The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-05-08
EXPLODED
ALL. THE
CHARGES
Report of the Investigating
Committee of the
Grand Jury.
BASED ON TESTIMONY OF
EXPERTS.
No Foundation for the Allega'
tons of Carelessness or
Extravaganza.
WHOLE GROUND IS CAREFULLY
GONE OVER.
Commissioners Observe the Heartiest
CommeEdation of Their Fellow
Citizens"
WHOLE GROUND IS CAREFULLY
GONE OVER.
Commissioners Deserve the Heartiest
CommeEdation of Their Fellow
CitiZanS"

The committee of the Grand Jury on
Parks, after very exhaustive and care
full inquiry into the transactions upon
which were based the allegations of mis-
management, extravaganza and even
fraud on the part of the Park Commits
sioners and the superintendent, have filed
report completely generating those
officers.
Experts of the highest standing for
ability and integrity, notable among them
being Professor George Davidson, were
employed to make measurements and in
vesti cations, and their reports were veri-
fed by the committee itself, and the
comment made is that 1.-The commission
ers have been and are carrying out their
duties and the trust reposed in them in
the best possible manner, and deserve the
heartiest commentator OF their fellow
citizens"
Following is the report in full:
SAN Francisco, May 4, 1897.
To the Honorable the Grand Jury Of San Fran
cisco: Your committee on parks, etc, having
had the subject under considera ton beg leave
10 report that a thorough and exhaustive
examination has been made of the affairs and
condition OF Golden Gate Park Two experts
have been engaged, and every Item OF eXpendl-
ture and receipt has been checked from July
1, 1896, to April l, 1897. All items have been
classified and apporlioned to the several de-
partments, finding all the facts correct, the
totals agreeing with the demands on the
treasury.
pended for material and labor and for con-
sIruction and maintenance:
Material used for construction. ........ $63744 rs
Material used for maintenance. ........ 19,0S5 20
Labor used for construction ...........- 2237S 05
Labor used for maintenance. ........... So 1872 81
Total no SO
Men employed, including superintendent
Office boy, secretary and police, were as fol-
lows: The smallest mum Der, in Decem Der,
1896, 159; the largest number, in March. 1897,
2l7; average number employed tor the nine
months, 1874.
Concerning the consumption of coal, your
committee find from the report OF the experts
that all the coal delivered and paid for by the
City and County has been consumed for park
purposes exclusively, and SO far we can
ascertain after a close and critical examine
ton the money has been well expended !;
deeming the matter of coal to be OF grave i'm
portance, special care was taken to ascer ia in
beyond peradventure of doubt, the exact
amounts OF coal bought, delivered and con-
sumed al the different stations, such as the
conservatory, lodge and pumping station ;
each load as delivered was well hed at the park
scales by properly authorized person from
the Office and Tag delivered at the lodge.
Test runs were made to ascertain the correct
consumption Cor pumping purposes, the details
ofwhich are prepared and fled with experts
report; every part has been fully accounted
for; we can find n e. ther waste nor loss.
Total amount delivered from January L.
1896 to April 1, 1897, was 551 tons AMI $50
pounds, at total cost of $4603 SIS, as follows:
Park Lodge, IS tons 1910 pounds Of
Conservatory. 90 tons 2O4o pound OF Penn
sylvania anthracite 60 tons ITO pounds
Pumping station, SCI tons 1870 pounds Of ~ 90
NanRlmO- I -
The stables and appurtenances thereto, in
Guiding carpenter and paint shops, were thor
oughly and carefully examined, and we have
TO report that all ana every thing in connec-
ton Herewith was found in the best possible
condition. The hay grain and feed in use We
found to be first class in every particular. The
total amount expended for feed from July l,
1896 to April l, 1897, we find to be STATS rs,
which includes medical attendance q nd drugs
also the labor of four men, two of whom, it is
proper to say, are also employed in other du-
ties than that strictly pertaining to the horses
and stables. For the period bove mentioned
we find expended the sum OF S457 20 for har-
ness, repairs there to and articles incidental to
the car of horses and stables OF such size. On
July l. 1896, 81 horses we're on hand; at the
present time there are AT. We especially COM
mend inc policy OF the commissioners in pro-
curing and mail tanning animals that
credit to the park, both in appearance and eff
cheney.
The item of loan was subject of careful
and critical consideration. 1t was ascertained
that S12,l SO WAS expended for same from
July l, 1896, 10 April l, 1897, and that 26, ass
cubic yards had been received and distributed.
Although at first glance the amount would ap-
pear large, personal examination made the
fact apparent that the need of loan was
matter of the utmost Importance. OF the 1850
acres composing the area OF The park, about
700 acres are we'll loaned, and about 300
require this important sdjunct to pre-
serve trees that have attained from three to
eight years of growth, but which are threat
ened with extinction il much longer deprived
OF this substance. The advantage of Dam is
well illustrated on thel north side of the south
drive at about ThiIty-second avenue, where
the tall, well nurtured and richly verdured
trees growing in loaned ground form strong
contrast TO the stun ed. sicky looking objects
OF the same age that are in sand that has not
been loaned for he last four years. good
substitute for loan has been found in street
sweepings, and in this connection your COM
mittee expresses regret that these sweepings
cannot be obtained at req sonable cost.
The pumping station we found to be in first