The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-04-20
SHOW WINDOWS
TO Be CURT ALLIED
Must Not Be Extended
Over the Public
Sidewalks.
Mayor Phelan Vetoes a Permit
and Expresses His Ideas
on the Matter.
Hall of Justice Progressing - Gates
May Be Ordered for Rail.
road Crossings.

Mayor Phelan has decided that the
time to check the narrowing of the side
walks OF the City by allowing shopkeepers
to extend their show-windows over the
same has come, and he intends to make
determined crusade against the granting
OF any more permits.
He started the ball rolling yesterday at
the meeting of the Board of Supervisors
by vetolng resolution No. 1922, granting
}. l.. Haskell permission to extend his
show-windows twelve inches over the
sidewalk at 11l8 and 1120 Market street.
The message reads as follows:
Such special privileges have been heretofore
granted by the Beard OF Supervisors at the re-
quest OF property-owners, and thus become
not special privileges, but a general privilege.
because If you grant the privilege to one
there is no good reason why it should lie re-
fused to another. The evil has grown by rea-
son of the fact that one property -ownef ex-
tends his show-window, over the sidewalk,
thus compelling his neghbor to do the same,
and so on progressively until all the show
windows are projected.
II the privilege was not granted in the first
instance, every property-owner would be COM
PEELED TO occupy his own land. He could pro-
duce the same effect on his own line by max
ing EN- brasures instead OF projections, and the
pubic would not be the sufferers. AS it is
now, one foot is taken off the sidewalk and
given to the properry-owner, thus mario wing
to pass, inconveniencihg and crowding them
into the roadway. Such absorption of the
sidewalk IL certainly in derogaton of the
rights of the citizen 10 It's free and iull use.
General order 1886 OF the Board OF Super
visorS limits the use OF the public sidewalk for
private purposes TO the privilege OF gaining
access 10 ones. property, as by basement
entrance, but the projection of a show-win-
dow is not made for any necessary purpose
and Is clearly an encroachment upon the pub
lie street.
| The owners of property, furthermore are
short-sig h ted in thus reducing the width of
the sidewalk on business thoroughfares be-
cause crowded do they become on certain
days and evenings of the week, and on occa-
sions OF unusual gatherings, that not only are
driven away b. reason OF the compact bodies
of people moving i'll one direction or another
over the dim mis- he'd sIdewslk
Ny criticism applies to the principal thor
ouphfares raTher than To the OUTLYING dis
| tricts, where. however, the same principle is
involved, but not the same necessity Tor i'm
mediate action.
These special privileges are revoca Bile by the
board, and where they become conspicuous
nuisances 1t may be necessary for your honor
able body 10 revoke some of the privileges
already granted; but inasmuch as projecting
show-windows have been almost invariably
put in Old structures, ii may be that the con-
struction OF new buildings in the near future
Will remedy the evil, and to this end such
special privileges should hereafter be denied.
Respectfully, JAMES ID. PHELAN. Mayor.
Supervisor Rottanzi offered resolution
that was referred TO the Street Commit
tee providing that individuals, companies
or corporations operating streetcar tracks
i'll this City must pave the space between
the rails anu the portion which by law
they are compelled to keep in order With
the same Character OF pavement that is
used in the remainder of the street, except
for eight in ches on each side of the tracks,
which may he paved with oasaIt blocks.
The Committee on Public Buildings re-
Z hat Z hoa n a
ent of Construction of the Hall of Justice
had reported that larger force OF men
than forme riy was at work OH the build
ing, but that the work could be pushed
more rapidly. The committee also re.
ported that the building must be con-
structed with the same variety of stone
| that is being used in the new ferry build
ing, and that the sub-contract to furnish
the stone had been iet to l. S. Delano of
the Rocklin Marble Company.
Bateman Brothers have been notified
that the present morgue building will be
vacated in about two weeks, and that as
the temporary quarters have been rented
for six months every effort should be
made TO erect The new building within
that time.
A communication was received from the
Richmo nd District Improvement Assocja-
iion asking that the Sutro Railroad Com
pany be compelled to run its cars within
ciLal ordinances. The petition was signed
by George r. Fletcher, president of the or
ganlzation, and stated that the cars of the
company were run SO fast as to endanger
the lives, n OF only of those pau onizing the
line but those compelled 10 use crossing s
over W hich 1t passes. The recent accident
in which a number of persons were in
jured was attri buted TO the speed Of the
cars.
A resolution was adopted transferring
$4,000 from the funds of the Almshouse TO
those of the City and County Hospital in
order TO prevent shortage in the re-
sources OF the latter institution. The
funds of the hospital were overdrawn
when the present board went into office.
and since then a sewer system costing
$4,000 has been paid for out of the funds,
leaving them in bad shape unless re-
plenlshed in some.manner.
A resolution permitting the South San
| Francisco Gun Club to conduct trap shoot
| ing on a tract of land owned by Thomas
| Tanning, half mile inside the County,
line, two miles from the Mission road, was
| passed to print.
Supervisor Clinton offered a resolution
| that was referred to the Street Com mittee
| directing the Southern Pacific Com panv
to erect gates where its tracks cross pub
! lie streets at the following locations:
| King and Fourth streets, Townsend and
Fourth streets, Townsend and Fifth streets.
! Townsend and Eighth streets Harrison and
| Eighth streets. Harrison ana TWENTY first
streets, Valencia and Twenty-ffth streets, Hi
nois and Napa streets Old San Jose road and
Circular avenue, Ocean House road and
southern Pacific Railroad crossing, old San
Jose road and Plymouth avenue.
In support of his resolution the Super.
visor stated that he had asked the Super
intendent of Streets for the locations of
the railroad crossings OF this City and had
received list of foriy-four. The ones
mentioned were classed as dangerous. DR..
Clinton stated that it was necessary for
the preservation of human life to have
gates at the crossings mentioned, aud
that the absence of such barriers hsd
already cost several people their lives.
District Attorney Barnes sent in a COM
municauon stating that the services of
Attorney j. J. Dunno, whose appointment
as special counsel and demand for services
were vetoed by the Mayor, are necessary
for the proper conduct of his Office.