter
Discussed.

AS the present year draws to an end the
Merchants Association begins to lay out
its work for 1896. A special committee
has recently been considering what is
called programme for progress for next
year. At yesterdays meeting of the
board of directors the programme was
submitted, discussed and adopted. 1t sets
forth completely what the association
aims to accomplish during the next
twelve months. 1t was decided to print
$500 copies of the plan for distribution
with the copies Of the synopsis of the pro-
posed charter. The programme is as fol-
lows:
Aims and bjects.-Encouragement of such
legitimate enterprises as will add to the pros
perity of our City and attract health, pleasure
and home seekers to our State. COOPERATION
with City officials in enforcing the laws a nd
ordinances to advance and protect health and
the comfort of our inhabitants and take an
active interest in the care of our public insti-
tutions. Just treatment of City creditors and
employees, economy in municipal administra-
ton, llberality IN appropriations for needed
Improvements and strict honesty in spending
the amounts so appropriated. Enactment and
enforcement of ordinances that will give MS
clean and wholesome streets. Better protection
of the City against fire by providing more
MIGRANTS and larger mains, so that the danger
OF fire viii be reduced and the rates of insur.
ance lowered.
Suppression of nuisances.-To secure greater
care in hand ling garbage, sawdust. sand and
all other kinds of debris, while such substances
are being hauled through the streets. To cause
those who remove garbage from the business
districts to do SO between the hours of P. M
and A. NJ OF each day. To compel contrac-
tors and others making improvements, erect
ing buildings, or making repairs to provide
tight boxes for holding all materials that can
be scattered about the streets by the wind or
left thereon, such as mortar, sand, lime, or
similar material, and prepare the same for use
in such receptaeles. To enforce the ordinance
against depositing or leaving distractions
material or debris of any kind, in the streets
except when permitted for special purposes
To see that the ordinance is enforced which
requires vacant lots TO be fenced in to avoid
accumulation of sand and dirt on sidewalks
and paved or macadamized streets To pro-
hibit and cause the removal of all excessive
and particularly all Objectionable advertising
on fences and other places, when such adver-
tising disfgures the surroundings.
Care and repair of streets-To maintain the
system OF street cleaning inaugurated by the
Merchants Association. To see that contract
is duly let for street sprinkling according to
the specifications submitted by this association
to and accepted by the Board of Supervisors, so
that the merchants who have heretofore paid for
sprinkling will hereafter be relieved from this
unequal tax. To revise specifications for vari-
Gus kinds of street work so that all good paving
material can be made available to secure the
best possible results. To secure the enactment
OF law by which all contractors shall be held
responsible for all work undertaken by them
for period of at least FIVE years. To carefully
supervise the work of contractors so that all
contracts shall be complied with in good faith.
To compel contractors and holders of fran
chises to complete their contracts promptly on
agreed time, and to refuse all applications tor
extension of time, except upon satisfactory
proof that such extension is needed for reasons
beyond the control of the contractor and not
for the purpose of speculation on such con-
tracts or franchises. To secure the passage of
close the surface of streets that may be exca-
waited by corporations or others at the ex-
pense OF the parties interested. To ascertain
by experiments and otherwise what are the
best pavements for heavy traffic and to secure
them where required. To prevent the traffic
on certain streets by heavy teams, and to regu-
late by ordinance the width of tires of vehl.
cleS.
Proposed Improvements requiring present
actlon.-To improve the lighting of our main
thoroughfares and to have provisions made for
lighting the park soon as funds will be
available for that purpose. Enactment and en-
forcement of laws and ordinances to regulate
the tracks and roadbeds of all streetcar COM
panies, and to compel the removal of all car
tracks not in actual use. Where cobbled ac-
cepted streets require extensive repairs, and
where grades permit, the City should pay the
entire cost OF repaving the same with noiseless
pavements When basalt and coDblestone
pavements, otherwise in good repair, are to be
should be borne equally by the City and the
property-owners, until system of general i'm
provement at the City's expense has been
formulated and adopted. To maintain and
the City and good roads connecting the City
with suburban and more distant points.
Improvements requiring future action
Adoption of the new charter for San Francisco.
The question of the advisability OF adopting
new charter tor the City and County of San
Francisco was submitted by the association to
number of merchants and taxpayers of this
City. Ninety-seven per cent of those who an
swered this question were decidedly in favor of
making all reas enable efforts to have the new
charter adopted. This association has had
careful synopsis made of the provisions of the
new charter and will publish the same for
public distribution. After due consideration
ter goes into effect the proper means and nee
essary machinery will be afforded to carry out
successfully many important reforms
Among the most beneicent results are the
following: Inauguration OF civil service and
business methods in every municipal depart
ment. Its safeguards will insure economy in
municipal administration and in all expendit-
ures OF public money. AS soon as the new char
ter goes into effect we favor the bonding of the
City, under conditions prescribed by law, for a
sufficient amount TO enable the City to carry
out the following necessary and permanent
public improvements: An improved system of
sewers, with underground conduits for gas
After the completion of the new sewer system
and underground conduits the systematic re-
construction. where required by the City, of
the best noiseless, sanitary pavements on all
accepted streets OF ordinary traffic.
In conclusion the association asks for the
cooperation and support of the public in
carving out the plan and principles Of
fered.
The attention of the president was called
to the fact that the new contractor had
begun the work OF street cleaning under
the specifications of the association from
November 1. He had informed the presi-
dent that he would employ Messrs. Car
penter and Stephenson, who had shown
efficient service under the administration
of the Merchants Association in connec-
ton with the cleaning of the streets. The
contractor also wished to have the CO.
operation of the association in inaugurat-
ing his work. A resolution was adopted
by the board authorizing the president to
instruct the employees of the association.
and, if necessary, engage more to assist the
parties who hold the new contract to make
good beginning.
The president stated that many of the
old hands who worked for the association
had been engaged for the hand work. 1t
will take at least week to clear away the
debris and rubbish that the Superin-
tendent of Streets did not remove, and
within ten days the public may expect to