The San Francisco call., 1910-08-13

needs OF the city and the possibility
Of rendering some effective aid toward
the betterment of municipal govern
ment. These men formed the Mer-
chants Association of san Francisco.
The organization increased in numbers
and efficiency until now after Is years
Of effort it is one Of the largest, if not
the largest and most influential or
ganization in the city devoted TO i'm
proving civic conditions.
The organization has for its purpose
the practical improvement of the city
of San Francisco. Any person inter
ested in the Improvement Of the city
is eligible for membership.
il would be impossible 10 do any
thing more than merely outline what
this, -,rga nization has done during the
last 16 wears. Indeed its history must
date from the time Of the IRE, with
only & casual reference to some Of the
more important projects to which II
gave its attention before that time
From these achievements must be in
ferred what the association must have
done during the many years concern
ing which no reference is made.
STREET WORK ACCOMPLISHED
One Of the first matters to which the
10 which ever since IL has been mind
ful of, was street work. The condt-
rions Of the streets did not please the
association It raised by private sub
scription money 10 do street work by
the block system" which had never
before been tried in San Francisco
Previously street sweeping was done
by the unsatisfactory machine method
The association undertook the contract
for one year for cleaning the entire
city. The city has ever since used the
method introduced by the association
The association still employs an in
spectOr 10 see that the work is done
right and that the contract price is
reasonable. The association inaugu-
rated the plan of having the street
sWeepinEs sent TO Golden Gate park
for fertilizing purposes instead of be-
ing wasted as was formerly done.
STREET SPRINKLING
II was the custom Of the city TO
have street sprinkling done in front
Of certain blocks which paid for the
same by private subscription. This
the Merchants association did away
with and induced the city 10 install
regular system of street sprinkling.
Only a few years before the fire
Market street was in miserable con-
dition. Golden Gate avenue and Van
Ness avenue were practically the only
well paved streets that the city had.
Asphalt was barred by rule of the
city from the specifications for street
work The association at a great eN-
pense sent q representative upon a
tour Of the eastern cities to secure (
data upon and samples Of modern pave
ments-
The result was a change in the street
paving system Of the city.
The system Of street paving now
used here is probably as good as can
be found anywhere.
The association undertook TO inspect
and supervise street and sewer work
and all contracts let under the bono
issue IN November, 1907, it took over
the bureau Of inspection previously
conducted by the Civic league.
II spends about $4,000 a year in
the maintenance Of this bureau. The
Ss5.00O. 900 Of public Improvements are
subject 70 its inspection and approval
The object is TO see that the city ana
the tax payers get what they pay for.
both in ma aterial and workmanship. The
work Of the association in this respect
has been very great success The
city is getting as good and probably
better work than private parties could
get.
STREET LIGHTING SUPERVISED
The association at an expense of SIS
600 installed a system of electric light
ing upon the principal business streets
in the city, thus demonstrating the
superiority of this method over the gas
lamp method previously in general use.
Constant efforts have been made by
the association to free the business
streets Of the city from the disfiguring
overhead wires. The association pre-
pared an ordinance which was adopted
by the supervisors dividing the city
into four districts and requiring the
removal of all poles and overhead
limited time
The ravages of the fire and the un-
settled condition Of affairs since have
made II Impractical 10 enforce this
ordinance; but in the near future. when
the time is more opportune, renewed
efforts will be made 10 enact and en-
force similar legislation.
II has frequently been found neces-
sary 70 give object lessons on the value
or necessity Of certain improvements
by actually instructing some of them
before the city could be induced 10
undertake such improvements.
The return Of the California vlun-
s-ers and other large parades showed
the necessity of street parade appli-
ances. The association provided metal
sockets in the street pavement just
outside the sidewalk curb. into which
was inserted q pole, and from the pole
wires were strung. The demonstra-
ffon Of THIS device proved so effective
that the city Immediately adopted it
The association constructed a safety
station in Market street near Geary
and presented it TO the city. It proved
so serviceable that the city has since
constructed several others. Other cities
have adopted the same scheme.
For several years the association en-
desvored to Induce the city to con-
struct public Convenience stations. Fin
allv the associttion built one at an
expense Of $500 and presented il to
the city. Its necessity was at once
demonstrated and the city has since
built several OF then.
UNCoUTH SIGNS ABOLIsHED
Not so very long AEa San Francisco
especially InrirE month of Octo-
her every other Il used TO look like
q circus town IL 4 flah the performers
had hung their kers out proclaim
ing their great &c levements and prom
ising that after certa in date in No
vember they Mid continue 10 do
greater stunts itthe votes of the bal
lot box permitted Ding dong wagons
sounded through he city, awakening
the people to the etstence of its great