The San Francisco call., 1909-11-13
GUARDS INTERESTS
OF THE TAX PAYER
Merchants Association Keeps
Watch Over Progress of
Public improvements

The large amount of public work to
be executed by the city in the near fu-
ture includes the fire system, the new
! of justice, the city and county hospital,
new school buildings, two fire boats,
hydrants and other appliances for a
high pressure fire protective system,
the laying of pipe for the fire system,
the construction of the Twin peaks
reservoirs, two high pressure salt
water pumping stations, three new
garbage incinerators and the downtown
new main sewer system.
This enumeration of work is made
by the Merchants Association Review
in connection with an article explain
ing the plans of the association relative
to the inspection of public works.
WORK OF INSPECTION
In view of the general interest of
the proposition the official statement of
the association is given as follows:
The Merchants association took Novem-
ber ! the work of inspecting the construction
of the various public improvements under the
bend issue of 1908, which has during the last
year been carried on by the bureau OF Inspection
Of the Civic league.
The association maintained a general inspec
tion of all of the work under the old bond
issue for several years When the new bond
issue of over $4,000 600 was voted. the Civic
league proposed to undertake the inspection of
that work and to raise by subscription special
fund for the purpose, the work under the
new bond issue was too extensive for the Mer
rent revenue. While this inspection work nat
urally belonged to the Merchants association, 1t
did not desire TO oppose any organization that
wished to take up any labors for the better
ment of the city. there work for all.
The association therefore agreed that If the
Civic league would raise the necessary money to
do the inspection II would turn its attention
to other lines
CIVIC LEAGUE RAISES FUND
The Civic league raised about S21 900 and has
carried on the inspection ever since. Feeling.
however. that this really the Merchants
associations work, the committee of the Civic
league having charge of the matter recently re-
qllested the association to take over the entire
bureau of inspection on November J. with the
balance of funds hand, which the board of
directors agreed to do.
ton under the supervision of its committee
public affairs, and an office for the bureau has
been secured in the Merchants exchange build
ing, the tenth floor. room 1889. The associa-
tons own engineer. ii. a. Campbell will be
placed in charge of the work and the present
force of inspectors will be taken on and con
tinued. IL found satisfactory.
The present committee on supervision of public
improvements and expenditures of the Civic
league has been invited to cooperate by continu-
ing advisory committee.
The association will furnish regular reports
on the work of the bureau of inspection to all
Of its members and 10 the subscribers to the
fund raised to pay for this work,
IMPORTANT TO TAX PAYERS
The association feels that there is .no more
important work for it to do than that of watch
ing the expenditure of the millions of dollars
voted by the tax payers for public improve
ments and seeing that the city gets value re-
ceived. Although the city maintains an efficient
system of inspection. this can be materially
strengthened by careful supervision by some
well recognized organization OF citizens. The
city engineers office welcomed the inspection
by the association of the old bond issue work
and various city officials have expressed their
satisfaction that the association will continue
the work started by the Civic league. The as
socation confidently expects the same hearty
cooperation and support in its future work