The San Francisco call., 1897-02-18
The Proposed Boulevard
May Be Pushed to
Completion.
The " Pingree Plan" MAY Be
Inaugurated as a More Per.
manent Relief Measure.
The Mining Bureau to Be- Called Upon
to Set Men Up in Placer
Mining.

More plans were suggested for the relief
of the unemployed at the meeting OF the
committee of experts, as the Mayor
called them, held yesterday in his Office.
The one directed at immediate relief
was for the building at once of the long
contemplated boulevard through ex-
Mayor Sutro's and the Spring Valley
Water Company's land, connecting with
the park and ocean drive.
The second, directed at more lasting re-
suits, for the benefit of married men and
particularly residents, was for the inaug
uration of the "Pingree system" of farm
ing or gardening the unproductive land
within the City.
The third was suggestion of Labor
Commissioner Fitzgerald-to get those
who can and will to placer mining.
1t was distinctly stated that the unem-
ployed did not want charity. Mrs. Flint
declared that the people for whose relief
this movement was started avoided the
office of the Associated Charities because
it was a benevolent institution.
Commissioner Fitzgerald said that there
were now out of employment more worthy
people-mechanlcs, tradespeople and la
Dorers-than at any time previously. He
thought the number of unemployed would
reach 10000. OF the 1900 painters in the
City fully two-thirds were seeking en-
ployment. The same was true of the car
penters and other trades. These people
were suffering and were willing to accept
any employment. They were. however,
even in their starving condition, very
loyal, and would not take the places of
laborers, even if offered. On this prin-
ciple, also, they would not labor for less
than 81 per day, as they understood that
was the current rate for such employ
ment, and would not cut under it.
Mr.. Wheeler suggested the boulevard
plan of setting these men to work. He
said that Mr.. Sutro and the Spring Valley
Company had agreed to give land ior the
extension of the boulevard, and he
thought that $4,000 could easily be raised
for the work, and that. as the improve
ment was extremely desirable, had been
much talked about and was popular, no
time need be lost.
The boulevard committee, or those sug-
gested to compose it, are Con O'Connor.
Harold Wheeler, J. J. McCord, Adolph
Sutro, Herman Schussler, Daniel Meyer,
James Ccnweil, Judge Frank Kerrigan,
a. B. Spreckels and F. W. Dohrmann.
Mayor Phelan himself suggested the
"Pingree plan" He had telegraphed
Governor Pingree for the latest informa-
ton relative to it, and had received reply
that it was contained in his eighth annual
message, which he had placed in the mails
to his address. The plan consisted in Sc
curing from the owners the right to use
lands that were otherwise unproductive,
and allowing the unemployed to cultivate
them. A large body OF land would be
necessary, and that within walking dis
tance of the heart of the town. Carfare
would eat into the margin. The plan is
in successful operation in New York, and
Major Winchell said it has practically
solved the problem OF the unemployed in
Michi gan-Governor Pingree's State.
The names selected to form a commit
tee to carry this plan out were Professor
Wickson. Alfred Holman, E. F. Adams
and Comm issioner Fitzgerald.
AS TO the placer mining plan, Com mis-
sioner Fitzgerald said that ne less than
10, 600 Chinese were engaged in the ind u.s.
try, and that they sent annually to the
Mint over $500, 900 in gold. 1t was pro-
posed by law 10 prevent aliens from min
ing on Government lands, upon which
most of the Chinese were engaged. He
thought the Mining Bureau would inter-