The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-11-30
MOVEMENT FOR
CIVIC REFORM
A Growing Sentiment in
Favor of Better
Streets.
Shown by the Increasing Mum.
Der of Street Improve
ment Cubs.
President Dohrmann of the Merchan IS
Association Discusses the Cues.
tion of Better Paving.

The significance of the present impetus
given to street improvement by the
recently formed organizations among the
residents and business men chiefly
interested therein. and the question of
civic reform generally, were discussed
yesterday by A. c. Dohrmann, the able
president of the Merchants Association.
In Mr.. Dohrmann's opinion, this move
ment on the part of our principal citizens,
though not altogether without precedent
In the past, Is an unmistakable indication
that the apathy which has too long existed
In matters municipal, has almost disap-
peared, and that henceforth we may look
forward to contin ually increasing ameliora-
ton. The remedy for present discontents,
he insisted, lies with the citizens them
selves, among whom intelligent co-opera-
ton can accomplish much.
1.-The Merchants Association" he said,
has directed lis attention to street I'M =
provement since its inception, but these
local improvement clubs which have been
formed by the residents of Polk, Fourth,
Sixth, Fourteenth, Mission, Fillmore, De-
visadero, Larkin and Kearny streets, etc.,
are comparatively new. The association
OF improvement clubs seeks 10 improve
realty, mostly in the suburbs. by putting
in sewers, opening up streets and SO forth,
while the individual street-im provement
clubs are principally concerning them.
selves with the question of better lighting.
IN other words, their sta and point Is IA COM
mercial one. The former, with which our
association is affiliated, will also make it
an object to guard the interests OF the
districts represented, initiate necessary
legislation and mold public opinion.
ut is well known that the Merchants
Association has all along agitaied for
better pavements and the removal of the
unsightly coDble-stones in the downtown
portion of the City. We made definite
attempt TO accomplish this object two
years ago, but unfortunately the property
owners refused to come in to line, contend
ing that this work properly belonged 10
The City. The idea was then entertained
that new charter would ultimately be
adopted and that better facilities for a
general scheme of improvement would
thereby be afforded. Now, however that
the charter has been defeated, we are
renewing our efforts and hope to succeed
No doubt the majority still adhere to the
principle that the City itself should attend
10 all such matters, but property-owners
begin to realize that if their property is to
retain its value they must do something
for the streets.
Il am satisfied that the present move
ment is the awakening OF a better feeling
OF citizenship and civic patriotism. When
ever people try to improve their own i'm
mediate surroundings they are doing
something which helps the City as a
whole and creates a healthy sentiment,
which IS sure to grow. So that the Mer-
chants Association has watched these
separate efforts with very great satlsfac-
ton, inasmuch as it enjoys the honor of
being the pioneer of reform.
There are two theories concerning the
question of better paving. The advocates
of the one urge that the citizens paid for
cobbles in the first place and that the City
undertook to maintain them; it is, there
fore, so they say. the duty of the City 10
substitute any other form of pavement
without extra assistance from the prop
erty-owners. The advocates of the second
theory hold that as the CITY only agreed
be benefited by new pavements should
help the City to pay for them.
I'VE are now experimenting with
various kinds of paving material and be-
iieve that the wooden pavement composed
of the Australian eucalyptus is the IDEAL
one for heavy traffic. Unfortunately the
present regulations permit basalt and
, Ditumen only, but sooner or later we shall
submit proposition for the acceptance Of
eucalyptus wood"
In CONCLUSION, Mr.. Dohrmann expressed
his conviction that the various improve
ment clubs were all in touch with the
association and might be relied on to sup
port any reasonable measure which the
latter might see lit TO propose in the near
future.