Municipal record (Volume v.12 (Jan.-Dec. 1919)) online

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Vol. XIV.



'L/2*75fi SAN FRANCISCO, THURSDAY, JANUARY 6, 1921.



No. 1.



THE MUNICIPAL RECORD



ly Thursday by the Board of Suiu



The Recorder Press



,â„¢a



6S9 Stevenson Street.



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In Advance.

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All matter intended tor publication should be received not latei
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Entered as second-class matter, August 10, 1916, at the postolflce at
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WHERE TO MAKE COMPLAINTS

Citizens can benefit theniseives and at the aame time expedite the
transaction of public business by observing the following general rules
regarding tlie tiatismission of complaints:

TO TilE SUrERVISORS.
All requests for new legislation or changes in the ordinances, for
appropriations, for such permits as the Board can grant, in relation
to the conduct of public service corporations, for the installation of
street lights, or for any service beyond the power of any other de-
partment to gi-ant.

TO THE BO.NUlJ OF TUBUC WORKS,
All matters relating to streets, including grading, opening, iniprov-
r.ieiu, repair or cleaning tliereof, to sewers, to the construction of
buildings or any other construction work under its charge, to house
numbering, to the maintenance of public buildings, and all matters of
B[i engineering nature, and violations of building laws.

TO TilE BO.ARD OF HEALTH.
All matters relating to sanitation and the enforcement or non-
inforoement of sanitary regulations, the abatement of nuisances, etc.

TO THE DEPARTMENT OF ELECTRICITY.
All matters -elating to electrical installation either in buildings or
.treets.

TO THE WATER AND LIGHT INSPECrOR.
.Ml complaints as to improper service or charge for gas. electricity
)r water.

TO THE FIRE DEI'ARTMENT.
All requests for additional fire protection, including Are alarm
joxes, complaints against such things as increase the Are hazard, and
the enforcement of tire piotection ordinances.

TO THE I'OLICE DEPARTMENT.

All complaints of non-enforcement of ordinances and requests foi
audi permits as the Police Commissioners may grant.

Conimunicatlon.s relating to education, parks, playgrounds, civil
service, should be transmitted directly to cne commissioners having
co.'itrci of the subject.

If your dealer is short weighting you, call up the Weights and
Mtasures Department.

In case any aepartment or offlcer fails to acknowledge the receipt
01 the communication or fails to give attention to the matter stated
tlie.tin, then Buch dereliction should be brought to the attention of
(t.e Mayor.



TELEPHONE NUMBERS.
I'i'V Hall, Park S.'ion. Exchange connecting al
Ma/or'B Office. Market 164.
Fii - Department. Park .SHOO.
rop.ee I >eirartrnent, Douglas 20
Buinl of Health. Market 1491
P«k Commission. Pacific 11«7,
» - ■■- T.lhrary. Park 8600



dppartmenfs



ors at the City



Is publish
Hall.

Its puriiose is to preserve in condensed form all that pertains to
current history connected with the government of the city and county:
to Inform the municipal ofiicials and employees as to the transactions
of the several depanments: to furnish information to taxpayers and
to those interested in tlie study of municipal aftai:'s; to promote the
application of scientific principles to municipal gove-nment.



LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT



At the meeting of the Board of Supervisors last Monday,
reference was made to the recent presentation to the city of
the new museum at Giolden Gate Park with the art treasures
therein, made as a gift by M. H. de Young, proprietor of the
Daily Chronicle. Tributes were paid to his act of generosity,
following which this resolution was adopted:

Whereas, The City of San Francisco has been the recipient
of a most magnificent and appropriate gift from one of its
citizens, Hon. M. H. de Young; therefore.

Resolved, That the presentation of the new museum and
much of its containing treasures of art and antiquity is an act
of such generosity as well calls for a general expression of
aiipreciation from all our citizens, and the Board of Super-
visors hereby joins in the popular recognition of the supreme
value of the gift that Mr. de Young has made and records in
its proceedings the thanks which his public-spirited act justly
merits.

Monday, January 17, was fixed as the time for hearing the
objections to report of the Board of Public Works upon the
widening and extension of Landers street between 15th and
16th streets.

A resolution was inlroduccd calling attention to the necessity
of providing additional facilities for treating tuberculosis
patients and requesting that the special committee handling
this subject to investigate further the affiliation with other
counties in the institution at Weimar in Placer county.

A resolution was adopted endorsing the object and activi-
ties of the Recreation League, formerly the War Camp Com-
munity Service.

The following resolution was adopted:

Whereas, the States of W'ashington, North Dakota, South
Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, New York, Vermont, New
Hampshire, Massachusetts and Maine have recently voted
bonuses to the Veterans of the World War, and

Whereas, no other measure submitted to the electorate has
brou.!;ht forth so emphatic an expression of popular approval;
Whereas, the Legislature of the State of California has this
day convened, and

Now Therefore Be It Resolved, that this Board go on record
as favoring prompt and adequate bonuses for the .voung men of
this State who sacrificed all and left lucrative positions and
business interests to defend their country;

Be It Further Resolved, that the Clerk of this Board be and
he is hereby directed to forthwith send a copy of this resolu-
tion to Hon. William D. Stephens, Governor of this State, to
C. C. Young, Lieutenant Governor, and also to each member of
the Stale Legislature.

Action on Permits.
The following applications for permits were referred to the
fire committee:

Don Lee, for engine and boiler permit, 125 horse power at
Van ' Ness avenue and O'Farrell street.

Frank S. Ostrowski, for a cabinet shop on north side of
Howard street between Seventh and Eighth streets.



MUNICIPAL RECORD



Pacific Folding Box Factory, for a boiler, 10 horse power,
at 350 Second street.

S. V. Favilla, for permit to transfer to liini the permit
granted to Capurro & I'odesta to maintain a public garage at
753 Vallejo street.

Peiiiiits Re<i>niniendtd and Pa.ssed to Print.
Public Garage— Atlas Taxicab and Auto Service Co. (J. A.
Baldi. president), at 655 Geary street; also to store 600 gallons
of gasoline.

Boiler— Simmons Company, 2 boilers, each 200 horse power,
in block bounded by Bay, Powell, North Point and Stockton
streets.



BETTEK TKE.\TMEXT tY)R DELIXQl'EXT t'HILDKEN.

It is estimated, on the basis of a questionnaire study made
by the Children's Bureau of the V. S. Department of Labor,
that 175,000 children were brought before courts in the United
States in a year. Of these, 50,000 came before courts not
adapted to handling children's cases.

Although every State except one had laws providing for
juvenile probation, according to the investigations of the
bureau, less than half the courts hearing children's cases ac-
tually had probation service. The majority of the courts failed
to make adequate investigation of the child's home and family
circumstances, his physical and mental condition, and his per-
sonal tendencies.

Especially in small towns and rural districts the child is
still subjected to the unsocialized treatment which the juvenile
court was designed to replace.

However, certain important tendencies are noted in juvenile
court work. The intelligent methods worked out by the best
courts are being adopted by others. Facilities for mental and
physical examinations are being extended. Co-operation be-
tween the courts and other social agencies has been incerasing,
and in some instances social agencies have given the services
of trained social workers for probation work.

A further development is indicated in the tendency to merge
the cases of children with those of their families, and to try
them before "family" or "domestic relations" courts. In this
way the child is dealt with as a member of his family and all
the family circumstances are taken into account.



GARBAGE COLLECTION IN SACRAMENTO.

The Capital City Scavenger Association, which had been
collecting garbr.ge in Sacramento, Cal., under contract, recently
lost its equipment and barns by fire and if it is to continue in
business it must purchase a large amount of new equipment
for that purpose. Immediately following the burning of the
equipment, the City Commissioners arranged with the State
Highway Commission tor the use of automobile trucks owned
by that commission for collecting garbage and carrying it to
the city incinerator or the dump. Following the fire, the
scavenger association stated its unwillingness to renew garbage
collection unless it was given a contract for 10 years to justify
it in an investment in a new equipment. The commissioners
at last account were undecided as to whether to endeavor to
arrange with this or another private company or to undertake
municipal collection and disposal.

The president of the City Commission, C. A. Bliss, believes
this to be an opportune time to consider municipal collection
and disposal of the garbage, and the matter is now being dis-
cussed and seriously entertained. Commissioner Bliss is re-
ported at stating that the various civic bodies of the city art-
all in favor of this move. The city is spending about $10,000
a year for destroying garbage and the possibility is suggested
of reducing the expense or turning it to an income by garbage
reduction or hog-feeding.



RECREATION DEPARTMENT



Next Sunday's Band Concert.

The Municipal Band will give its regular weekly concert
next Sunday afternoon at the Lincoln School grounds, at Fourth
and Harrison streets. Director Sapiro has arranged the fol-
lowing program for the occasion :

"Stai;Spangled Banner"

1. .March, "The Great American". . ,•,! L,incoln

2. Overture, "The Knights Templar"..' Koppitz

Fox Trot, "Margie" Conrad

3. Waltz, "The Skater" Waldteufel

Song. "I L,ove You Sunday" Straight

4. Selection, ".\merican Songs" Moses

.Song, "liown in Chinatown Meyer

,T. Vocal Selections, Selected Barney Hagan

Courtesy M. Witmark.

6. Overture. "Calif of Bagdad" Boieldieu

I'opular Song, "June" Hickman Black

7. .Mexican Intermezzo, "Hermossillo" Schuh

Song, "The Love Nest" Hirsch

8. Selection. "Wang" Morse

Waltz, "That Old Irish Mother of Mine" H, von Tilzer

0. (a) Song. "My Isle of Golden Dreams Blaiifuss

(b) Fox Trot, "Avalon" Rose

10. March, "Blaze of Glory" Holzman

"America"
• • •

-Auditorium Concert Sunday Evening.

All of the selections to be played by Edwin H. Lemare at
his organ recital, Sunday evening at 8 o'clock, in the Exposi-
tion Auditorium are from blind composers. He will also give
an improvisation on a theme submitted by some blind person.
The program is as follows:

Finale in B Flat W. Wolstenholm

Romanza Wolstenholm

Allegretto Wolstenholm

Epithalamium Hollins

Air with Variations and Finale in A Fugato. .Henry Smart

Improvisation

Reverie in D Flat H. S. Turner

Scherzo in F Minor Turner



RECALL PETITIONS I•^LED.

Recall petitions have been filed with the Registrar of Voters
seeking the recall of Police Judges Sullivan and Oppenhelm,
Checking the signatures to the petition is now in progress and
must be concluded within fifteen days from the date of filing.
If the petition is found to be sufficient it is the duty of the
Department of Elections to call an election not less than thirty-
five nor more than fifty days after the date of the order fixing
the date of the election. The election therefor will be called
sometime during the month of February.



VALVE OF GOOD ROADS FOR AUTOMOBILES.

It is estimated that in Iowa there are now alKiut 430,000
automobiles and trucks that have an average mileage of 5,000
for their tires and the present mileage could be increased to
12,000 if the roads were well paved so that with tires at $20
each, there would be a saving of more than 117,000,000 per
year on tires alone. One-third of the present amount of gaso-
line would be saved on good roads and assuming this to be
only one-third of a gallon a day for each automobile, it w-ould
amount to $10,000,000 per year. The saving on repairs and
upkeep of cars would reach nearly $7,000,000 more, which, with
the additional sum derived from the auto tax, is sufficient
to build three roads across the full width of the state at a
cost of $40,000 per mile.



New York City appropriated for interest on its obligations
due in 1920 the sum of $49,751,993.42. The total amount set
aside for debt service in general was $74,811,538.66.



A resolution approving the recent amendments to San
Francisco's Charter was introduced in the State Senate yester-
day by Senator Flaherty.

Eight members of the Police Department are on the list for
early retirement under the pension provisions of the Charter.

A recent census made by mercantile bodies develops the
fact that there are now 3,500 factories of all kinds in the indus-
trial districts around San Francisco bay. About 1,750 distinct
commodities are now made in this district.



MUNICIPAL RECORD



DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION



At the regular meeting of the Board of KJducation this
week, Mr. Alden B. Dyment was appointed to teach in the
industrial arts deiuirtnient of elementary schools during leave
of absence of Mr. Charles Iredale.

Bertha Fisk, Horace Mann Evening School, filed her resig-
nation.

The following were granted leaves of absence: Charlotte
Estes, Emerson School, extension to January 17, 1921, with
privilege of returning to same school. Mary F. Suber, Glen
Park School, extension to beginning Fall term 1921. Mrs.
Katherine R. O'Keefe, Monroe School, extension to beginning
Fall term 1921. Josephine M. Hopkins, Buena Vista School,
extension to beginning Fall term 1921. Annie M. linger,
Bryant School, extension to beginning Fall term 1921. Mar-
garet Croak, Hawthorne School, from December 16, 1920, to
March 1, 1921. Mrs. Margaret Hills Bacon, Franklin School,
from January 3, 1921, to January 7, 1921. Minnie Kalmuk,
Bryant School, from January 26, 1921, to April 1, 1921. Resolu-
tion of December 21, 1920, granting Charlotte Hesselmeyer,
Adams School, extension of leave rescinded and permission
granted her to return to school duties January 17, 1921.



BUILDIiVG PERMITS FOR 1!>20.

San Francisco building permits have average more than
$2,000,000 a month in 1920, compared with about $1,500,000 a
month in 1919.

The influences of the demand for more housing is shown by
the activity which began to be manifested in April, 1919, and
has continued steadily ever since. With lower materials and
other costs in sight and with the call for housing still urgent,
builders are generally expecting a record-breaking year in 1921.
Permits in 19 20 and 1919 compare as follows:
1920 1919

January $ 1,636,268 ? 492,106

February 2,648,272 650,344

March 2,759,087 896,207

April 2,000,672 1,221,069

May 3,879,060 1,15,5,018

June 1,949,692 1,492,842

July 3,723,623 1,832.41 i

August 1,517,916 2,788,717

September 1,996,612 1,202,310

October 1,399,055 1,695,408

November 1,469,940 2,050,809

December Not ready 1,999,117

Total *$24,980,197 $18,376,361

*Eleven months.



ONTARIO'S ELiECTRIO POWER MONOPOLY.

The Hydro-Electric Power Commsision of Ontario has re-
cently bought out the only large private owner of such power
in the i)rovince and thus secured practically a monopoly, be-
coming the largest generating and distributing power organi-
zation in the world. By 1922 the total investment of the
associated Ontario municipalities will be nearly .$170,000,000,
and the total capacity more than a million horsepower. Eighty-
four private companies have been bought and consolidated, the
only one left in the province being that ol Hamilton.



S.A<"RAMEXTO MAY TEST R. R. RIGHTS.

SACRAMENTO, Jan. 5. — The City Commission is considering
the advisability of uniting with the city of Sacramento In a
unit to test the right of the Railroad Commission to abrogate
contracts between municipalities and public utility corporations.
City Attorney Robert L. Shinn said such a case should be
carried to the United States Supreme Court, and reported. Tlie
Supervisors of San Francisco are willing to fight the case.



NEW JUDGES TAKE THEIR BENCHES.

Superior Judges T. I. Fitzpatrick, Henry M. Owens and
Harold Louderback, and Police Judge Daniel S. O'Brien were
installed in their new positions Monday by Presiding Judge
Bernard J. Flood in court rooms crowded with friends and
banked with floral tributes.

Judge Fitzjjatrick was installed in Department 8, formerly
held by George A. Sturtevant, now an Appellate Judge.

Judge Owens was installed in Department 14, formerly held
by Judge George E. Crothers, who retires to take up private
practice.

Judge Louderback was installed in Criminal Department
12 at the Hall^f Justice, formerly the court of Judge Franklin
A. Griffin, who has been moved to the City Hall. Louderback
was given the courtroom of Judge Louis U. Ward of Depart-
ment 11, who moved his department into tne courtroom vacated
by Judge Griffin. Louderback is a newly elected magistrate
and during the great war served in the United States Army as
a Captain.

The newly appointed Police Judge, Daniel S. O'Brien, wis
installed by Judge Flood and took the courtroom vacated by
Judge Fitzpatrick, but will i)reside over the department for-
merly under Judge Sylvester McAtee, who has been assigned
to Department 1 of the Police Court, which was formerly that
of JuQge Fitzpatrick.



MUNICIPAL ELECTRIC LIGHT, HEAT AND POWER
PLANT FOR NEWARK.

The voters of Newark, N. J., recently authorized the offi-
cials to construct a municipal gas and electric light, heat and
power plant, and Director Raymond of the Department of
Streets and Public Improvements is taking steps to carry out
these instructions. Among other moves he has asked F. W.
Ballard of Cleveland, Ohio, to visit Newark for consultation
and for explaining before the Federation of Improvement As-
sociations what he has done in Cleveland. (Mr. Ballard, as
commissioner and chief engineer of the Division of Light and
Heat of Cleveland, was chiefly responsible for the success of
the municipal lighting plant of that city.) The Chamber of
Commerce of Newark announces its intention of instituting
legal proceedings to prevent the construction of a municipal
plant, it having been informed that the project would cost
several million dollars and that the city's financial condition
would not permit the raising of the necessary amount.




San Francisco's $2,000,000 Convention
Building

COVERS CIVIC CENTER BLOCK BOUNDED

BY LARKIN, GROVE, POLK AND

HAYES STREETS

Contains Halls of various sizes, which can be
engaged for Conventions, Fairs, Balls, Lectures,
Concerts, etc.

Main Hall accommodates over 10,000 persons,
and other halls from 500 to 1,500.

For tmrntt and dat*», apply to Managing S tpmrintandant.
Grout and Larkin StrmwU, or lo Clark of S»ard of Supor-
•>ttor». City Hall.



MUNICIPAL RECORD



HEALTH DEPAFTMENT



The following cases of communicable diseases were reported
in San Francisco for the week ended January 1, 1921:

Influenza 6 Tuberculosis 18

Smallpox 22 Typhoid fever 2

Diphtheria 15 Cerebrospinal meningitis . 4

Diphtheria "carriers" 8 Lethargic encephalitis 1

Scarlet fever 13 Scabies 3

Whooping cough 4 Impetigo 1

Chickenpox 13 Erysipelas 5

Mumps 7 Gonococcus inf^tion 15

Measles 6 Syphilis 6

Pneumonia (lobar) 12

United States Naval Training Station, Verba Bueua Island.
(Week ended December 25, 1920.)

Mumps 15 Scarlet fever 1

Malaria 1 Gonococcus infection 8

Measles 21 Syphilis 1

Pneumonia 1 Chancroid 2

United States Military Reservation — Pi-esidio.
(Week ended Decembei 25, 1920.)

Diphtheria 1 Pneumonia 8

Measles 10 Gonococcus infection 1

Mumps 3

Vital Stiitistics.
Births registered in San Francisco for the week ended

January 1, 1921 193

Deaths registered in San Francisco for the week ended

January 1, 1921 140

California State Board of Health.

Summary of communicable disease reports for week ended
December 25, 1920:

Last This I^ast This

Week Week Week Week

Cerebrospinal Mumps 166 124

meningitis 5 Ophthalmia

Chickenpox 101 81 neonatorum 1

Diphtheria 173 125 Paratyphoid 1

Dysentery 3 Pneumonia 66 57

Encephalitis 1 Poliomyelitis 2

Erysipelas 12 14 Scarlet fever 100 97

German measles ... 1 1 Smallpox 150 144

Gonorrhoea 56 90 Syphiliis 85 55

Influenza 16 22 Trachoma 5 1

Leprosy 1 Tuberculosis 121 142

Malaria 10 3 Whooping cough ... 67 13

Measles 224 152 Typhoid fever 14 5



THE HEALTH CORNER ]

# »

A Smallpox Year.

The year 1920 will go into history as a smallpox year. The
total number of cases reported will total well over 4,000, as
against 2.004 cases reported during the year 1919. There is
the possibility that 1921 may find smallpox even more prevalent.
There is significance in the fact that about 150 cases are now
reported each week.

« « «

Where Is Influenza?

Few cases of influenza are being reported so far this winter.
Last week there were but 22 cases in the State and the week
before there were only 16 cases. There is still a remote possi-
bility that minor epidemics of the disease may appear in com-
munities that have heretofore escaped lightly, but it is certain
that most of the non-immune of our population have already
had the disease.



Diphtheria and Delay.

Delay in connection with the management of diphtheria has
undoubtedly more to do with the present unnecessarily high
mortality rate from this disease than any other single factor.
Delay in taking swabs, delay in establishing diagnosis, delay
in reporting and linally, delay in administering antitoxin all
contribute licavily to bringing a high mortality rate. The dis-
covery of diphtheria antitoxin marked an epoch in public
health work, and through its use countless lives have been
saved. Using the product in time is of prime importance in
saving the life of the patient. Don't delay in diphtheria con-
trol.

* » •

Now Comes the Legislature.

The Legislature meets Monday, January 3rd. At this
writing it is impossible to give any clear idea as to the legis-
lative public health program. It is certain, however, that many
bills will be introduced for tlie purpose of hindering public
health progress, and many measures will be advanced in the
interest of growth and progress. Health officers and public
health nurses are requested to keep in close touch with pend-
ing legislation. This weekly publication will endeavor to keep
its readers informed as closely as possible regarding such
legislation.

* * *

I*neunionia.

Although pneumonia is prevalent at all seasons, it is well
for people to be on their guard against an attack at this time
of the year, and in order to protect themselves they must
know something about the disease and how it may be avoided
or controlled. It is a contagious disease, tlierefore it should
be possible to control it. Unfortunately, like tuberculosis, it
resists most forms of treatment and often carries away the
patient in spite of the best care and attention.

Pneumonia is generally spread through contact with the
sick person and by carriers. It may also be transmitted by
articles used in the sick room. Generally speaking, the germ
is spread by the secretions from the nose and mouth, especi-
ally in coughing, sneezing and spitting. It is very important
that people observe this caution, because the pneumococcus
(the germ causing the disease) is present in the nose and
throat of a very large number of people at all times, and
especially if they have been in contact with a pneumonia pa-
tient.

There are several types of pneumonia which physicians have
classified and found that two classes, which are called Type I
and Type II, cause about two-thirds of all cases of lobar pneu-
monia — the most frequent and fatal form of the disease. It is
this type of pneumonia germs that have been found in the
throat and nose of a large percentage of well persons who were
brought in contact with pneumonia cases.

While it is true that the disease will attack a person who