The San Francisco call., 1910-03-30
SHACKS TO REMAIN
FOR ANOTHER YEAR
Board of Supervisors by Unani-
nous Vote Extends Time
Limit to May |, 1911

Temporary buildings erected since the
fire in violation of the city's fire ordi-
nances were granted a new lease on
life yesterday. when the board Of super
vtsors, by a unanimous vote OF all mem
bers present at a special meeting. ex-
tended the time for the removal of such
buildings until May l. 1911.
The hearing occupied most of the aft
ernoOn. the time being taken up with
arguments by property owners and ten
ants OF the Illegal structures in favor OF
an extension of the tine granted by
the old board of supervisors in 1908.
when an ordinance was passed instruct
ing the board of public works to secure
the razing of all temporary buildings
within the FIRE limits by May I of the
present year.
TOWE OPPOSES EXTENSION
Fire Marshal Towe and Health officer
McNutt OF the board of health were the
only ones 10 raise serious objections TO
the extension OF the time for the de-
Structton OF the temporary buildings.
The ordinance, which finally was passed
10 print. was introduced by Supervisor
Healy chairman OF the health commit
tee of the board. In substance. the new
law is based upon the ordinance passed
two years ago. and simply amends the
former so that the demolition of the
existing buildings will not be made per-
emptOry for another year
Mayor Mccarthy was not present at
the special board meeting, and the chair
was occupied by Supervisor Kelly The
final vote on Healy's ordinance resulted
in 16 ayes Supervisors Bancroft and
Hooks not being present. \ score OF
speakers had urged that this step be
taken. and Doctor McNutt declared that
the only objection 10 the temporary
buildings raised BY the board Of health
was that many OF them were insanitary
and that il was not the desire Of the
board TO have a wholesale removal or
dered.
QUESTIONS BOARDS POWER
Fire Marshal Towe stated that in
view of the provisions Of the charter
relating TO the construction of build
ings within the fire limits he did not
believe that the board of supervisors
had any power TO grant an extension
of time or permit any buildings to re-
main. The view was taken BY the
board that the buildings were allowed
merely by sureranCe and that, although
it had no right 10 permit them 10 re-
main, it had power to suspend the en-
forcement OF an order for their re-
movaI
The complaint made by all the speak
eTS VINO favored Lle extension OF lllIc
was that the destruction of the build
ings in the immediate future would
work a great hardship. throw many
businessmen into bankruptcy, bring
about a chaotic condition OF affairs and
result in little or no benefit 10 the city.
WOULD LOSE YEAR
1t was pointed out that most of the
ground leases taken out Immediately
after the fire were for a period of five
years. and that If tenants were forced
TO vacate May I they would have to
pay rental for a year during which
they could not occupy the premises.
II was asserted that il the extension
were granted the question OF the re-
moval of the temporary buildings would
gradually right itself. the old buildings
being torn down as fast as the demand
arose for the building Of new struc-
lures.
Healy put himself on record at the
outset of the hearing as being in favor
of the extension and attempted several
times TO introduce an ordinance or resO-
luton before the hearing was con-
cluded- The new ordinance does not
contain any clause extending time but
merely instruCts the board OF public
works TO enforce the removal OF the
temporary buildings by May I. 1911.
Two hundred and fifty half pound tins OF re-
fined nuium v8lucd AZ ros.nd a.,