The San Francisco call., 1899-07-27
LEES ASKS FOR
AUTOMOBILES
AND BICYCLES
Also Wants a HarbOr
Patrol Boat.
IMPROVEMENTS SUGGESTED
HIS ANNUAL REPORT SHOWS A
YEAR OF GOOD WORK.
IMPROVEMENTS SUGGESTED
Efficiency of the Department at
High Standard and the Chiefs
One Aim to Attain Greater
Improvement.

The annual report of Chief of Police
Lees is an interesting document in that
il outlines to the Supervisors many I'M
provements in the service that are pal
pabIy necessary. In it Chief Lees dWells
at length on the need of a bicycle squad,
a patrol boat to protect the extensive
shipping in the harbOr and automobiles TO
supersede the present expensive patrol
wagons in the transportation of prison.
erS.
concerning these matters the report
says:
There are at present in actual use in this
department nine patrol wagons. each of which
is drawn bv two horses with two relief horses
to assist them. 1t must be apparent, at
glance what drain the keeping and care OF
these animals is upon the hnahcss Si Sc I[lS it o
reasonably and practically, 10 the ammunition
of this expenditure shouid, su11tii is T,9l9
the bicycle implement Of exceeding useful
ness. and in some cities. In some OF thelr inu,
ncipal departments. IL is not uIlusudl 10 Iillu
bicycle squads orSaniZed-a suggestion whlch
should be borne in mind When, under the new
charter, the park police fall within the 1urls-
diction of this department. L suggest this Idea
concerning bicycles for the purpose OF leading
up TO a further suggestion. II modern me
chanics SO improve the bicycle until 1T be
comes the piece of exquisite workmanship
which every day there can be no doubt
that in the near future the automobile will be
far improved, both as TO It's mechanism ana
as It's cost. that IT. will effect the super
session of the more expensive patrol wagon;
nd indeed. reason is perceived by me why
the mechanism of an. automobile might not be
applied to existing wagons, thus ohviating
the purchase outright, at the commencement, of
new vehicles. And in addition to all this, the
operating expenses OF an automobile, COM
ared with the and keeping of many
horses is practically nominal 1 submit this
suggestion to you for your careful consdera-
ton.
For the further efficiency of this department
a patrol boat for the water front is
imperativey necessary. The commerce of San
Francisco is large and increasing: her water
front covers many miles; her shipping interests
are very extensive and enormous amount
OF valuable property is located upon the shores
of this harbor. In other seaport towns the
steam patrol vessels; yet l regret to say that,
I'm spite of repeated recommendations hereto
fore made by me and my predecessor and not
withstanding the defenseless condition of our
large interests upon the bay and along the
water front this magnificent harbor is yet
without even one steam patrol boat
Concerning the work of the department
Chief Lees reports that the principal of
fenses for which arrests were made dur
ing the year were Assault with a deadly
weapon, 1856; assault to murder, 100; bat
cruelty to animals, 1866: drunks. 12,775; OBJ
tanning money by false pretense, 1888;
gambling. all classes, 25SS; grand larceny.
3O9; petit larceny. 6S4; keeping and visit
ing houses of ill-fame and soliciting, 464;
malicious mischief, 335; murder. 3S; ac-
cessory to murder, 2; visiting opium
joints, 116 perjury %; prize fighting. Z;
rape, Z; receiving stolen goods, %; rob
berry, 3; seduction, 9; threats to kill. n;
vagrancy, 277S; total arrests made, 1853.
Total number of saloons paying license