The San Francisco call., 1909-02-18
WASTE OF MONEY
CHARGED TO BOARD
Berkeley Trustees Are Asked to
Explain Why High Price
Is Paid for Land
Warren Cheney, Novelist, Adds
Another Chapter to In
cineratOr Trouble

BERKELEY, Feb. I7.-Wasting OF
public funds is charged against the
town board Of trustees by Warren
Cheney. real estate man and novelist
In an open letter he declares that the
action OF the board in purchasing the
Schmidt -MendenhaIl property at the
foot Of Harrison street on the West
Berkeley water front last night for an
incinerator site should be explained in
view OF the fact that adjoining prop
erty Of the same acreage was offered
Tor 5000 lower.
Cheney asked for light on the pur-
chase OF the property. which was the
cause OF the garbage war in West
Berkeley year ago. IN view Of the fact
that this land is owned by Mrs. J. V.
Mendenhall, wife Of the town clerk of
this city. and George Schmidt, former
postmaster and brother of William
Schmidt Of the town board which made
the purchase.
The real estate novelist declared that
he has had engineers investigate the
two sites offered to the board on the
water front and adjoining each other
and that the verdict has been in favor
OF the property offered by F. D. Red
ding OF the Casa Iona apartments of e
strip OF six and a fifth acres for 5000.
The Schmidt -Afendenhau property was
purchased last night for $500 and is
bounded by Third. Harrison, Second
and Cordonices creek The Redding
site is at Second. First. Gilman and
Harrison streets.
LETTER CATGFeS SENSa-ToN
Not since the garbage war of year
ago has such a sensation been caused
as by the appearance of Cheney's let
ter. 1t was followed by the declaration
OF Charles Stuart, representing the Da-
vio Jacks corporation. which owns con-
siderable property abuttlng the pro-
posed incinerator site that he will en-
join the town board from making the
initial payment OF $1,000. one-third OF
the purchase price on the Sehmidt-Men-
oenhau property.
That the board will have a worse
problem to face than that of a wear
ago is evident. Cheney has made nc
open charges OF graft on the part OF
the city ofhctals. but desires some light
on their transaction. He declared that
the purchase Of the incinerator site was
made on the supposition rnat bonds fol
$4,000 to cover the second payment or
erection
an lncinerator viii be voted. although
last october by a decisive vote the peo.
PIE OF this city refused to bond tht
town for Se5.oo0 for an incinerator anc
site
GoMPERTZ MAKES STATEMENT
Trustee Walter A Gompertz. candi-
Gate for mayor under the new charter
declared on behalf Of the board that
there were no grating or irregulari-
ties connected with the purchase of
the property by the town board
He said that while the town proba t,ly
bought the land for a little more than
Its value, as is usual when a munich
pality makes purchase, the town
board acted in a straightforward man
ner.
"As far as know personally" CON
tinued Gompertz. there was no graft
ing in connection with the purchase
OF the land The board agreed that
the garbage difficulty would have to
be overcome. and accepted the Schmidt
Mendenhal property as the most avail
able"
Gompertz averred that the OWNERSHIP
OF the land sl-ould make no difference
n the transaction, although in the
consideration OF other properties the
ownership OF the ground by a trustee
prevented the board from any consid-
Grafton of them.