and specifications prejiarcd for a fire house at Thirty-second
and Railroad avenues, and a temporary one-story frame build-
ing in Nineteenth avenue, between Quintara and Rivera streets.
FlRiM IS COMPELLED TO STAND IJV ITS BID.
Bates, Borland & Ayer of Oakland Mnst I'l-oceed with Con-
tract Jjct to It on Geary Street Municipal Road.
The contract for the completion of the Geary Street Munic-
ipal Railway from Kearny street to Fifth avenue was awarded
by the Board of Public Works on Monday to Bates, Borland
& Ayer, an Oakland firm, for $225,025.00. The contracts must
be signed within fifteen days and the work completed within
180 days from the date of signing.
Before the bids were taken up for final consideration, Ayer,
representing his firm, asked permission to withdraw its bid,
stating that an error had been made in figuring and that if
compelled to go on with the work his company would lose
considerable money. The bid was $28,000.00 lower than any
other bid received and approximately $50,000.00 lower than
an estimate of the cost of the work made by the City Engineer.
Mayor Rolph and the Works Board Commissioners refused
to permit the withdrawal of the bid, as a simple matter of
business, as they had no proof that an error had been made.
The firm was awarded the contract and ordered to proceed
under the specifications on pain of forfeiture of a certified check
for $25,000.00, which accompanied the bid. Ayer afterward
informed the Mayor that his firm would proceed with the work
as there was no desire on his part to become involved in
costly litigation.
POLICE COMMISSIONERS SIT AS PENSION BOARD.
Several Sergeants, Patrolmen and One Corporal Are Retired
from Active Duty and i'laced on I{otirc<l List.
The Police Commissioners, sitting as a pension board last
Monday, retired Sergeants W. H. Williams and C. H. Blank,
Corporal John McGreevy, Patrolmen Jeremiah Clifford, James
O'Connor, Randolph C. Stroup, John T. Edner and George
Farrell.
Pensions were granted to the widow of Corporal John W.
Hawes, the widow of Patrolman John h. Mangan and to the
parents of Patrolman John J. Nolan, deceased.
The widow of Patrolman William J. Mahoney was granted
$264 from the police relief and pension fund.
The petition of Annie Lycette, widow of Patrolman John
Lycette, for a pension was denied.
The application of the widow of Patrolman John B. Berrie
for a pension was taken under advisement.
STREET CLEANING DEPARTMENT'S \\T?EKLY REPORT.
The street cleaning department reports that during the
week ended on March 29, 1,180 loads of dirt were removed
from public thoroughfares. In addition to this 9,880,905
square yards of pavement were swept by hand and 1,103,566
by machine; 5,870,777 square yards of street surface were
sprinkled and 94,498 flushed. An average of 163 men were
employed each day. The expense account shows that $2,444.00
was spent for teams and $3,605.00 for labor, a total of
$6,048.00.
112
MUNICIPAL RECORD
(Vl
IVmM
MISS REGAN TAKES SEAT OX PLAYGROUXD BOARD.
is published every Thursday by the Board of Supervisors of the City
and County of San FVancisco at City Hall, 1231 Market street, for the
purpose of furnishing information concerning public municipal im-
provements and the work of the several municipal departments.
Copies can be obtained at the various department headquarters, or
a copy will be mailed to any person who will furnish his address to
J. S. Dunnigan, Clerk of the Board of Supervisors, City Hall, 1231
Market street, San Francisco, Cal.
All matter intended for publication should be received not later
than Tuesday noon.
The Recorder Press
f jc^i^i-t 28 Mongtonnery St.
An alarm of fire can be transmitted by telephone by caU-
Ing Park 4381
Information relating to arrests, accidents, lost children,
etc., can be obtained by telephoning to Police Headquarters,
Donglas 20
CITV HAIiL AXD CIVIC CENTER BONDS CARRY.
Proposition to Spend Eight 31iUions Eight Hundred Thousand
Dollars For Improvements Is Enthusiastically Endorsed.
The proposition to issue $8,800,000.00 bonds to erect a
City Hall and create a Civic Center, was carried by a majority
of eleven to one at the special election held last Thursday
Out of a total registration of 115,4 27 there were 4 9,917 who
cast their ballots, but of this number 753 ballots were thrown
out as they were not marked in legal manner. Of the remain-
ing ballots, 45,129 were in favor of the bonds and 4035
against.
The vote on Thursday was the largest ever polled at k
special election in this city, the nearest approach to the total
being on December 31, 1909, when 43.0S1 ballots were cast
on the question of acquiring the Spring Valley Water Com-
pany's properties.
Women for the first time voted in San Francisco on
Thursday and of the 11.150 registered, it is estimated that
fully sixty per cent took part in the election.
In one precinct not a single vote was cast against the
proposition and nine other precincts each had one vote against
the bonds.
The following table shows the vote by districts as returned
by the official canvass and the registered vote:
Registered
District — For. Against. Vote.
Twenty-eighth 606 44 2,854
Twenty-ninth 447 37 1,988
Thirtieth 761 76 2,561
Thirty-first 1.323 133 4.220
Thirty-second 2,888 310 7,721
Thirtv-third 4,168 606 10,602
Thirty-fourth 4,702 519 11,078
Thirty-fifth 3,191 205 7,268
Thirty-sixth 1,754 151 4,797
Thirty-seventh 4,890 300 11,038
Thirty-eighth 3,080 196 8,543
Thirty-ninth 7,074 900 15.508
Fortieth 2,620 123 6,103
Fortv-first 3,137 232 6.753
Fortv-second 1.188 43 3.549
Forty-third 1,358 49 3,973
Fortv-fourth 1,040 37 4.000
Forty-fifth 902 74 2,871
Totals 45,129 4,035 115,427
Commissioners Declare Against Buying Additional Property in
the Neighborhood of the Southside Area.
Credentials from the Mayor's Office announcing the appoint-
ment of Miss Agnes Regan by Mayor James Rolph, Jr., as
Playground Commissioner, were received at the last meeting
of the Commission. Miss Regan takes the place of Miss
Sarah J. Jones, appointed a member of the Board of Educa-
tion to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Miss Deane.
Resolutions regretting the loss of Miss Jones as a member of
the Playground Commission were adopted.
A committe representing residents of University Mound dis-
trict appeared before the Commission with a request that a
playground be established in that section of the city. The
Commission adopted resolutions endorsing the project.
The Women's Progressive Club of the Mission petitioned
the Commission to consider a site in the vicinity of Thirtieth
and Castro streets for a playground. The petition was re-
ferred to the Grounds Committee.
The North Beach Promotion Association asked that the
swimming tanks on the North Beach grounds be completed
during the next fiscal year. The Commission notified the
organization that the expense of the work was included in
the budget for 1912-13.
A resolution declaring against buying additional property
in the neighborhood of the Southside playground was ap-
proved. Several petitions in this matter were presented to the
Commission recently.
Miss Frances Ware was appointed Girls' Director on the
Hamilton Square grounds beginning April 1.
PRIVATE CONTRACTS FOR STREET WORK COJIPLETED.
Street work performed under private contracts at the fol-
lowing locations has been accepted by the Public Works Com-
missioners:
Sewering of Eighteenth avenue from Lake street to a point
1S5 feet northerly; Detroit street, between Hearst and Flood
avenues; grading, curbing and paving of portion of Anza
street, between "Thirty-seventh and Thirty-eighth avenues;
curbing and paving crossing of Anza street and Thirty-seventh
avenue; sewering, curbing and paving southerly half of inter-
section of Lincoln Way and Twenty-second avenue; southerly
half of Lincoln Way, between Twenty-first and Twenty-second
avenues; southerly half of intersection of Lincoln Way and
Thirty-seventh avenue; curbing and paving portion of Geary
street, between Twenty-fifth and Twenty-sixth avenues; curb-
ing and paving crossing of Cabrillo street and Forty-second ave-
nue; curbing t.nd paving southerly half of Lincoln Way be-
tween Twenty-sixth and Twenty-seventh avenues. Thirty-
seventh avenue, between Lincoln Way and Ir\'ing street;
sewering, curbing and paving intersection of Arguello Boule-
vard and Irving street; sewering Ir\"ing street, between
Twenty-sixth and Twenty-seventh avenues. Seventeenth ave-
nue, between Geary and Anza streets, crossing of .\nza street
and Seventeenth f..venue, Marston avenue between Edna street
and Circular avenue. Circular avenue between Marston avenue
and Detroit street, Lowell street between Brunswick and Mis-
sion streets.
STREET WORK irXDER PRH'ATE CONTRACTS.
The Public Works Commissioners have granted permission
for property owners to have the following street work per-
formed under private contracts:
Grading and sewering. Eighteenth avenue between Anza and
Balboa streets, Cabrillo street between Fifteenth and Six-
teenth avenues.
Grading, curbing and paving. Laidley street, between Roa-
noke and Mateo streets. Forty-fourth avenue between Anza
and Balboa street. Forty-fourth avenue between F\ilton and
Cabrillo streets.
Curbing and paving. Seventeenth avenue between Gearj- and
Anza streets. Palmer street between Harper and Sanchez. Har-
per street between Thirtieth and Palmer streets, Coleridge
street between Esmeralda and Virginia avenues. Highland ave-
nue between Mission street and Southern Pacfic right of way.
>Liy CHARGE FOR USE OP SUB-SIDEWALK AREAS.
A proposed ordinance imposing a charge for the use of
sub-sidewalk areas will be considered by the Public Buildings
Committee of the Supervisors, at a meeting to be held on
Tuesday, April 30, at 1:30 p. m. All persons interested in
the proposed new law are invited to attend the meeting.
MUNICIPAL RECORD
11?
NEW SCHOOTi DIRECTOB TAKES SEAT ON BOARD.
Severiil Toachei-s aro Transferred, (Xliers Granted Ijeaves of
Absence and Substitutes are Assigned.
of charge from the residence of its late colleague, Miss Mary
A. Deane, to the Paulist Church, on the occasion of Miss
Deane's funeral.
Miss Sarah J. Jones, appointed School Director to fill the
vacancy cause by the death of Miss Mary Deane, was formally
seated as a member of the Board of Education at an ad-
journed meeting held March 29.
The Board passed a resolution requesting the Board of
Supervisors to purchase the following named sites for bond
issue schools, the same to be paid for out of the 1908 bond
issue: For the Cooper School- — Fifty vara lot southwest cor-
ner of Jones and Lombard streets. For the Marshall School
— Lot at southwest corner of Capp and Fifteenth streets, with
frontage of one hundred and forty-three feet on Fifteenth
street and two hundred and sixty feet on Capp street.
A new class was formed at the Lafayette School, Thirty-
seventh avenue, near Point Lobos, to relieve crowded condi-
tions at the school.
A formal resolution was adopted and forwarded to the
Speaker of the House of Rrepresentatives, the chairman of
the appropriation committee, the chairman of the sub-com-
mittee on appropriations and the chairman of the committee
on ways and means, deploring any action by Congress tend-
ing to reduce the appropriation for the operation of the San
Francisco mint and urging upon the Representatives in Con-
gress to continue in operation the San Francisco mint on the
basis of its present operation.
The following transfers of teachers were ordered: Cornelia
Barrett, from the Fremont to the Denman School; Margretta
C. Robinett, from the Edison to the Fremont School, vice Miss
Barrett, transferred; Mrs. Kate T. Egan, from the Noe Valley
to the Edison School, vice Miss Robinett, transferred.
The following assignments of substitutes as probationary
teachers were ordered: Edith Allen, to the Lafayette School;
Helen M. Ward, to the Portola School; Edith A. Jones, to the
Jefferson School; Lillian Hill, to the Junipero Serra School;
Frances Moran, to the Monroe School.
Leaves of absence were granted as follows: Miss S. J.
Jones, as principal Agassiz School; Miss Marie D'Erlach, Jean
Parker School; Miss Lena C. Cole, Hearst School; Miss E. M.
Graham, principal James Lick School.
All fines levied against teachers since the opening of the
term and up to March 7, for absence from medical lectures,
were ordered remitted and the amount refunded.
The Supervisors and Board of Public Works have been re-
quested to make provision for an outlet sewer from the Visi-
tacion Valley School and district in the vicinity of said school.
Mrs. Mary McHugh w^as appointed Janitress at the Frank
McCoppin School, vice Mrs. Johnson, resigned.
In accordance with her petition and with the recommenda-
tion of the committee on retirement. Miss Bertha Goldsmith
was retired as a teacher, to receive the maximum annuity.
The following resolutions of respect to the memory of the
late Miss Mary Agnes Deane have been adopted and spread
upon the minutes:
"All things rest with God.
Whereas, Our associate. Miss Mary A. Deane, has passed
forever from our mortal vision, and
Whereas, As a principal and director of this department her
personal influence was most saiutarj' and her kindliness of
spirit and manner won for her the esteem of her associates;
and
Whereas, As a teacher she was earnest and sympathetic,
winning the affection of her pupils.
Therefore be it
Resolved, That in the death of Miss Mary A. Deane, the
School Department has lost a valuable coadjutor and this com-
munity an honorable citizen, and be it further
Resolved, That this memorial having been engrossed in the
minutes of the proceedings of this Board, a copy thereof be
forwarded to the family of the deceased."
The thanks of the Board were extended to James Harris,
Superintendent of the California Street Railway Company, for
his kindness in offering to convey the school children free
CITV AKCHITECTd OFFICE BEING REORGANIZED.
.\dvisory Board Wilt Aid in Planning, Designing and Con-
structing the City Hall and Civic Center Buildings.
The Board of Public Works, acting in conjunction with the
Mayor, reorganized the city's architectural bureau on Thurs-
day last by naming John Galen Howard, Frederick H. Meyer
and John Reid Jr. consulting architects. In addition to re-
organizing the staff in the office they will aid in planning,
designing, constructing and completing the City Hall and
Civic Center buildings. For their services they each will re-
ceive a retaining fee of $2,500.00 and $25.00 for each day
of employment.
Immediately following the appointment, architects How-
ard, Meyer and Reid issued a formal call to San Francisco
architects to file their applications and credentials before
April 5 and announcing that all entitled to compete would
be given the full program of the competition, with the stipu-
lations governing that contest, on April 8.
Mayor Rolph next called on the Exposition directors and
served formal notice that the city was prepared to open
negotiations with the Fair Company in regard to the con-
struction of the $1,000,000 auditorium which was promised
if the bonds carried.
In order to secure the best design for the City Hall, an
architect will be chosen by competition, the general condi-
tions of which follow:
Krst — ^The competition will be open to all architects who,
on January 1, 1S12, were legally entitled to practice archi-
tecture by reason of being duly certificated in accordance wltli
the laws of Ca'ifornia and who maintained an otfice for such
practice in San Francisco on January 1, 1912, and the com-
petition will be restricted to such architects and no firm or
association of architects formed after January 1, 1912. or for
tlie special purpose of this competition will be allowed to com-
pete, except with the express knowledge and approval of the
consulting architects.
Second — Architects, meeting the conditions of the competi-
tion and desiring to compete, must file a written application
with the consulting architects of the Board of Public Works,
together with their credentials, not later than April 5, 1912.
Third — The credentials of all applicants will be examined
by the consulting architects, and programs of the competition
will be delivered to all applicants, entitled to compete, on
April e. 1912. and such applicants will thereupon be taken to
be employed by the City and County of San Francisco for the
purposes of this competition, said employment being subject to
the terms of the program.
Fourth — Applications shall be addressed to the Consulting
Architects. Board of Public Works. David Hewes Building.
San Francisco, Cal.
Arthur Lamb, an assistant architect, who was under fire
several months ago for having taken a trip East at the ex-
pense of a contracting firm having a patent floor covering to
sell the city, was dropped from the roll at a meeting of the
Works Board Commissioners on Monday last. The removal
of Lamb is said to be the first step toward the reorganization
of the architectural bureau.
WORK PROGRESSING ON ISLAIS CREEK INCINERATOR.
The grading of the site for the Islais Creek Incinerating
Plant is about 75 per cent completed. Pits for the piers have
been excavated and the concrete poured.
The plans and specifications for grading the site and setting
piers for the North Beach Incinerating Plant are 33 per cent
completed.
WILL STUDY POLICE CONDITIONS IN EASTERN CITIES
Jesse B. Cook, president of the Police Commission, Chief of
Police D. A. White and Lieutenant Duncan Matheson of the
traffic squad left on Tuesday for a forty days' visit to Eastern
cities to study police conditions and methods of handling
street traffic. Police Captain Shea will act as chief of police
during the absence of White.
114
MUNICIPAL RECORD
PCKCrXG REGISTER OF ELIGIBLE SDESSEXGERS.
Civil Service Commission Takes Vp Matter at Last Reg:iilar
Meeting and Removes Thirty-four Names.
The Civil Service Commission began the purging of its
register of eligible messengers at a regular meeting held Mon-
day evening last, and removed thirty-four names from said
register.
A communication was received by the Commission from
the City Attorney stating that the certification of William
Gleeson, made December 15, 1910, from the civil service list of
machinists, for appointment to position of superintendent of
engines in the Fire Department, was irregular and void for the
reason that the position of superintendent of engines was, on
said date, separately classified and therefore could be filled
only from an eligible list created by examination for the class
last mentioned.
The Commission adopted the following resolution on mo-
tion of President Walcott:
Whereas, The Civil Ser\'ice Commission has received from
the Board of Health a copy of the ofHcial reports of the Super-
intendent of the Relief Home and the Superintendent of the
Isolation Hospital, stating that the following positions filled
by the persons named are unnecessary:
W. J. Ualy, assistant commissary, City and County Hospital,
$125 per month;
A. F. JIurray, commissary, Isolation Hospital, $120 per
month: and
Whereas, The positions named have been filled by temporary
appointment; and
Whereas, The only authority under which temporary appoint-
ments may lawfully be made is that of section 10 of article
XIH of the charter which provides tliat such appointments may
be made solely "to prevent a stoppage of public business, or to
meet extraordinarj' exigencies", and these only with the ap-
proval of this Commission; be it
Resolved, that the Board of Health be requested to appear
before the Civil Ser\ice Commission to show in what manner
such appointments are necessary to prevent the stoppage of
public business or to meet extraordinary exigencies; and that
pending such showing the request for authority to make such
appointments is disapproved by the Civil Service Commission
as without warrant of law.
President Walcott gave notice that at the regular meeting
of the Commission to be held Monday, next, he would move the
adoption of the following resolutions:
Resolved, That Rule 16, entitled "Waiver of Certification",
be and hereby is amended by adding thereto the following new
section:
Section 4. The following classes of persons having place
upon the Civil Service eligible lists may, with the approval of
the Civil Service Commission, waive certification of appoint-
ment:
1. Persons elected by the voters to an office under the City
and County of San Francisco;
2. Persons appointed by the Mayor, or other city official,
to an office created by the Charter;
3. Persons employed by the Panama-Pacific International
Exposition Company in superintending positions.
Such waivers may be made for the term of the appointment
or employment herein described, and shall be without pen-
alty.
Resolved, that Rule 21, entitled "Laborers" be and hereby
is amended to read as follows:
Rule 21. A laborer is hereby defined as a person capable of
performing toilsome physical service not requiring training in
mechanical trades or skilled occupations. An applicant shall
establish his status as a laborer by appearing before the Ex-
aminers of the Civil Sen'ice Commission, and passing such
require. At the beginning of each quarter, the names of
reasonable physical tests as the Civil Ser^'ice Commission may
laborers that have been on the register for more than two
years shall be removed therefrom; provided that any laborer
whose name Is upon such register may, prior to the beginning of
such quarter, file a certificate of physical capacity in the form
established by the Commission, in which case he shall retain
his place on the register for two years from the date of such
filing. The selection of laborers from the register of eligibles
shall be governed by priority of application only.
Resolved, That Rule 23, entitled "Leaves of Absence" be
and hereby is amended by adding thereto the following new
section:
Section 6. The following classes of persons holding appoint-
ment under the Ci^^l Service, may. with the approval of the
Civil Service Commission, obtain a leave of absence:
1. Persons elected by the voters to an oSice under the City
and County of San Francisco;
2. Persons appointed by the Mayor to an office created by
the Charter;
3. Persons employed, in superintending positions, by the
Panama-Pacific International Exposition Company.
Such leaves of absence may be for the term of the appoint-
ment or employment herein described, and shall be without
penalty.
DIGEST OF OPINIONS RENDERED BY CITY ATTORNEY.
Following is a digest of opinions recently rendered by City
Attorney Long in reply to questions propounded by municipal
departments and officers.
To the Board of Supervisors.
1. Do sub-sidewalk areas belong to the city?
2. In streets which have been closed where is the ownership?
First. As to the first question the Charter, Section 9, Chap-
ter 1 of Article VI, grants to your Board, and to the Board of
Public Works under your ordinances, exclusive authority to
prescribe rules and grant permits for placing cellars or vaults
under the streets or sidewalks. Streets include sidewalks and
extend from property line to property line.
Marion v. Graham, 67 Cal 130
Ex Parte Taylor, 87 Cal. S4.
Your Board might annul the privilege of maintaining cellars
or vaults under sidewalks and the way cleared for the city
and county to take appropriate action for the utilization of
such areas for pipes and conduits. The power of the city and
county to use sub-sidewalk areas for installing pipes and con-
duits held to be absolute.
Second. As to your second question: The title of the city
to the streets thereof is derived in two ways: First — Where
the street has been set apart on land owned in fee by the city.
Second — Where the street has been dedicated by the owners of
tile soil.
The complete answer to your second question depends upon
matters of fact, such as prescriptive title to abandoned streets,
which I do not possess the power to decide.
1. Whether the transfer of the property of the Home Tele-
phone Company (by mesne conveyance through the Long Dis-
tance Home Teleplione Co.) to the Pacific T. & T. Co. is in
violation of the fifth condition of its franchise, which provides
that the grantee of the franchise shall not without the con-
sent of the Supervisors, evidenced by ordinance, transfer its