The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-04-30
CAMERON'S OFFER
QUICKLY GRASPED
A Nameless Proposal to
Save Money Officially
Recognized.
City Clerk Tompkins' Forma
Note Asking for Bondsmen
With Public Spirit"
A Street. Opening Episode That Is
Ending Very Differently From
the Way 1t Began.
OAKLAND OFFICE SAN Francisco CALL,l
9O8 Broadway, April 90

OAKLAND OFFICE SAN Francisco CALL,l
9Oo Broadway, April %.
few days ago there was some dissatis-
faction over the widening OF East Twenty
first street. In an unlucky moment an
anonymous correspondent sent a letter to
local newspaper stating that it would be
waste OF public money to procure bonds
at the expense of the city for the com.
missioners. as there were plenty of public
spirited citizens of East Oakland who
would be quite willing to give necessary
bonds free of charge.
Councilman Rowe, who represents the
Seventh Ward, encouraged this letter from
the anonymous correspondent by intro
ducing into the Council q resolution ap-
proprlating $3.50 10 enable the Commits
sioners TO procure bonds. AS soon as he
had read the correspondents letter he i'm
mediately picked up the gauntlet and
published statement that he would re-.
sind The resolution and take the anony-
nous writer at his word.
This action of Councilman Rowe brought
out the fact that the unknown was II. NJ.
Cameron. resident of East Oakland, and
now he cannot with dignity recede from
his hasty offer, as it has been officially
recognized.
AO-bay Oib1 SlciA 4OmpAiU6 6uuI6SScQ
the following communication 10 Mr..
Cameron:
Hugh N. Cameron Esq, A79 Ninth street, Oak
land, Cdt.-MY DEAR SIR: At a meeting of the
Street Committee OF the City Council, held
last evening, Mr.. Rowe brought up the matter
OF the resolution introduced by himself, ap-
proprlatlng $3.50 for the purpose of enabling
the three Commissioners appointed in the
opening and widening of East Twenty first
street TO secure the $4,000 bonds exacted by
the provisions OF the street law. 1nasmuch as
the gentlemen composing tie commi> sion ex-
pressed their Willingness to serve in that ca,
pacity without compensation, II could
not be expected they would go down
into their pockets and give their money
as well as their time. and it being
anticipated they would procure their BONDS
from surety company it was thought
to be only just and fair that the city should
pay the cost of same. 1t has been report ted
thai you have stated that this outlay was IN
necessary, as the Commissioners would have
no dlhculty in procuring bondsmen from
among the publfc-spirited citizens of East
Oakland, and that If called upon you would
see that the required bondsmen were forth
coming. l am directed by the Street Com
mittee to say 10 you that If you will secure the
necessary bondsmen Mr.. Rowe will have re-
sc inded the resolution making the appropria-
ton for that purpose. will draw up the
bonds and IL the bondsmen will be good
enough 10 call at this office / viii subscribe
and swear them, thus saving the Commission
ers the expense incident 10 this feature of
their duties.
The precedent for appropriations of this
sort was created when the Commissioners
were appointed for the opening OF street
through Cemetery Creek Canyon. They were
allowed $50 each for the purpose of ieimburs-
ing them Tor any expense they might be put
10 In giving the necessary bonds, and no hue
and CRY was raised, as the proper ty-owaers in
terested conci uded they were getting q COM
mission cheap enough at that figure.
The Street Committee fees that the criti-
clsms resulting from Mr.. Rowe's attempt to
prevent the gentlemen who SO kindly volun-
teered TO give their services as Commissioners
in the opening of East Twenty-first street
personal expense are un just and uncalled for.
The Commissioners in giving their time are
saving the property-owners in terested in
this improvement considerable money, and
Mr.. Rowe in procuring such generous minded
citizens to act in that capacity without CON-
pensation is deserving of any thing but CEN
sure.
Trusting you may be able to arrange this
matter so that the much lie bated resolution
NAV be rescinded at next Monday evenings
Council meeting | remain sincerely yours,
J. W. THOMPSON, City Clerk.
Oakland, Cal, April %, 1897.