The San Francisco call., 1897-04-11
AGAIN EXPERT|NG
THE PARK BOOKS
Two Grand Jury Account
ants Set to Work at
Them.
Variation OF Estimates as to the
Quantity of Concrete in
the Tunnel.
Park Commissioners and the Grand
Jury Held Pro, ,onged Conference.
Scope of the Inquiry.

The new lodge in Golden Gate Park was
the scene OF considerable activity yester-
day afternoon. The Park Committee and
experts of the Grand Jury were holding a
session In the east end of the building
while Irving M. Scott, Joseph Austin and
John Rosenield. Golden Gate Park Com
missioners, were holding conference in
the west end. The Superintendent and
secretary were kept pretty busy supplying
each with desired In ormation.
Yesterday was not the regular meeting
day of the board, but as all the Commits
sioners happened to arrive at the lodge at
about the same hour it was deemed expe-
dient to discuss some important questions
relating to park management.
Raphael Pejxotto (foreman) and VIII
liam E. Lutz (secretary) of the Crane
Jury, together with NJ. F. Fragley, chair
man Of the jury committee on parks and
squares, joined the experts, Messrs.
Her.che and Kittredge, in the examina-
ton of accounts.
After the separate sessions there was
joint session of tie Grand Jury commit
tee and the Park Commissioners. The
conference was decidedly animated and it
was inferred that opinions were freely ex-
pressed.
The committee expected to be ready to
su bmit report last evening, but il was
decided to defer the preparation OF the
document until after Lieutenant Potter,
Engineer Corps, q. s. A, has been heard
by the Grand Jury. Lieutenant Potter
made the measurement of the concrete
and other material in the park tunnel and
bridge for the Grand Jury of which
Frederick Hobbs was foreman.
Subsequently the material was meas
ured by other engineers, and the second
calculations produ results at variance
with Lieutenant Potter's conclusions.
The present Grand Jury will asE the
army engineer lor exp anations, and per-
hap3 direct resurvey OF the W hole work.
When Park Commissioner Austin was
asked yesterday what particular work or
contract the Grand Jury was investigating
he said that the com mittee was going into
the bridge, the pumping plant and every
thing else.
The Commissioners are surely affording
the Grand Jury ready assistance, and are
not manifesting the least impatience at
the presence of experts.
1t is already foreshadowed that the re-
port of the Grand Jury will speak highly
of the integrity and ability of the Park
Commissioners, and the report of the eI-
pert will show that all the money appro-
priated by the City ior the maintenan ce
of the great p. easure ground has been &C
counted for. but the document may rec
ommend open public competition for
work and material used in park improve
ment and also suggest open sessions of
the board
The mem bers of the Grand Jury are
duly impressed with the recently ac-
quired knowledge that the Board of Park
Commissioners is Il body possessing al.
most autocratic powers. 1t is not amen
able to the orders of the Mavor, Superin-
nf Sfraats ar Rnq rA M Su
The Auditor is the only City officer that
holds any cheek whatever on the board.
Several years ago legislation was secured
at Sacramento to render the board free
and independent agent, and 1t can how
designate the number OF employees re-
quired and fix the com pensation tor each
IN any sum ii peases.
The last municipal tax levy provided
$3.50, 600 for the maintenance of the park
1or the present fiscal year. 1t is believed
that this money, under the direction of
the Com mmissioners and under the super
vision of Superintendent McLaren, has
been expended for desired i'm mprovement
and needed embellisIment of the park,
but the committee of the Grand Jury
wants to ascertain if the money was care
fully expended or extravagantly dis
bufsed. The Grand Jury regards the in
quiry as timely, inasmuch as the Park
mmissioners have not elected to take
the public into their confidence through
the columns of the press.
The Board of Supervisors and the Board
of Education hold open public sessions.
Even the regents of the university make a
show of holding open sessions, and they,
like the Park Commissioners, derive from
the Governor the privilege OF serving the
public.
Last Monday the work OF constructing
the electric plant for Golden Gate Park
uos commenced The funds ayaila BILE
this fiscal year will enable the Commits
.ioners to build the house. Later on the
engine can be purchased and the under
ground wires laid. In the park overhead
wires cannot be used. An engine with
power sufficient to generate 100 lights will
be supplemented by additional power
when more lights are required.