The San Francisco call., 1897-07-31
CITIZENS ASK
IMPROVEMENTS
Memorial of the Merchants
Association to the =
Supervisors.
They Want Better Pavements
and Better Lighted Bust
ness Streets.
An Appropriation Asked for Street
Sprinkling, Sweeping and
Sewerage.

The Merchants Association has ad
mortal on the tax levy for the fiscal year
ending June 80, 1898.
The memorial sets forth that the associ-
alton represents taxpayers who contribute
more than one half of the total amount
of taxes in this City and that the assessed
valuation of property in San ancisco is
proportionately next to the highest OF
any large city in the United States, ard
higher than in any other county of Cali
fornia. Last year the Assessor returned a
total valuation of $500, 100000, showing an
increase of $500, 100000 during the past de-
cade. This amount was further raised by
the State Board of Equalization to $41S,-
000,O00 This year the Assessor has re-
turned total valuation of $345, 900 900,
equivalent to an average of $4,000 for every
male adult in the City.
The memorial proceeds to say.
The defective laws of finance and revenue
governing this City are largely responsible for
many OF our worst financial Affections: The
bsence of a mum ber of specific funds and the
consequent diversion, peryersion and deficits
in the revenue of the City, together with the
irresponsible general fund, are constant
sources OF loss and confusion The in terfer-
municipal affairs has entailed additional and
often needless burdens upon our taxpayers.
1t is safe to say that the present obsolete and
de fective Consolidation act osts the people
OF San Francisco no less than million dollars
annually. We are, therefore, deeply con-
vinced that no permanent progress or pros
perity can come to the City and its inhabitants
until San francisco has secured modern
charter framed upon the enlightened expert
ence of the III ost advan ced cities OF the world.
The association recommends that S130, 600
be appropriated in the next levy ior street
sweeping and $4,000 for street sprinkling.
The recommendation is also made that
$50, 600 out of the amount allowed for re-
paving and repairing accepted streets be
exclusively devoted to the requirement. of
the worst paved blocks remaining in the
most travelled central portion of the City,
such as Stockton and Geary streets.
Every precaution should be taken by the
City to prevent the frequent excavation of the
public streets by the valious corporations
using underground pipes and wires. New
have the strength nor the uniformity of the
original roadway.
The following recon mendation is made
on the subject OF lighting
We recommend that an arrangement be
made by which the number of fgaslignts in busi-
ness streets be discontinued and electric-lights
substituted. Particu srs ana figures for exc
cutting such plan have been prepared by this
assoeia ton aud are at your service. By this
method fairly satisfactory system OF electric
lighting could be secured at an additional ex-
pense TO the City of $4,000 year,
On the matter of sewerage the report
says:
We respectfully recommend that the Mayor
of the City be authorized to appoint sewer
age commission OF the most reliable and COM
pc tent engineers to complete this preliminary
work, ana that S25 900, or so much thereof as
may be necessary, be appropriated in the next
levy for this purpose. AS 10 the final cost OF
Ali improved sewerage system throughout the
City, conta lining necessary conduits for all
the pipes and wires that now mar the streets,
we believe the people will then be willing TO
vote for the issuance of sufficient municipal
bonds, in accordance with the constitution
and laws of California.