The San Francisco call., 1905-03-07
SELECTS PUBLIC
LIBRARY SITE
Board Adopts a Resolution
Ordering the Purchase Of
Western Addition Block 73
MAYOR MAKES PROMISE
Saye He Will Give Supervis-
ors Notice if He Decides
to Suspend the Auditor

W PuCpClAu O1AO hue1CO4
The Board Of Supervisors yesterday
adopted a resolution providing for the
selection of Western Addition block 73
as a site for the new Public Library
to be erected under the bond issue
The resolution follows:
Whereas. Proceeds Of the sale Of library
bonds to the amount OF S739. 800 are now avail
able for the purchase of site for the New
Public Library and the commencement OF the
CONSTRUCTION Hs o. the building thereon: and
Trustees recommends the selection Of Western
Addition block No. 73. bounded by Van Ness
avenue, Hayes. Franklin and Fell streets as
the most desirable site therefor
Resolved, That said Western Addition block
No. I3 be and the same is hereby selected as
Library authorized by the bond issue for pub
lio improvements
and he is hereby authorized and instructed to
solicit offers for the sale to the city and coun-
ty Of San Francisco of said block and TO re-
port the result thereof to the Board OF Super
visors
Remarks in opposition to block 7S
were made by A. G. Mcguire, DIR.
Charles Mcguire and P. A Breen, who
argued that the business interests of
Hayes street would suffer If a public
library is erected on the street. r.
Aubrey Jones, agent for some Of the
owners Of block 81, thought that site
is preferable to block 73.
SITE is FAVORED.
Rev. Father Allen of st. Ignatius
Church urged the selection of block
73, saying that his congregation of 5000
favored the site.
we are certainly entitled to some
consideration. said Father Allen. I'VE
II - o. -
paid taxes during all that time. We
do not think that this board should
refuse to select the site because for
sooth q few butchers and saloon
keepers are opposed to It."
Thomas Magee was asked II sur
rounding property would be increased
in value by the erection of a library,
but the question was withdrawn when
A. G. Mcguire asked Magee what COM
mission he was receiving for the sale
Of block 73 to the city.
Mrs. Edward C. Wright, president of
the Century Club, and Mrs. Sorbier of
the Outdoor Art League spoke in favor
of block 73. Public Library Trustee
Taylor said that from the vigorous OBJ
lection manifested to the site 1t would
look as II pesthouse were to be
erected instead of fine library, which,
he said, would appreciate instead of de-
pT6CldIe NdlueS Oh surrounding prop
erty. J. D. Phelan told OF the plans
drawn by Architect D. H. Burnham for
a civic center on behalf of the Adorn-
ment Association. The vote on the
resolution was:
Ayes-Bent, Booth, Braunhart,
Comte. Connor, D'Ancona, Gallagher.
Hooks, Mcclellan, Payot, Rea, Rock,
Sanderson-13.
Noes-Alpers, Boxton, Eggers. Lun-
stedt-4.
d-Brandenstefn-1.
The site has been offered for $685.
900, but 1t is estimated that 1t can be
had for s647,000, the amount of the
appraisement.
TO PREVENT DEFICITS.
The board adouted a resolution di-
recting heads of city departments to
file monthly statements of expendi-
lures in order that they may be con-
fined to the provisions of the one
twelfth clause of the charter and pre-
vent deficits In the fund before the
end of the fiscal year. D'Ancona
said that it is the habit of some de-
partments to incur bills In one month
which, however, are not presented for
payment until two or three months
later and that the credit of the city
is liable to become impaired owing to
an accumulation of such bills.
The Committee on Artificial Lights
was requested to prepare an ordinance
requiring all persons, companies and
corporations furnishing gas and cleo
trio light to the city and county of
San Francisco, or the inhabitants
thereof, in the future, to erect poles
for gas and electric street lamps of a
kind and character to be designated
in the proposed ordinance, in order
that the street lamps of this city may
ha 0f uniform and ARTISTIC char
acter.
ANTICIPATE SUSPENSION.
An attempt was made to force the
hand of Mayor Schmitz, who gave
Auditor Baehr one week in which to
reimb burse the city for the amounts
covered by audited demands for
Grand Jury expenses. under pain OF
suspension. Supervisor d d'Ancona said
that the board should meet in special
session to indorse or override the
Mayors threatened suspension or
Baehr. D'Ancona suggested 10 o'clock
this morning as the time for the meet
ing, but this was opposed by Super
visor Gallagher, who said it would be
undignifed to meet before the Mayor
had taken action.
This board has no right to antici-
pate my action" said Mayor Schmitz,
'I intended to have consultation
with Mr.. Baehr this afternoon, hut
the meeting of the board prevented 1t.
I will say that If the Auditor refuses
to comply with my demand I will
follow the provisions of the charter
in any proceedings looking to his
suspension. / will say that If 1 de-
eide to take such action will give
the board twenty-four hours notice
in order that a meeting may be called
at once"
This was satisfactory to the mem
bers of the board, which thereupon
adjourned to the call of the chair.