The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-09-13
4 PARK WILL
SUPPLANT
THE DIVES
Supervisors Provide
the Money.
ST. MARY SQUARE CREATED
BACON PLACE WILL ALSO BE
PURIFIED.
Mayor Phelan and the Property
Owners Benefited Will Mate
rally Assist the Park
as Projected.
IT. MARY SQUARE CREATED
BACON PLACE WILL ALSO BE
PURIFIED.

The plague spot of San Francisco, OPP
posite st. Marys Church, is to be forever
removed. A beautiful park, with trees
and shrubs, will mark the place where for
many years the worst forms of crime and
corruption were fostered, and where
thousands of human lives were wrecked.
The efforts of Father Otis and of the
St. Mary's Square Association to secure
the condemnation of the property bounded
by Dupont street, st. Mary's place, Cali
fornia and Pine streets for park purposes
were favorably considered by the Board
of Supervisors yesterday. By unanimous
vote the board pledged itself to contribute
the $4,000 asked as part of the 100000
needed for condemnation purposes, and
steps will Immediately be taken to enter
suit to acquire the tract.
Father Otis and Attorney Shadburne
were on hand when the board convened,
and both expressed themselves as doubt
full concerning the action OF the Supervis-
orS. Father Otis said that he feared the
board might hesitate TO grant the $4,000,
in view OF the prospects for an increased
tax levy. He was tar from expecting the
unanimous favorable action Of the Super
YisOrs.
Mr.. Shadburne addressed the board at
some length, presenting the request of the
ST. Marys Square Association and giving
d brief history of the efforts of the Paul
list Fathers to remove the hotbed of vice
opposite st. Mary'S Church. He stated
that the people of San Francisco and the
and would cheerfully concur in the award
Of $4,000 toward the project. 1t required
only an additional cent to be placed on the
tax levy, and he declared that San Fran
Ciscans would think it a small price TO be
paid 10 get rid of the collection OF dens
which have SO long disgraced the fair
No sooner had he finished than Super
visor Britt moved that favorable action
be taken upon the request OF st. Mary's
to amend that the Sc, geo asked be given
to the object, provided that the tax levy
should not exceed 81 15 for CITY purposes.
This amendment provoked a storm of dis
cussion, and was finally Withdrawn,
whereupon the ORIGINAL motion went
through with a whirl.
Mayor Phelan subsequently expressed
himself as highly graufied at the action
of the board. Il am going to do all in
my power to assist the para project he
gates and Bacon place dens will I'M
doubtedly have to go. There will be a
complete cleanup in that section of the
city. The Supervisors will no doubt act
on the question of closing Bacon place in
the near future. 1t would never do to
leave that collection Of dens on the very
e0ge of the new park"
Supervisor Delany, chairman of the
Committee on Health and Police, was
gates had been permitted TO remain up
to the present time. THE Supervisors
TeferTe6d That ea a[ter but 10 at fhaf time
other disreputable blocks in the nefghbor
hood were not purified and it seemed best
to allow the people Of Bacon place to
screen themselves from the gaze of pas
sers-by. Now that the board has de-
cided to fumigate that section and estab-
lish park, I can assure you the Bacon
place gates and the dens behind the gates
will have TO go. There will be no delay In
taking the matter up.
Rev Father Otis announced that sub
scription paper would be at once circu-
lated to secure the $4,000 needed to sup
plement the SIS 900 appropriation by the
board for paying condemnation claims.