The San Francisco call., 1897-03-02
WILL VISIT
SPRING VALLEY
So the Board of Supervi-
sors Voted Yester-
day.
Resolution Locking to Reducing
the Expense Of Hiding
E ectionS.
Merchants Associa ion F rms Pan
tor the Improvement Ct FIRST
Avenu..

The Board of Supervisors voted yester-
day afternoon, in accordance with the
of the Water Com mittee.
to visit the offices of the Spring Valley
Water Company Wednesday morning.
The Water Committee reported that they
had visited the ffices Of the water COM
pany yesterday forenoon. There they
made a demand for detailed information
concerning the compensation and salaries
of officers and employees of the company,
and generally for such other detailed IN
formation as the board has sought from
the beginning Of the water-rate inquiry.
They saw books and accounts, and
Charles Webb Howard, president of the
company, agreed 10 have prepared de-
tailed statement of the operating expenses
and expenditures OF the com pany as re-
aues ted by the board. Mr.. Howard gave
assurances that all the information that
was sought should be supplied, but some
of the facts were to be given to the mem
bers of the board in confidence.
These were the facts as they were re-
ported by the Water Committee. Super
visor Clinton offered a resolution that the
board should visit the water company 8
offices Wednesday morning at III 80 O. clock
and spoke to the question.
Supervisor Clinton said that the board
would be able to determine whether cer-
tain facts should be received in confidence.
Mr.. Howard had answered some questions
propounded by the Water Committee, but
had refused to answer vital questions II
the answers were to be submitted 10 the
public but he had said that he would
answer every question asked of him If
certain answers could be considered as re-
ceived in confidence by the Supervisory
Mr.. Howard had sald that he would satisfy
the Supervisors that his course would best
subserve the interests of the public.
Supervisor Clinton added that he was not
authorized TO make any answer. lie
therefore moved that the board should
visit the Spring Valley offices. Super
visor RottanZi alone voted no.
The board also moved to meet again
next Friday evening to resume the con-
sideration OF the water rates.
The following resolution, which was in
troduced by Supervisor Britt, was adopted j:
RESOLVED, That the Legislature be petitioned
by the Board OF Supervisors of the City and
County of San Francisco TO facilitate the pas
sage OF the act reducing the expenses OF hold
ing Freeholders and charter elections and
also of the joint resolution proposing con-
stitutional amendment bringing County as
well as City offices within the scope OF a Legis-
lative or Freeholders' charter.
The resolution concerning the placing
of the public printing again went over.
Supervisor Smith opposed furthey delay.
Supervisor Britt favored putting over tor
ore week, because, he saio, the Typo
graphical Union desired to be heard.
Supervisor Britt introduced resolution
to appoint Joseph J. Dunno as assistant
to the District Attorney.
May0r Pnplan SDOka on this nronosi-
ton. He said that an assistant attorney
had been engaged during the Durrant
trial, when the District Attorney was
crowded with work. Now there would be
very little to do for the assistant, and he
thought that it would be well to save the
$3.50 per month which it is proposed to
pay an assistant. The matter was laid
over for one week.
Supervisor Rottanzi introduced a reso-
luton and spoke in favor OF it. the pur-
port OF the resolution being to favor legis-
lation to provide for the payment of the
City's creditors. The resolution was
unanimously adopted.
A resolution providing for the purchase
of certain inventions of fire apparatus
from ii. II. Gorter was rescinded and an
other resolution was adopted in its stead,
limiting the amount to be paid to $500,
upon motion OF Supervisor Britt.
Action was postponed for one week in
the matter OF appointing an attorney for
the delinquent tax department. The Ju-
dietary Com m ittee recon mended the ap-
pointment of Alfred Fuhrmann to the
position.
A communication was received from the
Mutual Electric Light Company, giving
notice of an intention to commence dig
ging trenches, laying wooden conduits for
electric cables aud constructing manholes
in OF 4 ho
southeriy corner of Market and Second
streets, thence along Market street 10 East
street; also beg nning at the junction OF
Market and Spear streets. thence along
Spear street to Folsom street, and thence
along Folsom street about $50 feet east
cry. With this was also filed bond OF
$4,000 to lay conduits.
Petitions were recently received from
the Pacific Athletic Club for permission
to hold boxing tournament during the
month of March or April; from the Polk
street Improvement Club for a perm t for
the Mutual Electric Light Company to
erect three poles on each block on Polk
street. from Vallejo to Sutter, on Sutter,
from Polk to Larkin, on Larkin, from SUIT
ter to McAllister, and on McAllistsr, from
Larkin 10 Jones.
The Merchants Association asked that
action concerning the proposed bitumin-
izing of First avenue between the Presidlu
gate and Golden Gate Park be postponed.
The reason gwen for this was as follows
This association is informed by number OF
the property-owners that it is the desire OF
e ma jority of them to increase the roadway
of laid avenue by reducing the width of the
sidewalks from twenty-five to seventeen feet,
or such width as will meet with the approval
of your honorable board. Your petitioner be-
lieves that this will in time become most
popular and much travelled boulevard, and for
this reason it respectfully requests your hon.
orable board to delay action for two weeks,
during which time your petitioner Will call
a meeting OF the property owners and will
then lay before your honorable board propo-
sitlon which we think will be for the interests
of the City.