The San Francisco call., 1896-02-21
WANT STREETS SPR|NKLED
The Merchants Association
Addresses the Board of
Supervisors.
A More Efficient System of Keeping
Thoroughfares in Order Deemed
Necessary.

| At last nights meeting of the board of
directors of the Merchants Association
the matter of the proper care OF streets
was given a monopoly of attention. f. W.
Dohrmann, president of the board, occu-
pied the chair.
| The firm of Dodge. Sweeney e. Co.,
Llevre, Fricke d. Co., Miller, Sloss & Scott
and the Union Ice Company were ad-
| mitted to mem bership in the association.
The committee on STRENGTHENING re-
ported that in general the streets had been
satisfactorily swept, but recommen ded
that the operation be performed more fire.
| quently on certain portions of Dev isadero,
Fulton, Grove, Fell, Clementina and Teha-
ma streets. AS to Van Ness avenue, an at
tempt will be made to secure the employ
ment of special crew, whose duty it
shall be to sweep that thoroughfare at
least three times week, the present
weekly sweeping being regarded altogether
insufficient. Complaints were also made
| as to the present system of sprinkline
streets. Public money for the purpose
was said to be in the City treasury, but the
citizens were paying individually for
sprinkling. Several large propertty-owners
were reported to have expressed deter
| mination to discontinue all special pay
ments for street sprinkling and let the
dust fly until the City should make the
requisite provision for a systematic
sprInkllng system.
After some discussion upon the subject
the board adopted sci of resolutions. to
be embodied in communication to the
Board OF Supervisors, urging some action
in the matter. The resolutions were as
follows:
RESOLVED, By the Merchants Association of
San francisco and the S25 representative bust
ness firms OF this City, who within three days
signed the petition sent to your board on the
1st inst, that we earnestly request your honor
able board to advertise at once for bids for
street-sprinkling.
ResoEued That in the name of the taxpayers
OF San Francisco, who have already paid in
the last levy their pro rata OF increased taxes
for sprinkling the public streets. We protest
against paying again for this work.
Res0,Ued, That we hereby enter our deter
mined protest against any proposed diversion
to any other purpose of the specific funds set
aside and now available for sprinkling the
public streets of this City.
will no longer bear the unequal and unjust
burden OF private tax for sprinkling public
streets, and hereby respectfully notify your
honorable board that the entire responsibility
must De borne by you in case no sprinkling is
hereafter done.
RESOLVED, That these resolutions, duly certi-
fed be forwarded at once to the clerk of the
Board OF Supervisors and an official copy be
delivered 10 each member of said board
Resolutions were also adopted whereby
the association pledged itself co meet and
cooperate with several other societies in
a convention to be held March g. in which
convention the question OF public high
ways will be considered.
A communication, signed by number
OF leading merchants, recommended that
the public school vacation commence on
July of each year, and not in the middle
of June, as at present. The existing sys-
tenn is said to cut into the summer season.
causing more or less inconvenience in
business circles. Another communication
stated that majority of the leading bust.
ness houses had determined to close their
doors on Washtngton's birthday. Both
communications were placed on file. Re-
fore adjournment the president announced
that at the association quarterly meeting
in March the proposed charter would come
up for consideration. 1t is understood
that the association is in favor of the char
ter.