The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-08-21
.REPAV|NG HAS BEGUN,
Contractors at Work on Folsom
Street Will Hurry It
Through.
Expert George w. Elder Says He Will
Oppose Any Extension of Time
on the Contract.

The improvement of Folsom street has
begun. The long anticipated boulevard
is assuming the appearance OF reality.
The people have been patient until
patience almost ceased to be virtue with
regard to the beginning OF the work. The
contract was let July %, almost month
ago. and only yesterday Contractors A. B.
Clute and Harvey set their first gang of
men to work. They promise, under the
sharp surveillance OF Expert Elder, to
push the work to a quick conclusion. The
time limit is October %.
The executive committee OF the Folsom
street Improvement Club held meeting
few nights ago, at which resolutions were
passed declaring for active measures
against the contractor unless work was
commenced Immediately. A subcommittee
was appointed TO see Expert 10 the Street
Committee George W. Elder and secure
his active cooperation. Mr.. Elder had
been giving considerable attention to the
matter previously, but on Monday visited
Clute and told him be must begin the
work at once; that he (Elder) would GER
tainly oppose the granting OF any extern
sion of time on the contract, but that the
penalty clause would be allowed TO get in
its expensive work for every day that the
lob remained unfini shed after the expira-
ton of the time limit.
The spurred the contractor put force
of men at work yesterday morning, and,
as stated declares his intention of put
ting Folsom street in excellent condition
before the end of October.
This is one of the most important
pieces of street work that have been under
taken in the City for some time" said
Mr.. Elder, speaking of the matter yester-
day. 1.-The people of the Mission and all
49, ~ ala fo-
the improvement for a long time. The
City has ordered the work to be done, and
now there is no reason why it should not
be done, and that promptly. AS regards
the portion of Folsom street not included
in the contract for the improvement,
have to say that l will urge at the next
meeting of the Board of Supervisors that
enough money be set aside out of the
Street Department fund TO cover that
work. When the present contract is COM
pleted there win only remain to be paved
the block between Ninth and Tenth streets
and the crossing at Eleventh and Twelfth
streets. 1t would be ridiculous to allow
this slight interruption to remain be-
| tween a complete and an imperfect
job. This being done, the South
| Side will have one of the handsomest
thoroughfares in the City. an uninter-
rupted stretch of smooth pavement from
East to Twenty-sixth street, and the
dream of the people OF the Mission, or
one OF their enterprising dreams, will have
been realized. 1t will be one big step in
the right direction, for the City of San
| Francisco should and certainly will have
other streets over which 1t is not an abso-
| lutte pain to drive horse or ride bike.
Market street stands next in line. 1t GER
tainly should be repaved with something
! more modern than basalt blocks.
| 1.-The portion of Folsom street not COW
| cred in the contract from Third street to
| the wharf is in deplorable condition and
demands repaving. Much of 1t is now
paved with cobbles, and very badly paved
at that 1t should be bituminized at an
early date