The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-12-03
5. INEBR|iT ES'
!. !. HOME is TO
/. Be: ABANDONED.
Downfall of a Famous
Institution.
WHERE "JAGs" WERE KEPT
INEFFEcrUAL ATTEMPT TO DIS
POSE OF THE PROPERTY.
offered to the City as Gift on
!: i. Three Occasions but Each
:. .....: Time 1t Was
,.-.... IL: s 81: Rejected.
WHERE "'JAGsv WERE KEPT
INEFFEcrUAL ATTEMPT TO DIS
:. POSE OF THE PROPERTY.


The famous old home TO- the care of
the inebriates, or, as it has been known,
of late, St. Marks Hospital, will soon
close its doors on the penitent "jags" that
have sought its shelter, and will cease to
exist: for the purpose for which it was
established.
+ The home has fallen upon evil ways Of
late, in financial sense, and after having
tried in vain to dispose of the property
the trustees find their funds practically
exhausted and only one recourse left-to
close the institution. Three times they
have offered to give the property to the
city outright, and twice the deed has been
made out and attested, but each time the
= Supervisors have refused to accept it.
. Once they agreed to take it on condition
that the trustees also turn over what
cash they had on hand, agreeing to oper-
ate it as long as the money held out but
they distinctly stated that there was no
hope of apprepriating city funds for its
: maintenance. The trustees concluded to
(. run II themselves as long as they could,
so the offer was withdrawn.
Next it was decided to sell the home for
what the permanent improvements cost.
sum approXimating $40, 900. 1t was Of
Tered to the Italian Benevolent Society,
but the offer was rejected. Finding they
(for the lot and improvements are valued
at $50.0O0) the trustees offered to deed it
10 the Kings Daughters for hospital,
but that organization did not want it even
as gift, 50 now it will be closed until
purchaser is found for the property. The
present trustees are: H. ]. Burns, presi-
dent; William Martin, secretary; z. ID.
Sawyer, w. G. Badger, J. K. Cooper. John
Densmore and ]. W. Butterworth.
The. home is one of the landmarks OF
northeast beast corner Of stockton i and Chest
nut streets was originally built by
Frenchman named Piper for a residence,
md Eaaae4a II a
and "Piper's folly" In 1859 the late Judge
Blake, eX-Mayor of this city, negotiated
its purchase and it was turned into
home for the care and treatment OF dip
sOmaniaes. For many years the home
received municipal aid, but two years ago
the Legislature withdrew this support
and the home has steadily run behind.
Where formerly its revenues amounted
to $1,000 or more a month they have
dropped TO $780,
AS the operating expenses average 500
monthly. it has not taken long to eat up
all the reserve fund DIR. r. II. Mcdonald
failed to steal Mcdonald was treasurer
of the home, and had part of the funds
deposited in the Pacific Bank and more in
the Peoples Home. He could not be hon
. est even with his associates in the tenn
perance cause, and when the banks went |
UNDER the home lost every cent IL NAG on !
deposit there; few tho this o dolIafs
what has kept the institution open TIL
now
1t became necessary to build substantial |
three-story frame annex, which is still in
excellent repair. Since it was opened |
40 900 patients have been cared for in the
home, many of whom have been perma- |
nently cured.
The founding of the home was brought
about through Frank Whitney, Chief En-
gineer of the Fire Department many |
years ago. Back in the ifties Whitney
was foreman of No. Engine and about
as hard drinker as any member of the
department 1t was customary for the |
firemen in those days to celebrate New
Years by accommodating a poem that |
usually lasted a week. After SOLDERING up
on one of these occasions Whitney pre-
pared a roll and, after signing 1t himself, |
circulated it among his associates. 1t was
a pledge to abstain from intoxicants for
six months and almost every member OF
the department was in a proper state OF
.remorse to sign it. From that grew the
old Dashaway Association and afterward
the Home for. the Care of the Inesriate1:
whitney continued his temperance work
until his death and the Veteran Firemen
are now trying to raise funds to erect
monument over his unmarked grave in
2 Laurel Hill Cemetery.