The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-05-23
CHILDREN TO
HAVE PUBLIC
FAIRGROUNDS
Business Men Pledge
Their Support.
TO AID CALIFORNIA CLUB
MERCHANTS ASSOCIATION IN
ANNUAL SESSION.
Elects New Board of Directors and
Gives Further Evidence of It's
Appreciation of the City's
Needs.

rua- session in Academy of Sciences Hall
last night for the purpose of electing a
board OF directors for the ensuing year
and receiving the annual report of the
retiring board. Incidentally the assOcia-
ton devoted a large portion of the eve
ming TO discussion OF the subject Of
childrens public Fairgrounds, the estab-
pshment of which is being strongly adj
Nocated by the ladies of the California
club. large delegation from that or
ganization was present by invitation and
they presented their case so eloquently
that the support OF the association was
pledged and President Dohrman was in
structed to appoint committee OF five
to meet with the department of educa-
ton of the club for the purpose of fur
therng the project.
According to the directors report, which
was read by Secretary J. Richard Freud,
the association. which was organized five
years ago with charter membership of
forty-seyen. now boasts of a membership
Of 1057 and surplus of 1891 Al. The re-
port refers with pride to the work accom-
plished by the association during the past
year and particularly TO the progress
OF the movement to secure the repave-
ment Of the streets in the central portion
of the city and 10 its efforts in connection
with the framing of the new charter. Mu-
nictpal ownership of a lighting plant is
advocated, as is the perfection of a sci
entinC sewerage system. In conclusion
the report announces that in connection
with the question of the next tax levy
with which the association is at present
occupied, future municipal plan for the
economic management of the city'S affairs
and at the same time make possible
many projected improvements, is being
formulated which Will be submitted TO All
the political parties for their endorse
ment.
The following board of directors, rec
omended by the nominating committee
was adopted unanimously: a. S. Baldwin
Wallace Bradford, Charles Bundschu, An
i. Grant, Marshal Hale. Hugo D. Keil,
Daniel Y. Kelly, Edward B. Pond John
l.. Quinn, Hugo Rothschild, w. R. Sher-
Wood, Frank j. Symmes and Rolla V.
President Dohrmann then introduced
Mrs. A. D. Sharon, chairman of the de-
partment of education of the California
Club, as the first speaker, on the subject
OF pubhc Fairgrounds for the children of
the city. Mrs. Sharon made an eloquent
plea Tor the little folks and aroused great
enthusiasm by the vivid picture she drew
or the eNl! consequences of the neglect
70 Whlch the youth OF the city are sub
Jected ana TIE dangers and temptations
with which they are daily beset by being
compelled To pass all their leisure hours
on the streets. subject to no restraining
influences. She declared that much of the
eyll and laWIessness among the city's pop
ulatiOn was directly traceable to the
seeming indifference of the people gener-
ally to the physical and moral welfare of
their offspring. In effect. she said the
street was school Of crime, where the
natural tendencies of the child were per-
verted and criminal habits fostered and
developed. She then sketched the history
OF the movement for the establishment of
children public Fairgrounds which was
lnaugurated IN this country about eleven
years ago at Boston, and proceeded to il
lustrate the great benefits which have re-
suited in every city where the plav-
GROUNDS are maintained. Philadelphia.
sew Re YORK i, Br33osklyn, Chicago and nearly
lated the example Of Boston. or were pre-
pairing TO do so, and the results every
where are shown in wonderful decrease
IN the number Of juvenile offenders
against the laws. Her remark that nrb.
lie Fairgrounds were more economical
than jails was loudly applauded In con
clusion Mrs. Sharon told of the experi-
mental playground recently established
by the club on Bush street near Tarkin
the success of which had already been
satisfactorily demonstrated, and she an
pealed to the association to assist the ciIib
IN establishing playground south Of
DR.. Dorothea Moore. chairman ~ +ba
civic department, followed with q brief
ADDRESS along the same lines, and do
ton in chicago, where she resided before
locating in this city. Short addresses were
also made by President Mrs. IoveII
w w me- re- mrs. a; l.. Mann and Mrs. Krebs
D. V: Kelly championed the cause NJ
the club and quoted statistics to show the
methods Of training the future citizens Of
the city. He said the report Of the Chief
Of Police for the year just ended showed
that 500 children had been arrested In
this city in twelve months. 10 per cent Of
all arrests other than those directly trace
able, TO drunkenness: In New York the
number Of arrests of boys under 16 wears
for a similar period was Il 900
Wherever Fairgrounds have been es-
tablished.' said the speaker, the decrease
in the arrests of children has amounted to
30 per cent. In Boston 5000 900 is annually
spent in the maintenance Of public play
grounds for the children and 1t is con-
sidcred exceedingly well spent"
Mr.. Kelly thought San Francisco should
he well provided in this respect in view of
the number of parks and vacant lots in
the city which are at present being put to
absolutely no use. A. S. BALDWIN thought
the association should pledge itself to
provide the Fairgrounds asked for south
Of Market street. Other directors were of
the same opinion. IT was admitted that
In view Of the state of the city's finances
there was but little chance of securing
aid from the Board Of Supervisors and
finally on motion of Director Bundschu a
resolution was adopted pledging the as
sistance of the association to the club
and directing the president to appoint a
committee Of five to confer on the sub
ieCt with the department Of education
representing the club. The joint commit
tee Will meet in the club rooms in the Y
VI. G. A. building Monday afternoon at
/ O'Clock.