The San Francisco call., 1904-12-20
WILL HASTEN
STREET REPAIR
Alleged Threat of Member
of Yorke Company Blocks
Payment of September Bill
TO PAVE PHELAN BLOCK
Finance Committee Hits on a
Plan to Improve Bad Con-
ditiOn of ThOroughfare

The Finance Committee of the
Board of Supervisors held a confer
ence late yesterday afternoon with the
Board of Public Works for the pur-
pose of taking steps to hasten the
work of repairing bituminous pave
ments. The Supervisors at their meet
ing had deferred action on the final
passage Of the ordinance authorizing
the payment of the September de-
mands of the F. NJ. Yorke Company
for street repairs.
An erroneous report had been cir
culated that the company had filed a
notice with the Board of Works that
it would refuse to continue the work
of repairs because an inspector was
not measuring the surface covered
with bitumen according to it's lk-
ing. Commissioner Schmitz said no
such notice had been filed. and the
Commissioners of Works had no
knowledge that the repairs had
: been stopped. The September bill was
passed to print under an agreement
that the Yorke Company would re-
sumo the repairs. The threat that the
work would be stopped was unoffi-
cially made by member of the con-
tracing company.
Commissioners Schmitz and Mae
stretti urged that an understanding
be had as to the computations and al
lowances for depth in resurfacing
/ pavements.
'If Inspector Boone has allowed the
company more than he should, he is
not doing his duty and should be dis
charged" said Maestretti.
I'VE want to have the streets put in
good condition. for they are in a
deplorable state" said Schmitz, "and
we think somethingsdefnite should be
done"
= 1t was agreed to have another con-
ference, at which F. M. Yorke and
Boone will take part and some defin-
ite arrangement be made to hasten
the repairs.
TO REPAIR PAVEMENT.
The committee also agreed to hold
a conference with Auditor Baehr for
the purpose of using some $4,000 out
of the. $40, 900 appropriation for street
repairs to put the pavement in front
of the Phelan building in good condi
ton.
1T seems to me-" said Schmitz
that Mr.. Phelan, at whose instance
the pavement was put down as an ex
pertinent and who is receiving reve-
nue. from the rental of a restaurant
under the sidewalk, in space properly
belonging to the city, should pay for
the REPAIRS
1t was explained that the block had
been accepted by the city, and the
contractor had kept it in repair for
five Hyears. 1t was decided that, in
case the demands on the repair fund
exceeded the appropriation, the $4,000
would be taken out of the urgent ne
eessity fund.
The petition of the Excelsior Home
stead Association for the establish
ment of a firehouse at Ocean and San
Jose avenues was referred to the Fin
ance Committee to be taken UP when
the next budget is being framed Chief
Sullivan strongly recommended the
project and the committee agreed
with him.
The petition of B. T. McBain for
the return of $32, 907 II paid as col
, of Henry Pierce, deceased. on the
ground that it was illegally collected
was denied. Similar petitions of Phil
ip 1. Fisher for the return of S4O,-
155 43 and of Charles R. AlIen for
S31S9 13 in the estates of Levi Strauss
and Edgar Allen were also denied.
A demand for $6270 was ordered
, drawn in favor of Victor Albauze and
|. others, who obtained judgments
against the city in suits for condem-
nation Of lands for st. Mary's square.
WILL NOT CLOSE STREET.
The petition that Beach street
westerly from Laguna, be closed was
denied in view of the City Attorneys
opinion that the charter makes pro-
vision for the closing Of streets less
than forty feet in width only, and
Beach street is sixty-eight feet wide
The roadways of Pierce street, be.
tween Vallejo and Green; Laguna
I