The San Francisco call., 1896-03-08
POTRERO FOLKS PROTEST
They Demand the Immediate
Removal of the Pest.
house.
Decided Resolutions on the Subject
Passed by the Nuevo Improve.
ment Club.

The citizens of the Potrero insist that
the Pesthouse must be removed from their
neighborhood. To emphasize their de-
mand the Nuevo PotIero Improvement
Club held a rousing meeting last evening
at their hall on Vermont street, near
Twenty-fourth. Large bonfires were lighted
in the vicinity of the hall and the result
was large and enthusiastic attendance.
Chairman f. Coglan explained the OBJ
ject of the meeting and A. B. Mcguire of
the South Side Club was called upon. He
said: ~ have lived in this section of the
City for the last twenty eight years and
am interested in all that pertains to it.
appreciate the fact that the only way to
get such a nuisance as the Pesthouse re-
moveu is to keep everlastingly at it." AS
an evidence Of the n necessity of persist
ence he cited the efforts of the South Side
clubs to have an Appropriation made Tor
the Folsom-street boulevard.
Mr.. Haywood of the Federation of I'M
provement Clubs stated that he had been
connected with improvement clubs in this
City for about seven years. "1t seems to
me-" he said, "that the members of this
club are all representative citizens and
taxpay ers and their wishes ought to be re-
spected. If the Board of Supervisors
again"
~ do not see why the people of this
district should be prescribed" said L. 4.
Dwyer. "The Board of Supervisors have
been promising US that they would remove
it, and it seems to me it is time they were
doing it. understand there is pest
house in Chinatown in the rear of q
morgue. If that is the case it seems to me
the board sh ould build q pesthouse for all
in some suitable locality. think we have
been abused long enough. 1t is not
enough that Mr.. So-and-so owns one
seventh of the property OF the City and
County of San Francisco. We are all citi-
zens and taxpayers and the officials are
our servants. They should listen to our
earnest demands and grant our just ones.
If it comes to the test we will show the
people of San Francisco that we are not to
be toyed with"
Rev w. H. Tubb said the Board of Su-
pervisors undoubtedly had the right to
remove that pesthouse, but the question
was, "How can you prevent the lepers
from getting out?" he said, 'and, as mat
ter of fact, they are not prevented from
getting out. Tney do not get out and run
about the neighborhood., These lepers are
human, and they should have humane
treatment. What kind of place is that
where they are now located? 1t looks as
if it had been here since before white men
first visited these sh ores. We should insist
on making change of the location of the
Pesthouse, but don't let them move it
make them burn ii own and plow up the
ground"
G.. Sherrer expressed himself as very
much pleased with the prospect of having
the Pesthouse removed. He argued that
the main need of the City was thor
oughly sanitary PeSthOuse, such as the
large European cities had.
The executive committee of the club,
consisting of G. Guthrie, J. Barduhn, A.
Schumann, j. Kerr and n. Antonson, pre-
sented the following resolution, which was
read by Secretary ]. M. Smith:
To the Honorable Board of Supervisors of the
City and County of San Frdncisco-GENTLEMEN:
WHEREAS, The residents and property-own-
ers In close proximity to the present Pesthouse
represent that they are entitled to the fullest
consideration of their rights in the protection
Of their homes from the scourge of Infectious
diseases that may exist by reason of the Pest
house being located in their midst; and
whereas, the Pesthouse in its present location
endangers the health and welfare, not only of
the residents of this section of the City, but
also the children on their way to and from
school.
Resolued, That the Board OF Supervisors re-
move from our midst the Pesthouse, which is
constant menace to a thickly populated neigh
borhood and detriment to further improve
ment of the surrounding district.
The resolutions were carried unani-
mously. Some discussion was INDUCED in
as to the propriety Of suggesting site for
a new pesthouse, but it was the final sense
Of the club that this be left to the discre-
ton of the board.
A communication was read from Super
visor j. K. C. Hobbs, wherein he expressed
regret for his inability to be present at the
meeting and declaring his sympathy and
cooperation with the desires of the Po-
frero residents