The San Francisco call., 1899-06-10
MERCHANTS ASSOCIATION WORK.

THE current number OF the Merchants Associa
! ton Review is mainly devoted to reports OF TIT
fifth annual meeting but there are papers or
other topics showing the interest taken by th'
association ia the general welfare OF the city. Two
Of these are of notable e&celence-one dealing
with the question OF providing Fairgrounds for chll
dren, and the other recommending the adoption
some means of flushing the sewers with salt water
1t is pointed out that in this city there were ar
rested last year upward OF 800 boys, most OF them oi
such infractions Of the law as flying kites playing
ball upon the streets 1t is believed it would be com
paratively easy to provide Fairgrounds that would
give to the youth OF the city for healthiul eXer
else, and thus put an end to the necessity for such
In Eastern cities, where places for recrea
ton have been established the good results have tai
outstripped expectation and afford strong induce
nents for San Francisco to follow the example
The subject was fully discussed at the annual meet
ing OF the association, the ladies' OF the California
Club which has taken especial interest in the move
ment being invited to attend and take part in the
debate. 1t is claimed that many of our parks and
city squares are now hardly more than lounglne
places for tramps and that parents do not feel at all
safe in permitting their children to cross them
Many OF them. it is argued could with pubic advan-
tage be given over in part at least tor Fairgrounds
A special committee OF the association will confer
with the California Club to the best means OF pro
noting the proposed Improvement, and the time is
perhaps not far distant when San Francisco will not
be behind any city OF the Union in providing play
grounds for the children OF parents who cannot afford
gardens or yards OF their own.
The question OF improving the sewers has been long
under consideration. The sewer arrangements are,
in fact. among the most detective features OF our
municipal system. For the purpose OF deriving the
fullest benefit possible from such sewers as we have
Mary A Raymond chairman OF the sanitation de
partment OF the California Club contributes to the
Review strong article IN favor OF flushing the
sewers with salt water.
In the course OF the paper it is pointed out that
there already exists the nucleus OF effective system
OF distribution, and it IS said the Olympic Salt
Water Company possesses franchise permitting
them to bring into the city salt from the ocean
The pumping plant already erected and in operation
by that company is quite extensive With the addi-
ton OF more power it is believed this plant would be
OF sufficient capacity supply the city with salt water
for all including the flushing OF sewers the
sprnllng OF streets and FIRE protection"
1t is certainly time something were done to i'm
prove the sewer system and the methods EN-
ployed in flushing the sewers we have. That San
Francisco is one OF the healthiest cities in the world
is due almost wholly to nature The city itself has
done comparatively little to maintain health The
Merchants Association has long been cndeavoring
bring about Improvements in the direction OF sani-
tation and is be hoped will be as successful in
that as in other public improvements it has cham
pioned