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SAN FRANCISCO PUBLIC LIBRARY
3 1223 90119 6825
Vol. 31 — New Series No. 1
Monday, January 6, 1936
Journal oi Proceedings Boardf'of Supervisors
City and County of Sari i^rancisco
The Recorder Printing and Publishing Company 374 Pine Street, S. F.
427288
JOURNAL OF PROCEEDINGS BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
MONDAY, JANUARY 6, 1936, 2 P. M.
In Board of Supervisors, San Francisco, Monday, January 6, 1936, 2 p. m. The Board of Supervisors met in regular session.
CALLING THE ROLL.
The roll was called and the following Supervisors were noted present:
Supervisors Brown, Colman, Gallagher, Havenner, Hayden, McSheehy, Ratto, Roncovieri, Schmidt, Shannon, Uhl — 11.
Quorum present.
President McSheehy presiding.
APPROVAL OF JOURNAL.
The Journal of Proceedings of the meeting of December 30, 1935, was considered read and approved.
SPECIAL ORDER— 2:30 P. M.
The following recommendations of Joint Committee on Public Welfare, and Fire, Safety and Police were taken up:
Gasoline Supply Stations. (Code No. 11.0821)
Bill No. 727, Ordinance No. 11.08211, as follows:
Regulating the establishment, construction, maintenance and opera- tion of premises, buildings and structures to be used as gasoline supply stations; regulating and providing for the storage and use of gasoline in connection therewith; repealing Ordinances Nos. 2659 (New Series) and 11.051 and providing a penalty for violations of this ordinance.
Be it ordained by the People of the City and County of San Francisco, as follows:
Section 1. Definitions: The following terms shall have the follow- ing meanings whenever used in this ordinance:
(a) A gasoline supply station shall be held to mean any lot, wharf, pier or other premises, including all buildings and structures thereon, devoted to the purpose of selling or dispensing gasoline or volatile liquids as fuel to automobiles, motor vehicles, motorboats, launches or other motor propelled vessels.
(b) Gasoline or volatile liquids shall mean any inflammable liquid that will flash or emit an inflammable vapor below the temperature of one hundred and ten (110) degrees Fahrenheit. The Fire Marshal shall determine the flash point.
(c) Fire Marshal shall mean the Fire Marshal of the City and County of San Francisco.
(d) Approved shall mean approved by the Fire Marshal.
(e) School: for the purposes of this ordinance, shall mean any l)uild- ing in which is housed any institution of learning conducted or opera- ated under the jurisdiction of the Board of Education of the City and County of San Francisco, or any institution of learning wherein a gen-
( 1)
2 MONDAY, JANUARY 6, 1936.
eral course of study is maintained or carried on 'by the State of Cali- fornia or by any agency thereof, or any institution of learning, attend- ance at which will satisfy the compulsory educational laws of the State of California, or any college or university whereat advanced courses in advanced education are maintained and which has an average daily attendance of, at least, twenty pupils.
(f) Hospital: shall mean any institution conducted in accordance with the laws of the State of California or the ordinances of the City and County of San Francisco for the care of the sick or injured which has accommodation for not less than twenty patients; provided, how- ever, that for the purposes of this ordinance, any institution maintained by the City and County of San Francisco for the rendering of emergency care or services to the sick or injured shall not be deemed to be a hospital.
(g) Church: for the purposes of this ordinance, is defined to be any l)uilding erected and used for the purposes of religious worship and where religious services are held at regular stated intervals and where no part of such structure is used or occupied for commercial purposes.
(h) Theatre: for the purposes of this ordinance, is any building in which the major portion of said building is devoted exclusively to thea- trical, operatic or moving picture performances, and which is con- structed or maintained in accordance with the provisions of Sections 151 to 188 of Ordinance No. 1008 (New Series), commonly knoion as the ''Building Law.''
(i) Districts or Zones: shall mean districts or zones as established or re-zoned by the City Planning Commission.
Section 2. Permits. It shall be unlawful for any person, firm, com- pany or corporation hereafter to establish, operate or maintain a gaso- line supply station within the limits of the City and County of San Francisco, where more than one quart of gasoline is stored or kept, without first obtaining a permit therefor from the Chief Engineer of the Fire Department in accordance with the provisions of the ordi- nance establishing procedure by Departments arid Officers for the issu- ance, transfer and revocation of permits and licenses, and appeals based thereon; provided, however, that the Chief Engineer of the Fire Department shall not grant or issue ayiy permit to establish, construct, operate or maintain a gasoline supply station upon any lot. ivharf, pier or other premises, the boundaries of which shall come within sixty (60) feet of the property line of any school, church, theatre or within 200 feet of the exterior boundary of any hospital building; said measure- ments to be taken in a straight line.
All applications for permits shall be made in writing, shall contain a description of the lot or premises upon which it is sought to erect and maintain such gasoline supply station, including the dimensions of the lot or premises together with a complete floor plan and drawings show- ing the elevation of all structures to be erected thereon.
Permits heretofore issued to maintain and operate any gasoline sup- ply station, in accordance with the provisions of any ordinance hereto- fore existing, shall remain in full force and effect unless such permit has been revoked or the gasoline supply station for which said permit has been issued has not been operated for a period of six months. No permit for the operation of a gasoline supply station, issued in accord- ance with the provisions of this ordinance, or any other ordinance here- tofore existing, shall be assigned or transferred without the written approval of the Chief Engineer of the Fire Department.
Section 3. Construction: All buildings or structures erected, main- tained or operated upon the premises of a gasoline supply station not exceeding one story in height, shall be of Class A, B, or C construc- tion as defined by the building laws of the City and County of San Francisco, or, if not more than eighteen (18) feet in height, they may be constructed of metal supported upon steel frame. If more than one story in height, they shall be of Class A or B construction.
The roofs of all buildings or structures erected or maintained upon the premises of a gasoline supply station shall be of fireproof con-
MONDAY, JANUARY 6, 1936. 3
struction, as defined in the building laws of the City and County of San Francisco, and all floors shall be constructed of incombustible materials.
No basement shall be allowed in any building or structure erected or maintained as a gasoline supply station.
A gasoline supply station shall not be maintained in any building that is occupied in any part for any other purpose than that necessary for the operation of a gasoline supply station and for such services as are by this ordinance specifically permitted in conjunction there- with, unless said building is of Class A or B construction; provided, however, that no gasoline supply station shall be maintained in any building that is occupied in any part as a church, school, hospital, theatre, hotel, apartment house, tenement house or place of public assemblage. The portion occupied as a gasoline supply station shall have no entrance, exit or other opening of any kind whatsover into other parts of the building not so occupied. All walls separating such portion occupied as a gasoline supply station from the remainder of the building shall be of masonry. The floors which constitute the ceiling of such gasoline supply station shall be of reinforced concrete slabs not less than four (4) inches thick, supported by concrete fire- proofed carrying units of the frame. All such slabs shall be reinforced so as to develop their full strength to resist upward pressures. No basement shall be permitted in any portion of a building or structure that is occupied or is so constructed as to be occupied as a gasoline supply station.
Where a gasoline supply station is erected or maintained in a build- ing of Class A or B construction, any portion of which is used for other occupancies than those specifically permitted by the provisions of this ordinance, proper ventilation and a free circulation of air shall be provided, either by the installation of ventilating outlets in the outer walls of such buildings or by means of a mechanical exhaust ventilating system, as in the judgment of the Fire Department and/or the Department of Public Health may be required.
The size, number and location of ventilating outlets, when required, shall be determined by the Fire Department and/or the Department of Public Health, and the top of same shall be not more than eighteen (18) inches above the floor. Such outlets shall be protected with galvan- ized wire rods not less than three-eighths (%) inch in diameter so as to provide an opening of one-half (%) inch mesh. Protections of ornamental design may be used, provided they have the strength equal to that of the rods. All protections shall be firmly anchored in or secured to their supports.
Mechanical exhaust ventilating system, when required, shall con- sist of power driven exhaust fan or fans of the positive centrifugal type and shall have sufiicient capacity to exhaust a quantity of air equal to not less than six times the cubic contents of the space occupied as such gasoline supply station each hour. This mechanical exhaust shall be drawn from a point not more than eighteen (18) inches above the fioor line and shall be evenly distributed over the entire area of such space. The fan discharge shall be taken to a point above the roof of the building or to outer air at a point not less than twenty (20) feet from any window or other opening in the building or any adjoining building, but in no event shall the fan discharge be taken to an inner court.
Section 4. Permit for gasoline and appliances used in connection with gasoline: The storing or keeping of gasoline or the installation, erection, alteration, replacement, repair or use of any gasoline pump, underground gasoline tank, pipe, appliances or devices used in con- nection with the storage or handling of gasoline at a gasoline supply station, shall not be undertaken until a permit has been granted by the Fire Marshal. The Fire Marshal may refuse to grant and may revoke such permit for noncompliance with the provisions of this ordinance.
Section 5. Quantity of gasoline that may be stored: Not more than two (2) approved portable filling tanks containing not more
4 MONDAY, JANUARY 6, 1936.
than fifty (50) gallons of gasoline each may be stored or kept above ground in or for any one gasoline supply station.
Gasoline may also be stored or kept for a gasoline supply station in approved underground tanks. Not more than five thousand (5,000) gallons of gasoline in the aggregate shall be stored or kept under- ground and no tank shall have a capacity greater than one thousand (1,000) gallons.
Section 6. Installation Requirements: (a) All underground gaso- line tanks shall be placed outside of buildings and under the sidewalk area in a location designated by the Fire Marshal. The top of such tanks shall be at least four (4) feet below the sidewalk or grade and the space between the top of tanks and the sidewalk or grade shall be filled with earth.
(b) Where two (2) or more underground tanks are installed there shall be an approved concrete dividing wall of not less than twelve (12) inches in thickness or three (3) feet of earth between each tank.
(c) All underground tanks shall set on a firm foundation and, where water is encountered, tanks shall be placed in an approved water-tight concrete enclosure.
(d) Each underground tank shall have a separate filling pipe extending up to the sidewalk or grade, equipped with a cover and a metal plate flush with the sidewalk or grade. The filling pipe shall be of a diameter not larger than three (3) inches.
(e) Each underground tank shall have a separate vent pipe ex- tending out of the top of the tank to a height of not less than twelve (12) feet above the opening of the filling pipe and capped with an approved fitting. The vent pipe shall be on the outside of the build- ings and terminate as far away as possible from any window or other building opening. The inside diameter of vent pipes shall not be less than one and one-quarter (ll^) inches, nor more than two (2) inches.
(f) All pipes shall be at least twelve (12) inches underground, shall have a fall toward the tank, shall be free of traps, sags or pock- ets, and shall be standard, full weight, galvanized iron, or equivalent.
(g) Gasoline shall be taken from underground tanks by means of approved pumps only, which shall be installed in locations designated by the Fire Marshal. No gravity, siphon or pressure system shall be used to take gasoline from any underground tank.
(h) Tanks and pipes shall not be covered until an inspection has been made by the Fire Marshal and permission to do so has been granted by said officer. The Fire Marshal shall be notified when the installation is complete and ready for inspection.
Section 7. Miscellaneous Safety Provisions: (a) Underground tanks shall be filled only through a hose connected to a vehicle used for the transportation of gasoline, leading through continuous metal fittings and connections, properly grounded to and into the filling pipe of underground tanks, or by an approved bucket, or other method ap- proved by the Fire Marshal.
(b) The fuel tank of an automobile shall be filled only through a hose connected to a pump of a portable filling tank or underground tank.
(c) Gasoline shall not be kept or conveyed in open receptacles in or about the premises of a gasoline supply station, shall not be used for cleaning purposes and shall be stored or kept only in portable filling tanks or underground tanks. The storage or sale of gasoline or any inflammable liquid that will flash or emit an inflammable vapor below the temperature of one hundred ten (110) degrees Fahrenheit in glass bottles or other breakable containers is prohibited.
(d) All combustible waste and rubbish shall be kept at all times in metal receptacles fltted with a tight cover until removed from the premises. Gasoline, oils, grease or inflammable liquid of any kind shall not be allowed to flow or be placed into the drainage system. Oil and grease shall not be allowed to accumulate on the floor. Saw-
MONDAY, JANUARY 6, 1936.
dust shall not be kept and sawdust or other combustible material shall not be used to absorb oil, grease or gasoline.
(e) Smoking is prohibited in or about the premises of a gasoline supply station and the motor of an automobile shall not be in motion while filling the fuel tank with gasoline. Notice to that effect shall be conspicuously posted as required by the Fire Marshal.
(f) All waste oil (crankcase drainings) shall be kept in an ap- proved underground tank, installed as required by the Fire Marshal.
(g) No stove, forge, torch, furnace, heating apparatus, flame, fire or other apparatus, device or equipment which the Fire Marshal shall deem to be hazardous, shall be maintained or kept in or about the premises of a gasoline supply station unless approved by the Fire Marshal.
(h) The Fire Marshal shall have and is hereby vested with au- thority to make reasonable and necessary rules and regulations not inconsistent with the provisions hereof, respecting the use, operation, maintenance and construction of any appliance, device, apparatus, or equipment used in connection with gasoline, to carry into effect the intents and purposes of this ordinance.
(i) All electric motors or devices capable of emitting an exposed spark shall be located at least four (4) feet above the fioor and all electric wiring shall be installed as required by the Department of Electricity. All portable electric lights shall be equipped with key- less sockets and lamp guards.
(j) There shall be maintained at all times in and about the prem- ises of a gasoline supply station such number of approved, fully charged portable fire extinguishers and approved buckets, full at all times of clean, dry sand, as may be required by the Fire Marshal, but in no case shall there be less than two fire extinguishers and two buckets of sand. These appliances shall be installed in places designated by the Fire Marshal.
(k) When a gasoline supply station is discontinued for a period of more than six months, or is dismantled, the person, firm, association or corporation who was last conducting, maintaining or operating such gasoline supply station shall either remove all underground tanks that were used in connection with such station, or cause the same to he filled with water or other non-inflammable liquid in accordance with the directions of the Fire Marshal.
Section 8. Services Permitted: The sale of lubricating oils, greases, tires, batteries and other accessories, the cleaning, oiling and greasing of automobiles and the minor servicing and adjusting of brakes and electrical equipment, and the servicing and repairing of tires and batteries, shall be permitted upon any premises used as a gasoline supply station, but no repairs or reconditioning of the chassis, motors, engines, bodies, radiators or fenders of automobiles, motor vehicles, motor boats, launches or other motor propelled vessels, shall be per- mitted thereon. The storage, keeping or parking of automobiles, motor vehicles, motor boats, launches, etc., upon these premises, excepting as required for the before stated services, shall be prohibited.
All equipment for the washing of automobiles shall be properly housed and said washing conducted in accordance with such rules and regulations as the Chief Engineer of the Fire Department may make regarding the same.
Section 9. Duties of the Fire Marshal: It shall be the duty of the Fire Marshal to see that the provisions of this ordinance are complied with, and for that purpose he shall have access to any and all premises or buildings used as gasoline supply stations.
Section 10. Penalty: Any person, firm, company or corporation that violates, disobeys or refuses to comply with any of the provisions of this ordinance shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof shall be punished by a fine of not less than ten ($10) dollars nor more than fifty ($50) dollars, or by imprisonment in the County Jail for not more than thirty (30) days, or by both such fine and imprisonment, and such person, firm, company or corporation
6 MONDAY, JANUARY 6, 1936.
shall be deemed guilty of a separate offense for each and every day that such violation, disobedience or refusal continues and shall be subject to the penalty imposed by this ordinance for each and every separate offense.
Section 11. Ordinance No. 2659 (New Series), and Ordinance No. 11.051, together with any section of any other ordinance which is in conflict herewith is hereby repealed.
Amendment Proposed.
Supervisor Uhl moved to amend section 2, paragraph 1, line 14, by striking out the words "boundary of any hospital building;" and insert- ing in lieu thereof the words "property line of any hospital;".
Amendment lost by the following vote:
Final Passage.
Whereupon, the roll was called and the bill finally passed by the fol- lowing vote:
Ayes — Supervisors Brown, Colman, Gallagher, Hayden, McSheehy, Shannon — 6.
Noes — Supervisors Havenner, Ratto, Roncovieri, Schmidt, Uhl — 5.
Motion to Reconsider.
Before the result of the foregoing vote was announced, Supervisor Ratto changed his vote from No to Aye and moved for reconsideration at next meeting.
Final Passage.
The following bill was thereupon taken up and finally passed by the following vote:
Amendment to Garage Ordinance.
(Code No. 11.0822)
Bill No. 776, Ordinance No. 11.08222, as follows:
Amending Section 2, Subdivison (E) thereof, of Ordinance No. 8564 (New Series), entitled "Governing the construction, equipment, maintenance and operation of public, commercial and private garages; regulating and providing for the storage and use of gasoline in con- nection with public, commercial and private garages; duties of the Fire Marshal; penalties for violation; repealing Ordinance No. 746 (New Series), and all ordinances and parts of ordinances in so far as they conflict with this ordinance," by prescribing the limits within which permits may be granted for the establishment of public or com- mercial garages with respect to any school, church, theatre, or hospital.
Be it ordained by the People of the City and County of San Francisco, as follows:
Section 1. Section 2 (Subdivision (e) ), of Ordinance No. 8564 (New Series), the title of which is recited above, be and the same is hereby amended to read as follows:
(e) Permits. It shall be unlawful for any person, firm, company or corporation hereafter to establish, operate or maintain a public or com- mercial garage wdthin the limits of the City and County of San Fran- cisco, where more than one quart of gasoline is stored or kept, without first obtaining a permit therefor from the Chief Engineer of the Fire Department in accordance loith the provisions of the ordinance estab- lishing procedure by Departments and officers for the issuance, transfer and revocation of permits and licenses, and appeals based thereon; pro- vided, however, that the Chief Engineer of the Fire Department shall not grant or issue any permit to establish, construct, operate or main- tain a public or commercial garage upon any lot, wharf, pier, or other premises, the boundaries of which shall come within sixty (60) feet of
MONDAY, JANUARY 6, 1936. 7
the property line of any school, church, theatre, or within 200 feet of the exterior boundary of any hospital building; said measurements to be taken in a straight line.
All applications for permits shall be made in writing, shall contain a description of the lot or premises upon which it is sought to erect and maintain such public or commercial garage, including the dimensions of the lot or premises together with a complete floor plan and drawings showing the elevation of all structures to be erected thereon.
Permits heretofore issued to maintain and operate any public or com- mercial garage, in accordance ivith the provisions of any ordinance heretofore existing, shall remain in full force and effect unless such permit has been revoked or the public or commercial garage for which said permit has been issued has not been operated for a period of six months. No permit for the operation of a public or commercial garage, issued in accordance with the provisions of this ordinance, or any other ordinance heretofore existing, shall be assigned or transferred without the written approval of the Chief Engineer of the Fire Department.
No additional permit shall be necessary to maintain and operate any public or commercial garage for which a permit has been heretofore issued in accordance with the provisions of any ordinance heretofore existing.
(f) For the purposes of this ordinance, the following terms shall have the following defiinitions whenever the same are used in this ordinance:
School: Any building in which is housed any institution of learning conducted or operated under the jurisdiction of the Board of Education of the City and County of San Francisco, or any institution of learning wherein a general course of study is maintained or carried on by the State of California or by any agency thereof, or any institution of learning attendance at which will satisfy the compulsory educational laws of the State of California, or any college or university whereat advanced courses in advanced education are maintained and which has an average daily attendance of, at least, twenty pupils.
Hospital: Any institution conducted in accordance with the laws of the State of California or the ordinances of the City and County of San Francisco for the care of the sick or injured which has accom- modation for not less than twenty patients; provided, however, that for the purposes of this ordinance, any institution maintained by the City and County of San Francisco for the rendering of emergency care or services to the sick or injured shall not be deemed to be a hospital.
Church: Any building erected and used for the purposes of religious worship and where religious services are held at regular stated inter- vals and where no part of such structure is used or occupied for com- mercial purposes.
Theatre: Any building in which the major portion of said building is devoted exclusively to theatrical, operatic or moving picture perform- ances, and which is constructed or maintained in accordance with the provisions of Sections 157 to 188 of Ordinance No. 1008 (New Series), commonly known as the ''Building Law.''
Ayes — Supervisors Brown, Colman, Gallagher, Hayden, McSheehy, Shannon, Uhl — 7.
Noes — Supervisors Havenner, Ratto, Roncovieri, Schmidt — 4.
Motion to Reconsider.
Before the result of the foregoing vote was announced, Supervisor Ratto changed his vote from No to Aye and moved for reconsideration at next meeting.
Action Deferred.
On motion of Supervisor Shannon, the following bill ums laid over one week:
ifcl^SjKS
8 MONDAY, JANUARY 6, 1936.
SPECIAL ORDER— 3 P. M.
Amending Section 54 of Ordinance No. 5132 (New Series), Con- cerning Public Passenger Vehicles and Entitled "Imposing License Taxes on Certain Businesses," etc., etc. (Code No. 3.041)
Bill No. 877, Ordinance No. 3.04157, as follows:
Amending section 54 of Ordinance No. 5132 (New Series), concern- ing public passenger vehicles and entitled "Imposing License Taxes on Certain Businesses, Callings, Trades or Employments Within the City and County of San Francisco," in effect July 1, 1920, and repealing Resolutions 33951, 34139 (New Series).
Be it ordained by the People of the City and County of San Fran- cisco as follows:
Section 1. Section 54 of Ordinance No. 5132 (New Series), the title of which is recited above, is amended to read as follows:
Section 54. Every person, firm or corporation owning or directly or indirectly operating any public passenger vehicle, except railroad cars, shall, after first obtaining a permit from the Police Department, which permit must he represented by an operative vehicle for which a current City license rnust he obtained, pay a license tax therefor, as follows :
For each such vehicle One ($1.00) Dollar per annum for each pas- senger seating capacity of said vehicle.
In determining the seating capacity of any such vehicle the driver, thereof shall be included.
The metallic plate issued as part of the license must be of such design, color and material as the Tax Collector shall prescribe and each plate must clearly show the year for which it is issued. Provided, that it shall be in quality of material and workmanship equal to that of the license plate issued by the State Motor Vehicle Department; that in size, each plate shall be nine (9) inches by 2i^ inches and, when used on motor-drawn vehicles it shall be perforated so as to make it attachable to the State Motor Vehicle License Plate or fastened at the front of each motor-drawn vehicle. When used on horse-drawn vehicles it shall be perforated so as to permit of attachment in a con- spicuous place on the right-hand side of each horse-drawn vehicle. Provided, further, that all letters stamped or printed upon the face of the plate shall be at least % x % inches and all numbers 1 x % inches in size.
It shall be unlawful for any owner or operator of a vehicle subject to this license tax to operate any such vehicle upon the public high- ijoays or streets of the City and County of San Francisco without first affixing such license plate to said motor vehicle by attaching it to the front state motor vehicle license plate or fastening it on the outside front of such vehicle, or, when used on horse-drawn vehicles, without first attaching it in a conspicuous place on the riffht-hand side of said horse-drawn vehicle, or to permit an expired vehicle license plate to remain on any vehicle after December 31st of each calendar year. No substitute for this license plate shall be permitted. It shall be unlawful to affix license plates in any other position on a vehicle than that authorized by this ordinance.
On the Slst day of December of each year the Police Department shall notify the Controller and the Tax Collector of the number of public passenger vehicle permits in effect, and the seating capacity of the vehicles for which the permits were granted, and whenever addi- tional permits are granted, or existing permits are transferred or re- voked during the year, the Controller and the Tax Collector shall be notified of same immediately. These notifications shall be in writing and signed by the Chief of Police or his duly authorized representative.
Every person engaged in the business or occupation of driver or motorman of any public passenger vehicle specified in this section shall pay One ($1.00) Dollar for a driver's badge to be issued by the
MONDAY, JANUARY 6, 1936. 9
Tax Collector, which badge shall be of such design and lettering as he shall determine. Upon the presentation of a driver's annual per- mit, granted by the Police Department, the Tax Collector shall issue annually, to the person named in such permit, a driver's annual identi- fication card upon the payment of One ($1.00) Dollar, provided said person is the owner of a driver's badge and exhibit such badge at the time of making the application. The obtaining or renewal of this driver's identification card and/or badge shall be subject to the penalty provisions of this ordinance. All licenses issued under the provisions of this section shall date from the first day of January of each year and shall be issued for one year from the date aforesaid.
Action Deferred.
On motion of Supervisor Uhl the following matter was laid over one week and made a Special Order of Business for 3:30 p. m.
SPECIAL ORDER— 3:30 P. M.
Budget Appropriation Requested for Reclamation of Tidelands at
South Basin.
December 30, 1935, Supervisor Uhl requested that the matter of an appropriation in the next budget recommended by the Civic League for the filling in of certain blocks of land at South Basin be made a Special Order of Business for 3:30 p. m. this day.
So ordered.
MOTION TO RECONSIDER.
December 30, 1935 — Supervisor Gallagher changed his vote and made a motion to reconsider at this meeting the action whereby the following resolution was adopted, to-wit :
Designating Streets of Major Importance to Be Improved with Funds from Special Gas Tax Street Improvement Fund.
(Code No. 12.081)
Resolution No. 2328, as follows:
Resolved, That the following named streets be and are hereby desig- nated as streets of major importance upon which monies accruing to the credit of the "Special Gas Tax Street Improvement Fund" shall be expended:
Major City Streets in San Francisco. Compiled in accordance with Section 195 of State Senate Bill No. 561, Statutes of 1935. Alemany boulevard, Sickles avenue- Junipero Serra boulevard. Anza street, Arguello boulevard-Presidio parkway. Anza street (extension), Arguello boulevard-Presidio <ivenue. Arguello boulevard, Fulton-California streets. Army street, Third-Dolores streets. Battery street, Embarcadero-Market street. Bay street, Embarcadero-Fillmore street. Beale street, Embarcadero-Market street. Bryant street, Second-Fifth streets. California street. Market street-Thirty-second avenue. Cervantes boulevard, Fillmore street-Marina boulevard. Claremont boulevard, Dewey boulevard-Portola drive. Columbus avenue, Bay-Montgomery streets. Dewey boulevard, Claremont-Laguna Honda boulevards. Dolores street, Market street-San Jose avenue. Eighth street, Townsend-Market streets. Eighteenth street, Guerrero-Danvers streets. Embarcadero, Bay-Townsend streets.
10 MONDAY, JANUARY 6, 1936.
Fell street, Van Ness avenue-Stanyan street.
Fifth street, Market-Townsend streets.
First street, Market-Harrison streets.
Folsom street, Embarcadero-Tenth street.
Franklin street, McAllister-Grove streets.
Fremont street, Market-Harrison streets.
Fulton street, Franklin street-Great Highway.
Geary street, Scott street-Presidio avenue.
Geary boulevard, Presidio-Pt. Lobos avenues.
Greneva avenue. Mission street-Walbridge street.
Golden Gate avenue. Market street-Van Ness avenue.
Great Highway, Sloat boulevard-Pt. Lobos avenue.
Grove street, Franklin-Market streets.
Harrison street, E'mbarcadero-Fifth street.
Howard street, Embarcadero-Van Ness Avenue South.
Junipero Serra boulevard, Sloat boulevard-19th Avenue Extension.
Kezar Stadium roadway, Stanyan and Fell streets-Third avenue and Lincoln way.
Laguna Honda boulevard, Dewey boulevard-Noriega street.
Lincoln way. Third avenue-Great Highway.
Marina boulevard, Scott-Lyon streets.
Market street. Van Ness avenue-Portola drive.
McAllister street. Van Ness avenue-Franklin street.
Montgomery street, California street-Columbus avenue.
Ocean avenue, San Jose avenue-19th Avenue Extension.
Portola drive. Market street-Sloat boulevard.
Post street. Van Ness avenue-Scott street.
Pt. Lobos avenue, Geary boulevard-Great Highway.
San Jose avenue, Dolores street-Sickles avenue.
Scott street, Post-Geary streets.
Seventh avenue, Noriega street-Lincoln way.
Sixth street, Market-16th streets.
Sixteenth street, Third-Minnesota streets.
Sloat boulevard. Nineteenth avenue-Portola drive.
Spear street, Embarcadero-Howard street.
Stanyan street. Park Panhandle-Fulton street.
Steuart street, Embarcadero-Mission streets.
Sunset Boulevard Extension, Sloat-Skyline boulevards.
Third street, Howard street-Bayshore boulevard.
Thirty-second avenue, Geary boulevard-California street.
Townsend street, Embarcadero-Third street.
Twenty-fifth avenue, Fulton-El Camino del Mar.
Twenty-fifth Avenue Extension, across Golden Gate Park from Fulton street to Nineteenth avenue and Lincoln way.
Van Ness avenue, Bay-Lombard streets.
Van ,Ness avenue, Market-Fell streets.
Van Ness Avenue South, Market-Army streets.
Walbridge^' street, Geneva avenue-County Line.
Further Resolved, That the streets enumerated in Resolution No. 2296, Code No. 5.31, shall be improved in the order in which they appear in said Resolution No. 2296, which said resolution has hereto- fore been certified to the State Highway Commission, and be it
Further Resolved, That copies of this resolution be sent to the State Department of Public Works and to Colonel John H. Skeggs, Division Engineer thereof.
Motion.
Supervisor Gallagher moved that the vote whereby the foregoing resolution was adopted be reconsidered.
Privilege of the Floor.
Colonel Skeggs, representing the State Engineer's Department, was heard at length on the pending question.
MONDAY, JANUARY 6, 1936. 11
At 4:10 p. m., Supervisor Brown raised the point of order that 4 p. m. had been agreed upon as the time for hearing the gasoline supply station ordinance and requested that the question should now be taken up.
Chair ruled point of order well taken.
Supervisor Gallagher appealed from the decision of the chair.
The question being put by Supervisor Hayden "Shall the decision of the chair be the decision of the Board," the chair was sustained by the following vote:
Ayes — Supervisors Brown, Colman, Havenner, Hayden, McSheehy, Roncovieri, Schmidt, Uhl — 8,
Noes — Supervisors Gallagher, Ratto, Shannon — 3.
Motion Lost.
Whereupon, the roll was called on Supervisor Gallagher's motion to reconsider and the same was defeated by the following vote:
Ayes — Supervisors Gallagher, McSheehy, Shannon — 3.
Noes — Supervisors Brown, Colman, Havenner, Hayden, Ratto, Ronco- vieri, Schmidt, Uhl— 8.
PRESENTATION OF PROPOSALS.
Saje of Sewer Bonds.
Sealed bids to the number of thirteen for the purchase of certain bonds of the City and County of San Francisco, State of California, accompanied by certified checks, were received by the Board of Super- visors up to the hour of 3 o'clock p. m., received open and read by the Clerk:
The bonds offered are described as follows:
$391,000 "Sewer Bonds, 1929."
Said bonds bear interest at the rate of four and one-half per cent (4^%) per annum; comprising 23 bonds of one thousand dollars each, maturing January 1 each year, 1939 to 1955, inclusive. Interest payable January 1 and July 1.
No alternative bids will be considered by the Board of Supervisors.
The right is reserved by the Board of Supervisors to reject any and all bids.
The bonds offered are tax exempt. State and Federal.
All proposals for the purchase of said bonds shall be accompanied by a deposit of five per cent of the amount bid, in lawful money of the United States, or by a deposit of a certified check payable to J. S. Dunnigan, Clerk of the Board of Supervisors of the City and County of San Francisco, for a like amount, provided that no deposit need exceed the sum of $10,000, and that no deposit need be given by the State of California, which money or check shall be forfeited by the bidder in case he fails to accept and pay for the bonds bid for by him, if his bid is accepted.
The approval of Thomson, Wood & Hoffman, attorneys, New York, as to the legality of these bonds will be furnished to the successful bidder without cost.
Bids.
Bids, to the number of thirteen, accompanied by certified checks, were presented, opened and read by the Clerk.
Telegram.
Thereupon, the City Attorney appeared and presented the following telegram, which was read to the Board, to-wit:
January 6, 1936, 2:23 p. m.
John J. O'Toole, City Attorney.
Answering letter fourth and wire sixth unwilling to approve validity remaining three hundred ninety-one thousand dollars sewer bonds voted
12 MONDAY, JANUARY 6, 1936.
November sixth nineteen twenty eight without decision Supreme Court California expressly sustaining validity said bonds and purpose to which proceeds now intended to be placed. In view of provisions Cali- fornia Constitution former charter and present laws think Supreme Court might hold bonds cannot be issued and sold for purposes now contemplated without new election.
Thompson, Wood & Hoffman.
Bids Rejected.
Whereupon, Supervisor Uhl, seconded by Supervisor Shannon, moved the rejection of all bids and the return of the certified checks.
Motion candied by the following vote:
Ayes — Supervisors Brown, Colman, Gallagher, Havenner, Hayden, McSheehy, Ratto, Roncovieri, Schmidt, Shannon, Uhl — 11.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS.
Final Passage.
The following matters heretofore passed for second reading were taken up and finally passed by the following vote:
Appropriating $75,151 for the Care of Indigent Sick and Depend- ent Poor of the City and County of San Francisco; Month of January, 1936.
(Code No. 9.051)
On recommendation of Finance Committee.
Bill No. 870, Ordinance No. 9.051218, as follows:
Making an appropriation of $75,151 to the Citizens' Relief Commit- tee for meeting the expense of caring for the indigent sick and de- pendent poor of the City and County of San Francisco for the month of January, 1936, and authorizing a portion of said sum to pay the necessary compensations for the administration and distribution of said relief.
Be it ordained by the People of the City and County of San F'ran- cisco, as follows:
Section 1. The sum of $75,151 is hereby appropriated out of such funds as may be available for the purpose of caring for and maintain- ing the indigent sick and dependent poor of the City and County of San Francisco during the month of January, 1936.
Section 2. Said appropriation is made for the purpose of caring for the indigent sick and dependent poor of said city and county and for the purpose of paying compensations of the positions necessary for the administration and distribution of such relief which positions and compensations as fixed by the Citizens' Relief Committee and approved by the Civil Service Commission are hereby authorized and established and /or continued subject to the provisions of Resolution No. 1942, heretofore adopted by the Board of Supervisors.
Controller approves as to available funds.
Ayes— ^Supervisors Brown, Colman, Gallagher, Havenner, Hayden, McSheehy, Ratto, Roncovieri, Schmidt, Shannon, Ulil — 11.
Amendment to Blasting Ordinance. (Code No. 11.08) On recommendation of Committee on Fire, Safety and Police, Bill No. 827, Ordinance No. 11.0812, as follows:
Amending Section 1 of Ordinance No. 1204, entitled "Regulating the Explosion of Blasts," in effect May 16, 1904, as amended by Ordinance No. 378 (New Series), approved March 10, 1908.
Be it ordained by the People of the City and County of San Fran- cisco, as follows:
MONDAY, JANUARY 6, 1936. 13
Section 1. It shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to explode or cause to be exploded any powder or other explosive ma- terial for the purpose of blasting; or drill a hole or make a crevice for the purpose of inserting any powder or other explosive material for the purpose of blasting, or insert in any hole or crevice any fuse or any powder or other explosive material for the purpose of blasting without first obtaining from the Director of Public Works a permit so to do, which permit must specify the location of the blasting or blast- ings for which it is granted; provided, however, that such permit shall not be granted until the applicant therefor shall have executed to the City and County of San Francisco and filed in the office of the Director of Public Works a good and sufficient bond of a lawfully authorized surety company, approved by the Controller, in a sum not less than five thousand ($5,000) dollars, the amount thereof to be fixed and deter- mined in advance of call for bids by the Director of Public Works in accordance with the estimated value of the property in the vicinity of the location of the proposed blast or blasts. Said bond shall be con- ditioned that the permittee, together with the sureties on the bond, shall be jointly and severally bound to pay any and all judgments which may be awarded against the City and County of San F'rancisco or against said permittee by reason of any damage to property or per- son sustained as the result of any blast or blasts made under and by virtue of said permit.
The total aggregate liability on said bond shall be limited to the pay- ment of the amount named in said bond as the penalty thereof. The surety or sureties on any such bond may cancel the said bond and be relieved of further liability thereunder by delivering ten (10) days' written notice of its desire to cancel said bond to the Director of Public Works of the City and County of San Francisco and mailing copy of such notice to the permittee at the address given by the permittee to the City and County of San Francisco in his application for said per- mit; provided, however, such cancellation shall not affect any liability incurred or accruing thereunder prior to the termination of said ten day period. Upon the cancellation of said bond the permit in connec- tion with which any bond was given shall be automatically revoked.
Ayes — -Supervisors Brown, Colman, Gallagher, Havenner, Hayden, McSheehy, Ratto, Roncovieri, Schmidt, Shannon, Uhl — 11.
Changing Sidewalk Widths on Twenty-fifth Avenue Between El Camino Del Mar and Fulton Street (15 to 9 Feet).
(Code No. 12.0731)
On recommendation of Streets Committee.
Bill No. 866, Ordinance No. 12.073152, as follows:
Amending Ordinance No. 1061, entitled "Regulating the Width of Sidewalks," approved December 18, 1903, by adding thereto a new sec- tion to be numbered Eleven Hundred and Forty-eight (1148).
Be it ordained by the People of the City and County of San Francisco, as follows:
Section 1. Ordinance No. 1061, entitled "Regulating the Width of Sidewalks," approved December 18, 1903, be and is hereby amended in accordance with the communication of the Director of Public Works, filed in this office December 11, 1935, by adding thereto a new section to be numbered Eleven Hundred and Forty-eight (1148) to read as follows:
Section 1148. The width of sidewalks on Twenty-fifth avenue between El Camino Del Mar and Fulton street shall be 9 feet.
Ayes — -Supervisors Brown, Colman, Gallagher, Havenner, Hayden, McSheehy, Ratto, Roncovieri, Schmidt, Shannon, Uhl — 11.
14 MONDAY, JANUARY 6, 1936.
Changing Sidewalk Widths on Market Street Between Gough and Castro Streets (From 22 to 12 Feet).
(Code No. 12.0731)
Also, Bill No. 867, Ordinance No. 12.073153, as follows:
Amending Ordinance No. 1061, entitled "Regulating the Width of Sidewalks," approved December 18, 1903, by adding thereto a new sec- tion to be numbered Eleven Hundred and Fifty (1150).
Be it ordained by the People of the City and County of San Francisco, as follows:
Section 1. Ordinance No. 1061, entitled "Regulating the Width of Sidewalks," approved December 18, 1903, be and is hereby amended in accordance with the communication of the Director of Public Works, filed in this office December 11, 1935, by adding thereto a new section to be numbered Eleven Hundred and Fifty (1150) to read as follows:
Section 1150. The width of sidewalks on Market street, the south- easterly side of, between The Embarcadero and Valencia street shall be 22 feet.
The width of sidewalks on Market street, the northwesterly side of, between The Embarcadero and Haight street shall be 22 feet.
The width of sidewalks on Market street, the southeasterly side of, between Valencia and Seventeenth streets shall be 12 feet.
The width of sidewalks on Market street, the northwesterly side of, between Gough and Castro streets shall be 12 feet.
Ayes — -Supervisors Brown, Colman, Gallagher, Havenner, Hayden, McSheehy, Ratto, Roncovieri, Schmidt, Shannon, Uhl — 11.
Changing Sidewalk Widths on Seventeenth Street Between Castro
and Harrison Streets (15 to 10 Feet).
(Code No. 12.0731)
Also, Bill No. 868, Ordinance No. 12.073154, as follows:
Amending Ordinance No. 1061, entitled "Regulating the Width of Sidewalks," approved December 18, 1903, by adding thereto a new sec- tion to be numbered Eleven Hundred and Forty-nine (1149).
Be it ordained by the People of the City and County of San Fran- cisco as follows:
■ Section 1. Ordinance No. 1061, entitled "Regulating the Width of Sidewalks," approved December 18, 1903, be and is hereby amended in accordance with the communication of the Director of Public Works, filed in this office December 11, 1935, by adding thereto a new section to be numbered Eleven Hundred and Forty-nine (1149), to read as follows :
Section 1149 : The width of sidewalks on Seventeenth street between Castro and Harrison streets shall be 10 feet.
Ayes— Supervisors Brown, Colman, Gallagher, Havenner, Hayden, McSheehy, Ratto, Roncovieri, Schmidt, Shannon, Uhl — 11.
Changing Sidewalk Widths on Fell Street Between Van Ness Ave- nue and Baker Street (15 to 10 Feet).
(Code No. 12.0731) Also, Bill No. 869, Ordinance No. 12.073155, as follows: Amending Ordinance No. 1061, entitled "Regulating the Width of Sidewalks," approved December 18, 1903, by adding thereto a new sec- tion to be numbered Eleven Hundred Fifty-one (1151).
Be it ordained by the People of the City and County of San Fran- cisco as follows:
Section 1. Ordinance No. 1061, entitled "Regulating the Width of Sidewalks," approved December 18, 1903, be and is hereby amended in accordance with the communication of the Director of Public Works,
MONDAY, JANUARY 6, 1936. 15
filed in this office December 11, 1935, by adding thereto a new section to be numbered Eleven Hundred and Fifty-one (1151), to read as fol- lows:
Section 1151: The width of sidewalks on Fell street between Van Ness avenue and Baker street shall be 10 feet.
Ayes — -Supervisors Brown, Colman, Gallagher, Havenner, Hayden, McSheehy, Ratto, Roncovieri, Schmidt, Shannon, Uhl — 11.
NEW BUSINESS. Adopted. The following resolution was adopted:
Clerk to Advertise Sale of $3,000,000 Tax Anticipation Notes. (Code No. 9.033)
On recommendation of Finance Committee.
Resolution No. 2329, as follows:
Whereas, Ordinance No. 9.0337, heretofore enacted by the Board of Supervisors of the City and County of San Francisco, authorized the issuance of certain Tax Anticipation Notes, the same to be issued as needed for the immediate requirements of the City and County in order to meet and pay the appropriations heretofore made for the current fiscal year, as authorized by the Charter of the City and County, which appropriations will become due and payable prior to June 30, 1936, and which may be paid in advance of receipt of the income for said fiscal year; and
Whereas, in order to meet the said immediate requirements of said City and County it is necessary to forthwith issue and offer for sale tax anticipation notes as authorized by said ordinance above mentioned to the amount of three million ($3,000,000) dollars; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the President of the Board of Supervisors of the City and County of San Francisco, the Controller of said City and County, and the Treasurer thereof, be and they are hereby authorized and directed to execute and issue for and on behalf of the City and County of San Francisco, the aforesaid Tax Anticipation Notes, to the amount of three million ($3,000,000) dollars, and that said notes be offered for sale by this Board of Supervisors; and be it
Further Resolved, That the Clerk of this Board be and he is hereby directed to advertise in the official newspaper of the City and County of San Francisco a notice of the sale of said Tax Anticipation Notes to the amount of three million ($3,000,000) dollars, and that sealed bids or offers for all or any part of said notes will be received by the Board of Supervisors up to the hour of 3 o'clock p. m. on Monday, the 13th day of January, 1936, and that said Tax Anticipation Notes will be sold to the bidder offering to accept and pay for said note or notes so sold at the lowest net interest cost to the City and County of San Francisco computed from the date fixed for the presentation of bids to May 15, 1936.
Further Resolved, That Orrick, Palmer and Dahlquist, attorneys-at- law, are employed to furnish legal opinion on validity of Tax Antici- pation Notes authorized by Ordinance No, 9.0337, the fee therefor to be $1,000.
Ayes — Supervisors Brown, Colman, Gallagher, Havenner, Hayden, McSheehy, Ratto, Roncovieri, Schmidt, Shannon, Uhl — 11.
Final Passage. The following bill was finally passed:
16 MONDAY, JANUARY 6, 1936.
Appropriation of $5,480 from Emergency Reserve Fund for Prepa- ration of Reports and Information Required to Be Filed by Law With the Bank and Corporation Franchise Tax Commissioner.
(Code No. 9.051)
On recommendation of Finance Committee.
Bill No. 878, Ordinance No. 9.051222, as follows:
Appropriating $5,480 from the emergency reserve fund Appropria- tion No. 502.900.00 to the credit of Appropriation No. 560.200.01 for the preparation of reports and information required to be filed by law with the Bank and Corporation Franchise Tax Commissioner; an emergency ordinance.
Be it ordained by the People of the City and County of San Fran- cisco, as follows:
Section 1. The sum of $5,480 is hereby appropriated and set aside from the emergency reserve fund Appropriation No. 502.900.00 to the credit of Appropriation No. 560.200.01 to pay the necessary expenses in connection with the preparation of reports and information required by law to be filed with the Bank and Corporation Franchise Tax Com- missioner pursuant to the provisions of section 23 of "The Personal Income Tax Act of 1935."
Section 2. The Board of Supervisors does hereby declare by the vote by which this ordinance is passed that an actual emergency, exists as immediate action is required to enable the Controller to comply with the time limitations as established under "The Personal Income Tax Act of 1935."
Approved as to form by Jno. J. O'Toole, City Attorney.
Recommended and approved by Leonard S, Leavy, Controller.
Approved by Angelo J. Rossi, Mayor.
Ayes — Supervisors Brown, Colman, Gallagher, Havenner, Hayden, McSheehy, Ratto, Roncovieri, Schmidt, Shannon, Uhl — 11.
Adopted. The following resolutions were adopted:
Authorizing Purchase of Lot 16, Block 3579, at $2,456 from Edith I. Lennon; Required for Mission High School.
(Code No. 12.1712)
On recommendation of Finance Committee.
Resolution No. 2330, as follows:
Resolved, That the City and County of San Francisco purchase from Edith I. Lennon Lot 16, Assessor's Block 3579, situated in the City and County of San Francisco, State of California, required for Mis- sion High School, for the sum of $2,456, payable from Appropriation No. 570.600.01. The City Attorney shall examine and approve the title of said real property.
Approved by the Director of Property.
Ayes — Supervisors Brpwn, Colman, Gallagher, Havenner, Hayden, McSheehy, Ratto, Roncovieri, Schmidt, Shannon, Uhl — 11.
Authorizing Purchase of Certain Land From Peter Bandoni et ux. for San Jose Avenue.
(Code No. 12.1711)
Also, Resolution No. 2331, as follows:
Resolved, That the City and County of San Francisco purchase from Peter Bandoni et ux. the southeasterly 20 feet of Lots 1 and 2, As- sessor's Block 7162, situated in the City and County of San Francisco, State of California, required for the widening of San Jose avenue, for the sum of $800, payable from the 14-cent Gas Tax Fund, Appro-
f
MONDAY, JANUARY 6, 1936. 17
priation No. 48.914.14-1. The City Attorney shall examine and approve the title of said real property.
Approved by the Director of Property.
Ayes — -Supervisors Brown, Colman, Gallagher, Havenner, Hayden, McSheehy, Ratto, Roncovieri, Schmidt, Shannon, Uhl — 11.
Passed for Second Reading. The following bill was passed for second reading'.
Appropriating $39,999.48 from the Emergency Reserve Fund, Ap- propriation No. 502.900.00, to the Credit of Department of Elec- tions.
(Code No. 9.051)
On recommendation of Finance Committee.
Bill No. 881, Ordinance No. 9.051223, as follows:
Appropriating $39,999.48 from the Emergency Reserve Fund, Ap- propriation No. 502.900.00, to the credit of Department of Elections, being reimbursement of amount expended for conduct of Special Elec- tion held August 13, 1935, as per Resolution No. 2034.
Be it ordained by the People of the City and County of San Fran- cisco, as follows:
Section 1. The sum of $39,999.48 be and the same is hereby set aside from the Emergency Reserve Fund, Appropriation No. 502.900.00 to the credit of Department of Elections; being reimbursement of amount expended for the conduct of Special Election held August 13, 1935, as per Resolution No. 2034.
Recommended by the Mayor.
Approved by the Chief Administrative Officer.
Approved as to funds by the Controller.
Ayes — -Supervisors Brown, Colman, Gallagher, Havenner, Hayden, McSheehy, Ratto, Roncovieri, Schmidt, Shannon, Uhl — 11.
Final Passage.
The following emergency bill was taken up and finally imssed:
Appropriating $10,000 from Emergency Reserve Fund to Public Utilities Commission to Defray Cost of Engineering and Archi- tectural Services for Necessary Plans, etc., for Improvement of San Francisco Airport.
(Code No. 9.051)
On recommendation of Finance Committee.
Bill No. 882, Ordinance No. 9.051224, as follows:
Appropriating ten thousand ($10,000) dollars from the Emergency Reserve Fund to the Public Utilities Commission to defray the cost of engineering and architectural services for the necessary plans, de- signs and specifications in order to improve San Francisco Airport at Mills Field, declaring that an emergency exists and passing this ordi- nance as an emergency measure.
Be it ordained by the People of the City and County of San Fran- cisco, as follows:
Section 1. There is hereby appropriated from the Emergency Re- serve Fund (Appropriation No. 502.900.00, 1935-1936 Appropriation
Ordinance) to the Public Utilities Commission, Appropriation No. ,
to be used by said Public Utilities Commission to defray the cost of engineering and architectural services for the necessary plans, designs and specifications in order to improve San Francisco Airport at Mills Field, so that said airport can be used for the landing of seaplanes as well as land planes, and in particular that such improvements may be made as will furnish the necessary service to the Pan-American Air- ways, Inc., in accordance with the terms of the proposed contract
18 MONDAY, JANUARY 6, 1936.
between said Pan-American Airways, Inc., and the Public Utilities Commission, and so that the City may avail itself of the grant from the Federal Government to aid in the improvement of said airport.
Section 2. This appropriation is made from the Emergency Reserve Fund for the reason that an emergency exists which makes the amount thereof necessary immediately so that the City may avail itself of the grant of the Federal Government to be made for the improvement of said airport.
Section 3. This ordinance is passed as an emergency measure, and the Board of Supervisors does by the vote by which this ordinance is passed specifically declare that an actual emergency exists which neces- sitates this ordinance becoming effective, immediately, the nature of said emergency being as follows: That unless the Public Utilities Com- mission can proceed at once with the engineering and architectural work and plans and specifications for the improvement of said San Francisco Airport a grant from the Federal Government to aid in the improvement of the same cannot be obtained and said contract for the use of said airport by Pan-American Airways, Inc., cannot be carried out, and therefore this ordinance is passed in order to comply with the limitation of time.
Appropriation recommended by Angelo J. Rossi, Mayor.
Appropriation recommended as to funds available, Leonard S. Leavy, Controller.
Approved as to form, Jno. J. O'Toole, City Attorney.
Ayes — -Supervisors Brown, Colman, Gallagher, Havenner, Hayden, McSheehy, Ratto, Roncovieri, Schmidt, Shannon, Uhl — 11.
Adopted. The following recommendation of the Mayor was adopted:
Leave of Absence — E. B. De Golia, Member City Planning Commission.
(Code No. 4.053)
Resolution No. 2332, as follows:
Resolved, That, in accordance with the recommendation of his Honor the Mayor, Hon. E. B. De Golia, member of the City Planning Com- mission, is hereby granted a leave of absence for a period of three months, commencing January 7, 1936, with permission to leave the State.
Ayes— Supervisors Brown, Colman, Gallagher, Havenner, Hayden, McSheehy, Ratto, Roncovieri, Schmidt, Shannon, Uhl — 11.
ROLL CALL FOR THE INTRODUCTION OF RESOLUTIONS, BILLS AND COMMUNICATIONS NOT CONSIDERED OR REPORTED UPON BY A COMMITTEE.
■ Adopted.
The following recommendations of his Honor the Mayor were adojHed:
Leave of Absence, Charles J. Brennan, Chief of the Fire Department. (Code No. 4.053)
Resolution No. 2333, as follows:
Resolved, That in accordance with recommendation of his honor, the Mayor, Charles J. Brennan, Chief of the Fire Department, be and is hereby granted leave of absence for a period of four days, com- mencing January 12, 1936, with permission to leave the state.
Ayes — Supervisors Brown, Colman, Gallagher, Havenner, Hayden, McSheehy, Ratto, Roncovieri, Schmidt, Shannon, Uhl — 11.
MONDAY, JANUARY 6, 1936. 19
Leave of Absence, Hon. Albert A. Greenbaum, Art Commission.
(Code No. 4.053)
Also, Resolution No. 2334, as follows:
Resolved, That in accordance with recommendation of his Honor, the Mayor, Hon. Albert A. Greenbaum, member of the Art Commission, be and is hereby granted a leave of absence for a period of thirty days, commencing January 6, 1936, with permission to leave the state.
Ayes — Supervisors Brown, Colman, Gallagher, Havenner, Hayden, McSheehy, Ratto, Roncovieri, Schmidt, Shannon, Uhl — 11.
Leave of Absence, Hon. Emerson Knight, Member of Art Commission.
(Code No. 4.053)
AlsQ, Resolution No. 2335, as follows:
Resolved, That in accordance with recommendation of his Honor, the Mayor, Hon. Emerson Knight, member of the Art Commission, be and is hereby granted a leave of absence for a period of ninety days, commencing January 6, 1936, with permission to leave the state.
Ayes — Supervisors Brown, Colman, Gallagher, Havenner, Hayden, McSheehy, Ratto, Roncovieri, Schmidt, Shannon, Uhl — 11.
Final Passage.
The following matters were finally passed by the following vote:
Appropriating $5915 to the Credit of Emergency Hospital Service
and Declaring an Emergency.
(Code No. 9.051)
Supervisor Gallagher presented:
Bill No. 883, Ordinance No. 9.051225, as follows:
Appropriating the sum of $5,915 from the Emergency Reserve, Appro- priation No. 502.900.00 to the credit of Municipal Hospital Service — Maintenance of Fleishhacker Pool Hospital and the Alemany Hospital, Department of Public Health, and declaring an emergency.
Be it ordained by the People of the City and County of San Francisco, as follows:
Section 1. The sum of $5,915 be and is hereby set aside and appro- priated from the Emergency Reserve, Appropriation No. 502.900, to the credit of Municipal Hospital Service — Maintenance of Fleishhacker Pool Hospital and the Alemany Hospital, Department of Public Health.
Section 2. This ordinance is passed as an emergency measure, and the Board of Supervisors does hereby by the vote by which this ordi- nance is passed, declare that an actual emergency exists which necessi- tates this ordinance becoming effective at once. The character of the said emergency being as follows: That the wages of employees of the Emergency Hospital system are overdue, and this ordinance is passed that said earned wages may be paid forthwith.
Approved by the Mayor.
Approved as to funds by the Controller.
Approved by the Chief Administrative Officer.
Ayes — Supervisors Brown, Colman, Gallagher, Havenner, Hayden, McSheehy, Ratto, Roncovieri, Schmidt, Shannon, Uhl — 11.
Relating to the Care and Expenditure of Moneys Received From the State of California Under the Provisions of Article 5, Chapter 1, Division 1 of the Streets and Highways Code, an Emergency Ordinance.
(Code No. 9.0419)
Supervisor Gallagher presented:
Bill No. 884, Ordinance No. 9.04194, as follows:
Relating to the care and expenditure of moneys received from the
20 MONDAY, JANUARY 6, 1936.
State of California under the provisions of Article 5, Chapter 1, Di- vision 1 of the Streets and Highways Code, an emergency ordinance.
Be it ordained by the People of the City and County of San Francisco, as follows:
Section 1. To comply with the provisions of Article 5, of Chapter 1 of Division 1 of the Streets and Highways Code, with particular reference to the amendments made thereto by Chapter 642, Statutes of 1935, there is hereby created in the City Treasury a special fund to be known as the "Special Gas Tax Street Improvement Fund".
Section 2. All moneys received by the City from the State of Cali- fornia under the provisions of the Streets and Highways Code for the acquisition of real property or interests therein for, or the con- struction, maintenance or improvement of streets or highways other than State highways shall be paid into said fund.
Section 3, All moneys in said fund shall be expended exclusively for the purposes authorized by, and subject to all of the provisions of Article 5, Chapter 1, Division 1 of the Streets and Highways Code.
Section 4. This ordinance is passed as an emergency measure and the Board of Supervisors does by the vote by which this ordinance is passed declare that an actual emergency exists which necessitates this ordinance becoming effective at once. The character of said emergency being as follows:
That the authorities of the State of California will not pay to the City and County of San Francisco the amount due to said City and County for its "Special Gas Tax Street Improvement Fund" until this ordinance is passed, and if said amount due to said "Special Gas Tax Street Improvement Fund" is not received at once, the City and County of San Francisco cannot enter into contracts for the improve- ment of certain streets and receive from the Public Works Adminis- tration the allocation of certain funds heretofore granted to said City and County by said Public Works Administration and, therefore, it is necessary that this ordinance should become effective forthwith in order to comply with the limitations of time.
Ayes — 'Supervisors Brown, Colman, Gallagher, Havenner, Hayden, McSheehy, Ratto, Roncovieri, Schmidt, Shannon, Uhl — 11.
Authorizing Public Utilities Commission to Acquire a Public Utility for Distribution of Electric Energy and to Issue Revenue Bonds and Borrow Money, Etc., Against the Revenues of said Utility and Outlining Procedure Involved.
(Code No. 15.032)
Supervisor Havenner presented:
Bill No. 885, Ordinance No. 15.0323, as follows:
Authorizing the Public Utilities Commission of the City and County of San Francisco to acquire by purchase, or by condemnation, or to construct, a public utility for the distribution of electric energy to the citizens, inhabitants or residents of the City and County of San Francisco, or to the citizens, inhabitants or residents of other cities or of other counties, and for the purpose of defraying the cost of ac- quiring or constructing such utility, to borrow money and to issue bonds or other obligations payable solely out of the revenue of such utility, and providing for the manner in which said bonds or other obligations shall be issued, and for interest thereon, and how the in- terest on, and the principal of said bonds or obligations, shall be paid, and for the necessary procedure to be undertaken by said Public Utili- ties Commission and by the Board of Supervisors of the City and County of San Francisco to authorize the issuance of said bonds or other obligations, and for the payment of the interest on, and of the principal of said obligations.
Be it ordained by the People of the City and County of San Fran- cisco, as follows:
MONDAY, JANUARY 6, 1936. 21
Section 1. Whereas, it is provided in Section 9 of the Charter of the City and County of San Francisco that the Board of Supervisors of said City and County may, by ordinance, confer on any oflficer, board or commission such other and additional powers as the Board of Su- pervisors may deem advisable; and
Whereas, the Public Utilities Commission has, pursuant to the pro- visions of said Charter, charge of the construction, management, su- pervision, maintenance, extension, operation and control of all public utilities and other properties used, owned, acquired, leased or con- structed by the City and County of San Francisco, for the purpose of supplying any public utility service to the City and County and to its inhabitants, to territory outside the limits of the City and County, and to the inhabitants thereof; and
Whereas, the Board of Supervisors deems it advisable to confer upon the Public Utilities Commission of the City and County of San Francisco the right to acquire by purchase, condemnation or construc- tion a public utility for the purpose of distributing to the City and County of San Francisco, or to parts thereof, or other cities or coun- ties, or to parts thereof, and to the inhabitants and residents of said City and County of San Francisco, or to the inhabitants and residents of parts thereof, or to the inhabitants or residents of parts of said cities or parts of said counties, electric energy for domestic, commer- cial, county and municipal purposes, and to accomplish said purposes to borrow money and to issue bonds or other obligations evidencing said money so borrowed, which said moneys so borrowed, and bonds or other obligations so issued, shall be repayable solely out of the revenue of said public utility.
Section 2. There is hereby conferred upon the Public Utilities Com- mission of the City and County of San Francisco the following powers, in addition to the powers heretofore or hereafter granted to said Public Utilities Commission by the Charter of the City and County of San Francisco, or by ordinance of this Board of Supervisors, to-wit:
1. Said Public Utilities Commission of the City and County of San Francisco may acquire by purchase, condemnation or construction a public utility for the purpose of supplying to the inhabitants or resi- dents of the City and County of San Francisco, or of any part thereof, or to the inhabitants or residents of any other city and county, or of any part thereof, or to the City and County of San Francisco, or to any other city or county, electric energy for domestic, commercial, county or municipal purposes.
2. That for the purpose of acquiring, condemning or constructing, and for the purpose of defraying the cost of such acquisition, condem- nation or construction, said Public Utilities Commission may, as here- inafter in this ordinance set forth, enter into obligations, borrow money and issue bonds or other evidences of indebtedness, and provide for the payment of such obligations, and for the repayment of money so borrowed, as well as for the payment of said bonds or other obliga- tions, solely out of the revenue of said public utility so established, purchased, acquired, condemned or constructed.
3. For the accomplishment of the purposes hereinbefore set forth, that is, to establish, acquire, condemn or construct said public utility for the distribution of said electric energy, as aforesaid, said Public Utilities Commission shall, through its Manager of Utilities, make a report to the Board of Supervisors of the size, character and kind of electric distribution system which it desires to establish, acquire, con- demn or construct, and the city and county, city or county, or particu- lar parts thereof, which it will serve or tend to serve, together with an estimate of the cost thereof, as well as an estimate of the probable period of time which will be consumed in establishing, acquiring, con- demning or constructing said utility, as well as the manner in which the same will be established, acquired or constructed, as well as the manner in which the cost of establishing, acquiring or constructing
22 MONDAY, JANUARY 6, 1936.
said utility will be met. Said report shall also show in detail the estimated net annual revenue from said utility after deducting the cost of operation and maintenance, repairs and reconstruction, de- preciation, and all other charges including interest and redemption charges or any moneys expended for the establishment, acquisition or construction of said utility.
4. Upon receiving said report, the Board of Supervisors shall ex- amine the same, and for said purpose may employ engineers, account- ants and other experts to aid in said examination, and if after said examination and the report of said engineers, accountants or other experts, the said Board of Supervisors is satisfied that it will be for the benefit and best interests of the City and County of San Francisco that said utility should be established, acquired or constructed, as re- ported by the Manager of Utilities, said Board of Supervisors shall, by resolution, approve said report and recommend that said utility be established, acquired or constructed as set forth in said report.
5. Thereafter the said Board of Supervisors shall by ordinance au- thorize and empower said Public Utilities Commission to establish, and/or acquire, and/or construct said utility as recommended or set forth in said report, and shall by said ordinance, or by a separate ordi- nance, or by separate ordinances, authorize said Public Utilities Com- mission to enter into such obligations, or to borrow such money, or moneys, or to issue such bonds or other obligations as may be neces- sary to defray the necessary cost of establishing, acquiring or con- structing said utility, including the estimated amount necessary to pay the interest on any money so borrowed or bonds or other obliga- tions so issued during the period of acquisition or construction of said utility and for six months thereafter.
6. Said bonds or other obligations so authorized to be issued shall be executed by said Public Utilities Commission, by its President and Secretary, and shall be in such form and of such denomination, shall be payable at such times, and shall contain such conditions as the said Board of Supervisors in said ordinance may provide, provided that said bonds or other obligations shall be so conditioned that they will not bear interest at a rate higher than six per cent per annum pay- able semi-annually. Any bonds or other obligations authorized as herein provided, as well as the interest thereon, shall be payable wholly and exclusively out of the net revenue arising from the opera- tion of the utility for which they shall have been authorized after the payment of all operating expenses of said utility, including pension and retirement charges, all amounts necessary for the repair and maintenance of the property of said utility and all amounts necessary to provide for a proper fund to meet the depreciation on said utility. No part of the amount of said bonds or of the interest thereon shall be payable from moneys raised from taxes levied against property or from any other source whatsoever, save and except from the revenues of said utility for the establishment, acquisition or construction of which they may have been issued, and then only in the manner herein- before set forth, and said bonds or other obligations shall so state upon their face or by endorsement thereon.
7. The Public Utilities Commission shall have full power and au- thority to determine and provide for the times at which, and the man- ner in which, said bonds or other obligations shall be sold and dis- posed of, and may cause the same to be issued as one issue or in successive issues.
8. The proceeds of all bonds or other obligations sold by said Public Utilities Commission shall be forthwith placed in the Treasury of the City and County and shall only be used for the purposes for which they may have been sold and authorized.
Section 3, Any utility established, acquired or constructed by said Public Utilities Commission, pursuant to or under authority of this ordinance, as well as the income therefrom, shall be subject to all of
MONDAY, JANUARY 6, 1936. 23
the provisions of the Charter governing the operation of existing utilities.
Section 4. At the time the Board of Supervisors authorize the in- curring of any obligations, or the borrowing of any money, or the issuing of any bonds or other obligations, said Board may, in the ordi- nance or ordinances authorizing the incurring of said obligation, the borrowing of said money or the issuing of said bonds or obligations, add such additional provisions as it may deem proper relative to the incurring of any obligations or the borrowing of any money, or the issuance of any bonds or obligations, or as to the conduct, operation, establishment, acquisition or construction of said utility, save and except that no such provision shall be contrary to any Charter pro- vision on the subject, nor shall any provision be made for the payment of any money, bond or obligation except from the revenue of the utility authorized to be established.
Referred to Special Committee on Distribution of Hetch Hetchy Power and copies ordered sent to members.
Passed for Second Reading.
The following recommendation of the Public Health Committee was presented by Supervisor Roncovieri and passed for second reading by the following vote:
Regulating Sale of Salvaged Goods and Merchandise. (Code No. 17.19)
Bill No. 871, Ordinance No. 17.193, as follows:
Regulating the business of dealing in salvaged goods and merchan- dise, defining certain terms used in this ordinance; providing for the issuance of permits to engage in said business or to deal in salvaged goods and merchandise, fixing the fee to be paid for said permit, and providing for the inspection of places where salvaged goods and merchandise are sold, kept or stored, and providing an inspection fee in connection with the business of dealing in salvaged goods and merchandise for the purpose of defraying the cost of inspection and regulation, giving to the Director of Public Health the right to make regulations to carry out the purposes of this ordinance and providing a penalty for its violation or for the violation of said regulations.
Be it ordained by the People of the City and County of San Fran- cisco as follows:
Section 1. For the purposes of this ordinance the term "salvaged goods and merchandise" is hereby defined as follows:
"Any article of food or any article which may be used for food by human beings or by animals, or any chemical or other substance which may be added to food or to foodstuffs, alcoholic beverages, or any drug or compounded drugs, medicines, toilet articles, cosmetics, lotions, liniments or similar articles, or any commodity, powder, liquid or solid compound or mixture used or to be used in and about any home, house- hold, hotel, apartment house or dwelling for cleaning, disinfecting or deodorizing purposes, including insecticides and similar articles, or tobacco or tobacco products, when the packages, cans, cartons or other containers in which the individual containers of said articles are packed for shipment or sale are damaged, torn, broken, swollen, wet, burned or rusted, or where the individual containers of said articles are dam- aged, torn, broken, swollen, wet, burned or rusted, or where the labels on the individual containers of any such article are defaced so that the name of the manufacturer or packer originally appearing on said label cannot be ascertained."
Section 2. The term "person" as used in this ordinance shall mean any individual, association of individuals, copartnership or corpora- tion.
Section 3. A "dealer" in salvaged goods and merchandise is hereby defined to be a person who, either exclusively or in connection with any
24 MONDAY, JANUARY 6, 1936.
other business, buys, sells, distributes or deals in salvaged goods and merchandise, and who is the holder of a permit from the Director of Public Health so to do; provided, however, that persons selling salvaged goods or merchandise to salvage "dealers" as well as those who pur- chase the same from salvage "dealers" and sell same directly to the retail trade, shall not be considered "dealers" in salvaged goods and merchandise.
Section 4. No person shall engage in the business of selling or dis- tributing salvaged goods or merchandise, as defined in this ordinance, in the City and County of San Francisco, nor shall any person sell or distribute, or offer for sale or distribution, any salvaged goods or mer- chandise in said City and County without first obtaining a permit to so do from the Director of Public Health. Applications for such per- mits shall be upon blanks provided by the Department of Public Health and shall state the name of the person applying for same, the general character of salvaged goods or merchandise which will be dealt in, sold or distributed, and the place where said business is to be carried on, and if said applicant is not regularly engaged in the business of deal- ing in salvaged goods and merchandise, then the place where the sale or distribution of said salvaged goods and merchandise shall take place, as well as the place where the said salvaged goods and mer- chandise are stored and the general character thereof. A fee of ten ($10.00) dollars shall accompany each application for any permit to engage in the business of selling or distributing salvaged goods or merchandise, said fee to be retained by the City irrespective as to whether said permit is granted or not; provided, however, that nothing contained in this ordinance shall prevent a person who is not a salvage "dealer" as defined in section 3 of this ordinance and who is the owner or custodian of any salvaged goods or merchandise from selling or distributing the same if said salvaged goods or merchandise are inspected by the Department of Public Health and a permit for the sale and distribution thereof is issued by said Department; the cost of said inspection to be paid by the person requesting said permit before the same is issued at the rate of $2.00 per hour.
The Director of Public Health, before issuing any permit to any person to engage in the business of selling or distributing salvaged goods or merchandise, shall make an investigation of the character of the applicant, his methods of storing, handling and receiving said salvaged goods and merchandise and shall exercise his sound discretion in granting or refusing to grant said permit, and if said permit is re- quested by a person not regularly engaged in the business of dealing in salvaged goods or merchandise, the said Director of Public Health shall investigate the condition of said salvaged goods or merchandise to be sold or distributed by said person and if he finds that said sal- vaged goods or merchandise are in such condition that the same may be used for the purposes for which they were manufactured or packed, he may issue a permit for the sale and distribution of the same.
Section 5. Any person not regularly engaged in the business of sell- ing or disposing of salvaged goods or merchandise and who is the owner of, or has under his control any such goods or merchandise, may sell or dispose of the same to any person who is a "dealer" as defined in this ordinance, and any person who shall receive salvaged goods or merchandise from any "dealer," or from any person having a permit to sell the same, need not obtain any additional permit for the purpose of selling or distributing the same to the general public, provided that the said salvaged goods or merchandise have been in- spected by the Department of Public Health.
Section 6. It shall be the duty of the Director of Public Health, through his duly authorized representatives, to inspect from time to time all places where salvaged goods and merchandise are sold, kept or distributed, and whenever it shall be found that said salvaged goods and merchandise, or any part thereof, are unfit for the purposes for which they were manufactured or packed, or for which they are being
MONDAY, JANUARY 6, 1936. 25
offered for sale, to cause the same to be destroyed as constituting a public nuisance, and the cost of such destruction shall be a charge against the person in whose possession said unfit salvaged goods or merchandise may be found and the amount of said cost shall be payable to the Director of Public Health for the City and County upon demand.
Section 7. All inspections made by the Director of Public Health pursuant to the provisions of this ordinance shall consist in such examination of any salvaged goods and merchandise as will deter- mine their fitness for any of the purposes for which they are sold, offered for sale, or to be sold, and when in the opinion of the Director of Public Health it is necessary to analyze any sample of any salvaged goods or merchandise, said Director of Public Health or his agents, may take such article or such portions thereof as may be necessary to determine said fitness, and said determination may be made by labora- tory or such other tests as the Director of Public Health shall deem proper. Pending the determination of said tests, the Director of Public Health may prohibit the sale or distribution or removal of any part of said salvaged goods or merchandise which are subject to said examina- tion. The cost of all inspections and examinations shall be paid by the owner or custodian of said salvaged goods or merchandise, and the failure to pay such sum upon demand shall be sufficient ground to revoke said owner's or custodian's permit to deal in such goods and merchandise, and if said owner or custodian be not a salvage "dealer", the Director of Public Health shall not issue a permit for the sale or distribution of said goods or merchandise until the fee covering such inspection, examination or analysis has been paid.
Salvaged goods and merchandise which have been inspected pursu- ant to the provisions of this ordinance, or purchased from a salvage "dealer" and which are resold by the purchaser thereof directly to the public shall not be subject to reinspection, nor shall the dealer in such articles be required to obtain a permit to resell the same except in so far as said goods may be subject to inspection or license to sell the same by any other law or ordinance.
Where economic poisons form a part of any salvaged goods or mer- chandise such economic poisons shall be disposed of only in accordance with the provisions of sections 1065 and 1066 of the Agricultural Code of the State of California.
Section 8. For the purpose of meeting the cost of regulation and inspection, dealers in salvaged goods and merchandise who are holders of valid permits issued as provided in Section 4 of this ordinance, shall pay to the Tax Collector a fee of twenty-five ($25.00) dollars per quarter commencing March 1, 1936. (Upon the payment of said fee the Tax Collector shall issue to said person paying the same a receipt showing said payment, which said receipt shall be conspicuously dis- played in the place of business of said dealer. Failure to pay said quar- terly fee within the time provided by law shall ipso facto revoke any permit issued as provided in Section 4 hereof.
Dealers in salvaged goods and merchandise paying the quarterly fee provided for shall, in so far as their activities are confined to salvaged goods and merchandise as hereinabove defined, be exempt from the provisions of Ordinance No. 5132 (New Series) and also from the provisions of Section 29' of the Merchandise Brokers Ordi- nance and Section 3 of the Second Hand Dealers Ordinance, as well as from the provisions of Ordinance 3.0411 and 3.04121.
Section 9. The Director of Public Health shall make such rules and regulations regarding the sale, distribution, storing, handling and possession of any salvaged goods or merchandise as he shall deem proper to carry into effect and to accomplish the purposes of this ordinance and to prevent the contamination of said goods and mer- chandise, or to prevent the same being sold or distributed in such a manner as might be dangerous or injurious to the health or safety of any person, and when said rules are so made they shall be as effective as if the same were a part of this ordinance.
26 MONDAY, JANUARY 6, 1936.
Section 10. Any permit granted pursuant to the provisions of this ordinance may be suspended by the Director of Public Health, and after notice to the holders thereof may be revoked by said Director, for any violation of this ordinance or for the violation of any rules or regulations of said Director made under authority of this ordinance, or for the violation of any law, rule or regulation of the State of California or of the City and County of San Francisco, relative to the sale, keeping or distribution of any article coming within the definition of salvaged goods or merchandise.
Section 11. Any person violating any of the provisions of this ordi- nance shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof shall be subject to a fine not to exceed five hundred ($500.00) dollars or to imprisonment in the County Jail for a term not exceeding six months or to both said fine and imprisonment.
Section 12, If any section, subsection, sentence, phrase or part of this ordinance shall be declared unconstitutional, or if the same shall be declared contrary to the provisions of the charter of the City and County of San Francisco, or be declared illegal or beyond the powers of the Board of Supervisors to enact the same, said Board of Super- visors does hereby declare that it would have passed the remainder of said ordinance irrespective of said fact, and the said declaration shall have no effect upon the remainder of this ordinance.
Ayes— -Supervisors Brown, Colman, Gallagher, Havenner, Hayden, McSheehy, Ratto, Roncovieri, Schmidt, Shannon, Uhl — 11.
In Memoriam, F. W. Dohrmann, Jr.
Supervisor Havenner, seconded by Supervisor Gallagher, moved that Board, when it adjourns, does so out of respect to the memory of the late F. W. Dohrmann, that a Committee be appointed to attend the funeral, and that the Clerk be directed to prepare suitable resolution of condolence.
Motion carried unanimously by rising vote.
Protest Against Widening Fulton Street from 11th Avenue to the Beach.
Supervisor Brown presented letter of protest from Mrs. Ada M. Martin against the widening of Fulton street, from 11th avenue to the beach. He also inquired as to the widening of Brannan street.
Referred to Streets Committee.
Supervisor Brown moved that the Streets Committee, as it will be constituted, meet January 15, 1936, at 2:30 p. m., in room 228, for the purpose of considering above protest.
8o ordered.
Theatre Heating.
Supervisor Brown called attention of complaint made to him re- garding lack of heating in theatre buildings and requested that Clerk make inquiry of the Board of Health as to what can be done about it.
8o ordered.
Funston Avenue Approach, Golden Gate Bridge.
Supervisor Gallagher moved that the incoming Streets Committee be requested to interest itself in the matter of construction of the Funston avenue approach to the Golden Gate bridge, and to report to the Board on that matter at the earliest possible date.
8o ordered.
Request for Transcript, Reconsideration of Resolution 2328, Desig- nating Streets to be Improved Under Special Gas Fund.
Supervisor Gallagher requested copy of debate on the matter of reconsideration of Resolution No. 2328, Designating Streets of Major
MONDAY, JANUARY 6, 1936. 27
Importance to be Improved with Funds from Special Gas Street Im- provement Fund. So ordered.
Supervisor Shannon's Report on "Tournament of Roses" Trip.
Supervisor Shannon reported on trip to Tournament of Roses, and announced that he intended to present resolution, sometime in the future, to request either the President of the Board, or the Mayor, to appoint an "Events Committefe", so San Francisco can look forward to holding events of importance.
Fifth Plan for Power Distribution Requested.
Supervisor Uhl moved that Mr. E. G. Cahill be requested to submit to the Board a fifth plan for the distribution of Hetch Hetchy power, entirely independent of any transaction with the Pacific Gas and Electric Company.
Referred to Special Hetch Hetchy Committee.
Announcement.
Supervisor McSheehy announced meeting of Special Hetch Hetchy Committee for Thursday, January 9, 1936, at 4 p. m.
ADJOURNMENT.
Whereupon, the Board of Supervisors, on motion of Supervisor Hayden, seconded by Supervisor Gallagher, at the hour of 6:00 p. m. adjourned.
J. S. DUNNIGAN, Clerk.
Approved by the Board of Supervisors January 13, 1936.
Pursuant to Resolution No. 3402 (New Series) of the Board of Supervisors of the City and County of San Francisco, I, John S. Dunnigan, hereby certify that the foregoing is a true and correct copy of the Journal of Proceedings of said Board ot the date thereon stated and approved as above recited.
JOHN S. DUNNIGAN, Clerk of the Board of Supervisors, City and County of San Francisco.
Vol. 31-New Series ^^^^^^j^^ No. 2
nmuc LIBRARY
Wednesday, January 8, 1936 Monday, January 13, 1936
Journal of Proceedings Board of Supervisors
City and County of San F^rancisco
rTBMi(f-7ffnC01HICIL>
The Recorder Printing and Publishing Company 374 Pine Street, S. F.
JOURNAL OF PROCEEDINGS BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 1936, 12 M.
In Board of Supervisors, San Francisco, January 8, 1936, 12 M.
Pursuant to section 10 of the Charter, the newly elected and con- tinuing members of the Board of Supervisors met for the purpose of inducting the newly elected members in office and to receive the annual message of his Honor the Mayor, and to transact such other business as might come before it.
CALLING THE ROLL.
The roll was called and the following Supervisors were noted present: Supervisors Brown, Colman, Havenner, McSheehy, Mead, Meyer, Ratto, Roncovieri, Schmidt, Shannon, Uhl — 11.
Supervisor McSheehy acted as temporary chairman.
Bonds of Supervisors Filed.
The following was read by the Clerk:
January 2, 1936. The Honorable the Board of Supervisors, City and County of San Fran- cisco. Gentlemen: Please be advised that bonds for Supervisors elected at the General Municipal Election held in the City and County of San Francisco on the 5th day of November, 1935, have been filed in the office of the Controller as follows:
Brown, Arthur M., Jr., Massachusetts Bonding Co., Bond No. 38006, bond $5,000.
Colman, Jesse C, Massachusetts Bonding Co., Bond No. 38011, bond $5,000.
Mead, Dewey, Massachusetts Bonding Co., Bond No. 38007, bond $5,000.
Meyer, Fred W., Massachusetts Bonding Co., Bond No. 38005, bond $5,000.
Roncovieri, Alfred, Massachusetts Bonding Co., Bond No. 38008, bond $5,000.
Shannon, Warren, Massachusetts Bonding Co., Bond No. 38024, bond $5,000.
In accordance with the provisions of Sections 26 and 67 of the Char- ter, said bonds have been approved as to form by the City Attorney and by the Controller as to sufficiency and solvency of the sureties thereon and, under date of December 26, 1935, as provided by Section 55 of Bill 724, Ordinance 4.042, transmitted to the Recorder for proper recordation.
You are also advised that copies of oaths of office, as originally filed with the County Clerk, for all of the above officials, are on file in this office.
Yours very truly,
LEONARD S. LEAVY, Controller. (29)
so WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 1936.
Election of President.
Supervisor Roncovieri moved to nominate Supervisor Franck R. Havenner for the presidency of the Board of Supervisors.
Supervisor Colman seconded the nomination.
-Supervisor Shannon moved that the nominations now close.
"There being no objection, it vras so ordered.
IVhereupon, the roll was called and Supervisor Roncovieri's motion to nominate Supervisor Havenner for presidency of the Board carried by the following vote:
Ayes — Supervisors Brown, Colman, McSheehy, Mead, Meyer, Ratto, Roncovieri, Schmidt, Shannon, Uhl — 10. Excused — Supervisor Havenner — 1.
MAYOR'S ANNUAL MESSAGE.
PRESIDENT HAVENNER: Members of our Board, Ladies and •Gentlemen: It is my honor and very high privilege to present to you Mayor Angelo J. Rossi, who will deliver to you his annual message.
Thereupon, His Honor the Mayor proceeded and read the following: Letter of Mayor to Board of Supervisors.
January 6, 1936. To the Honorable The Board of Supervisors, City Hall, San Francisco.
Gentlemen: Conforming with Section 25 of the Charter, I transmit, herewith, my annual report of the municipal affairs of the City and County of San Francisco. It is fitting to comment in general terms upon the condition of our body corporate and to make such recom- mendations as seem advisable.
The year 1935, although fraught with problems and anxieties for all Dur fellow citizens, as well as public officials, ended with a better out- look for prosperity than we have seen for five years past. We are enheartened by the fact that nearly all employable citizens have been taken from relief rolls and placed on pay rolls.
San Francisco was among the first of American cities to answer the President's call for projects in line with his program of constructive rehabilitation, and I am proud that those submitted were approved, practically as presented.
These projects, the cost of which totals $37,000,000, have been put into operation. I must admit our obligation to the Federal officials with whom we have had contact, financially and otherwise, in getting our program into effect. The government has extended to us every consideration.
San Francisco is making rapid strides on the return road from adversity to prosperity. It operates on a cash basis and has for the fourth successive year a balanced budget. It also has the lowest tax rate and percentage of tax delinquency of any major city in the United States. San Francisco's bonds continue selling at the lowest rate of interest in our city's history. Our tax anticipation notes were marketed at an interest rate as low as 1/6 of 1 per cent.
San Francisco's financial program has been accomplished without impairment of governmental efficiency and we have been able to reduce the tax rate from $4.04 in 1931 to $3.68 as at present, a reduction of 36 cents, with due recognition of the unusual problems of unemploy- ment relief and other humanitarian activities. We have striven at all times while conserving the taxpayer's money to be humane — not one of our fellow citizens has had to go without life's necessaries. The total expenditure by San Francisco for relief of unemployment for the fiscal years 1931-32 to 1934-35, both inclusive, was $15,549,581. Cost of other humanitarian activities has increased from $3,927,875 for
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 1936. 81
1931-32 to $4,976,636 in 1935-36, a total cost for the period 1931-32 to 1934-35 of $18,122,610.
The total allocations, grants and expenditures affecting the City and County of San Francisco from various Federal sources, including CWA^ PWA, SERA, and WPA to the end of 1935 were $42,975,768.
The total assessed valuation of real and tangible personal property subject to the local rate for the fiscal year 1930-31 was $801,770,075, For the present fiscal year the real and tangible personal property subject to the rate as assessed by the City Assessor was $725,884,001, To this was added the real and tangible personal property as assessed by the State Board of Equalization in the amount of $87,245,800, making the total assessed value of real and tangible personal property subject to the rate for the current year $813,129,801.
This is an increase of $11,359,726 in the rate base which is equal to approximately 6 cents in the tax rate. We therefore feel, with the tremendous burden of unemployment relief and other humanitarian necessities, that in giving a 36-cent net reduction in the tax rate between the years under comparison we have rendered a definite ser- vice to the taxpayer, and all of this despite loss of revenue from various other sources.
In addition as has been previously reported over a period of three years next succeeding my induction as Mayor, the net budget for current operations was reduced approximately $8,000,000.
Controller.
The Controller has continued his highly efficient and commendable activities. His plans for this year are fully discussed in his report in the appended message. In tax and legislative matters the Con- troller's work has continued to prove of valuable service to all citizens and taxpayers. Despite the fact that taxes were delinquent 3.3 per cent and other revenues 15.6 per cent the 1934-35 budget was balanced on a cash basis. The accrual in the reserve fund initiated by the Con- troller now totals $2,570,103.
Departmental Surveys.
These surveys were agreed upon in 1933 so that the Mayor might have a more intimate knowledge of the several departments; that he might have authoritative information as to budgetary requirements and necessities; that his recommendations might more readily evidence the "executive budget" as required by the Charter.
There was and is now no suggestion that the departments or officials or employments therein were to be disparaged or that their powers and duties were to be displaced by or arrogated to any other branch of the service. The main objective was to relieve the taxpayer, as far as possible, by reduction of expenditures through increased efficiency, the non-filling of positions deemed unnecessary and the adoption of new procedures as an antidote to antiquated and conflicting per- formances.
Hetch Hetchy Power Disposal.
Early in the year. Secretary of the Interior Harold L. Ickes advised me that, in his opinion, the method in which the City was disposing of its hydro-electric power of the Hetch Hetchy project was in viola- tion of the provisions of Section 6 of the Raker Act. Upon receipt of this information, I immediately communicated with the Secretary by wire, asking if the representatives of San Francisco might have the privilege of conferring with him on the subject. The Secretary fixed Monday, May 6th, at his office in the City of Washington, as the time and place for the conference,
San Francisco was represented by Lewis F. Byington, President of the Public Utilities Commission; E. G. Cahill, Manager thereof; Leonard! S. Leavy, Controller; John J. O'Toole, City Attorney; Supervisors James B. McSheehy, Jesse C. Colman, Franck R. Havenner; and Paul J. Ost, Chief Electrical Engineer of the I^ublic Utilities Commission.
82 WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 1936.
San Francisco, through its representatives, presented its case to the Secretary and on August 24th the Secretary announced his decision in the matter, holding that, in his opinion, the method which the City had adopted for the distribution of its hydro-electric power was a violation of Section 6 of the Raker Act.
Shortly after, the opinion of the Secretary was given consideration by your Board, and your Board adopted a resolution authorizing the appointment of a Committee to deal with the subject-matter. The Committee was composed of Supervisors James B. McSheehy, Jesse C. Colman, Andrew J. Gallagher, Franck R. Havenner and Warren Shannon.
Secretary Ickes, on August 24th, forwarded from Washington his decision, confirming his opinion referred to above.
On September 3, 1935, by resolution of your Board, the Public Utili- ties Commission was requested to submit methods of procedure for disposal of Hetch Hetchy power.
On December 20, 1935, a letter was addressed to your Honorable Board by Manager of Utilities Cahill, submitting four plans for dis- tribution of Hetch Hetchy Power. Your Board, on December 28th, requested M. Randall Ellis, Valuation Engineer for the City Attorney's office, to submit to your Board a report on the four plans of pro- cedure outlined by the Public Utilities Commission. Chairman James B. McSheehy, on December 28th, asked that I confer with the members of your Special Committee, in order that I might express my opinion with regard to the four plans submitted.
On December 30th, I sent a recommendation to your Board, stating that in my opinion Plan Four is for the best interests of our citizens.
The problem of disposing of Hetch Hetchy power is a complex one. I trust the present studies will lead to a final and satisfactory solution, one which will meet the requirements of the Federal Government and also offer a plan of distribution which will be profitable to our citizens and taxpayers.
Municipal Railway.
Revenues of the Municipal Railway have continued to increase during 1935. Notwithstanding that additional service has been given on a number of the lines to meet an increasing number of passengers, the railroad met its bond interest and redemption and is in a healthy financial condition.
San Francisco Airport.
Our Airport witnessed, in 1935, the most important developments in its history. The Pan-American Airways Company agreed to make its Pacific Coast headquarters on our municipal field. The agreement is contingent on the completion, within 1936, of a construction program, begun by the Federal Works Progress Administration, to cost $1,675,000. We must bend every energy to the end that a great marine air base may be constructed within the time limit.
Water Department.
The Department distributed about fifty-two millions of gallons of water daily, in 1935, as compared with fifty and one-half millions, daily, in 1934. Water consumers saved $682,000 in 1935, through the 10 per cent reduction put into effect December 1, 1934. Net revenue of the Department for the year, about $2,328,000.
Street Lighting.
Persistent efforts of the Public Utilities Commission have resulted In the granting of a reduction in street lighting rates, of over $100,000 per year. This permits reillumination of more than 2000 street lights. Our per capita cost of street lighting is now less than $1, the lowest of any American city. Three years ago, it was $1.33.
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 1936. 33
Rapid Transit.
The Public Utilities Commission has under way a study of rapid transit for San Francisco. The plans are under review by a Rapid Transit Advisory Committee, and shortly, its report is expected, em- bodying recommendation as to construction and financing. This is a highly important project, calling for diligent prosecution, to the end that our citizens may obtain adequate, speedy transportation to every section of San Francisco.
Traffic Fatalities.
According to a report issued January 1, 1936, by the Commerce De- partment at Washington, San Francisco led all major cities in 1935, as we did also in 1934, in the lowness of the number of traflGic fatalities per 100,000 of population. Our record, 9.5 in 1935, was lower, by far, than that of any of the major cities listed. While this is a good record, we must vigorously continue our campaign of education to reduce this toll of precious lives, many of which are lost through reckless driving, or carelessness upon the part of pedestrians.
Recreation.
This year's Budget included the sum of $166,000 with which to start the establishment of playgrounds in various districts. As necessity requires, I shall continue to recommend funds for adequate recreational facilities.
Garbage Disposal.
After the lapse of approximately twenty years, the garbage disposal problem has, in 1935, been settled with some likelihood of permanence by the grant of a franchise to the Sanitary Fill Company for disposal, by fill and cover method on Bay Tidelands.
The franchise contains a recapture clause, so that in the event any improved method is developed, or incineration is so perfected as to satisfactorily care for San Francisco's garbage, the City and County may take advantage of such development.
Harbor.
The fate of San Francisco is inseparably linked with its harbor. Our future greatness and prosperity depend upon the development and operation of our greatest asset, our waterfront. San Francisco is one of only two large cities in America not enjoying the benefit of local control of its harbor.
As I observed in a former message, it is unthinkable that we should not "possess the key to our front door." Our Charter provides in Sec- tions 47 and 48, the manner in which machinery for local control of our harbor can be set up : The appointment by the Mayor of three mem- bers of a Harbor Commission, and their appointment of a Manager. Surely we can give as good an account of harbor management, under municipal ownership, as we do of other public utilities.
My administration warmly supported the fight for home rule for San Francisco's waterfront. Our efforts were defeated. We are hopeful that the next Legislature can be persuaded to do justice to our City.
Local Industry.
I have carried out to the limit of legal restrictions of the Charter, my policy to favor local industries, manufacturers and merchants. In every possible case, preferment has been given to our own taxpayers, who maintain payrolls in the City and County of San Francisco.
The same policy has been adopted toward sub-contractors, even to the rejection of bids.
New Industries.
Statistics show that there were 217 new industries established in San Francisco in 1935, and 321 industrial expansions took place. This indicates that industrial development, during the past year, has made
34 WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8. 1936.
the best progress among established industries. Practically all manu- facturers have experienced an increase in payrolls.
The advent of Hetch Hetchy water, the ten per cent reduction in water rates and a contemplated further rate reduction are important factors for securing new industries for San Francisco and making those already established here more content with industrial conditions in San Francisco.
The building of the two naval destroyers at the Bethlehem plant is reported to necessitate the expenditure of a large sum, to modernize this plant. The assurance of this investment has already been made. I trust this may prove the forerunner of a revival of shipbuilding in our port.
Labor.
I am pleased to report that prevailing rates of pay on all Federal work in San Francisco are maintained. I have sponsored projects, on which thousands of men and women are employed directly, with hun- dreds more engaged in the fabrication of materials.
When difficulties arose between employer and employee, during the past year, I was instrumental, in a number of instances, in bringing the two together. I am pleased to report that their difficulties were amicably settled. Whenever I can be of service, in such cases, I shall be pleased to cooperate in any manner, tending to maintain industrial peace in San Francisco.
All proposals coming to my attention, which mean work for fair wages, have received my hearty endorsement and my most earnest consideration.
Consolidation.
At the request of a delegation of prominent residents of the penin- sula who visited me on November 21, 1935, with Mr. Arthur C. James of Palo Alto as chairman, I appointed a committee consisting of Colbert Cold well, chairman; City Attorney John J. O'Toole, Controller Leonard S. Leavy and William H. Nanry, to investigate the subject of consoli- dation of San Francisco and San Mateo counties. Before I would recommend such a program it must clearly be shown that consolida- tion would effect reduced cost of government generally, without re- duction in efficiency and that it would eliminate overlapping func- tions, authority and expense, and in no way add to San Francisco's budget.
Other Departments.
Analyses of the activities of all departments not referred to herein will be found in the body of my message together with further com- ments on such departments as have been alluded to in this letter.
In closing, I deeply regret that we must relinquish the splendid abilities and cooperation of those members of your Board whose offi- cial terms of service have terminated. I know that their long expe- rience in municipal affairs and needs will be reinforced by the desire to continue their unselfish devotion to all activities for the public good.
Permit me to extend to the members of your Board who take their places for the first time today, my sincere and heartfelt good wishes. I also offer my hearty thanks for the consideration and loyal support of my friends in the city government who have so ably and unselfishly exerted their energies for the betterment of our municipality. I trust that no act of mine, during the forthcoming term, will shake the confi- dence so unmistakably expressed for my administration by the citizens of San Francisco last November. Thus, I shall best express my ap- preciation and gratitude. If we, as public officials, continue to recog- nize and fulfill our duties, San Francisco is bound to achieve her destiny in the front rank of world cities.
Respectfully,
ANGELO J. ROSSI, Mayor.
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 1936. 35
Office of the Mayor, San Francisco.
January 8, 1936.
To the Honorable the Board of Supervisors, City and County of San Francisco.
Gentlemen :
I am sending to your Honorable Board a statement of the affairs of the City and County of San Francisco, as provided in Section 25 of the Charter.
San Francisco has reached an enviable position amongst major American cities. In 1935 we continued to make creditable progress. I know that your Honorable Board and all officials of the municipality will work with the Executive Department, to the end that our beloved City shall maintain the eminent position she has reached.
Radio Broadcasts.
For nearly three years past I have, from my office in the City Hall broadcasted weekly messages concerning the actual functioning of the various departments of the municipality over Station KGO by cour- tesy of the National Broadcasting Company.
I have received hundreds of letters, testifying to the interest of my fellow-citizens in this series, and am pleased at the continued inter- est shown by the public in these broadcasts. The information that is thus brought by me and my fellow-officials to radio listeners, has given them an intimate acquaintance with the manner in which their City is administered. Ours was the first major city to take advantage of radio, in disseminating such data. I wish to acknowledge our high obligation to Mr. Don Oilman, vice-president of N. B. C, for his courteous cooperation, which has been rendered entirely without cost to us.
Relief.
From the beginning of the calendar year until the middle of May the County Relief Committee, appointed by me, handled the entire problem of relief in San Francisco, incurring expenditure of Federal, State and local funds. At that time, to quote from a letter received from Mr. Ralph E. Jenny, Chairman of the State Relief Commission: "The State Commission felt that a dual responsibility, covering relief of unemployables and relief of distress due to unemployment, was incom- patible with public policy."
This left to the Committee the difficult task of caring for the un- employables. This Committee, comprising Mr. Florence McAuliffe, chairman; Mr, Guide J. Musto, Mr. J. P. Rettenmayer, Miss Ruth A. Turner, Mr. Edward D. Vandeleur, with Mrs. Eugene Prince head- ing the Family Relief Committee, appointed Miss Lucille Henry the Director of Relief.
The definition of unemployability presented two problems to the local Committee; first, that our local taxpayers be not compelled to bear more than their just share of the cost of relief and second, and more important, the social problem of not branding a large group of people as permanently unemployable, who, through medical care and mental hygiene, might be rehabilitated and reestablished in normal community life, when economic conditions improve. That the Com- mittee has met this task well is borne out by the figures. When first this classification of unemployables was created by the Federal Gov- ernment, the number of cases, as of May 1, 1935, was 3099. By strict standards of eligibility and great care exercised in the social investi- gation, this load was reduced to 2372 cases, as of December, 1935.
The Committee has recognized at all times two major principles; first, that only those deserving and eligible for relief under our state and county laws should receive it, and second, that relief should be adequate and humane for those of our citizenry who, through no fault of their own, are dependent upon public assistance. With this second
36 WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 1936.
principle in view, the County Committee instituted a budget for these families which includes shelter, food, utilities, clothing and sundries.
Wherever shelter has to be provided from City funds, the checks are made payable jointly to the landlord and recipient, so that our small property owners are not penalized by having relief clients as their tenants.
By the adoption of a policy, fair to all, which provides one of the most adequate relief standards in the country, the expenditure for county relief dropped from $84,930 in May, 1935, to $70,386 in Novem- ber, 1935, This astonishingly good record has been achieved through careful social case work, by which every effort has been made to dis- cover all available resources and to seek a solution of the client's prob- lems, outside of public charity.
With the creation of the WPA program and the effort being made throughout the nation to liquidate the SERA, the problems of the future loom large for all local communities. There is, however, one fact which is certain and that is that the administration of relief can no longer be considered an emergency function of government, but must be set up under some form of permanent organization. It is my intention, in the immediate future, to submit, with the concurrence of the Chief Administrator, to your Honorable Board, an ordinance which will give the present Emergency Relief Committee the status of a Public Welfare Commission. This will enable the Committee to plan for the future, and to negotiate more satisfactorily with the State Relief Adminis- tration as to San Francisco's share in the State and Federal relief funds.
I would be remiss in my duty as Mayor of our City if I did not pub- licly acknowledge the wonderful assistance rendered us by our fellow- townsman, George Creel, who, because of his intimate knowledge of Federal affairs at Washington, worked unceasingly to bring to a suc- cessful outcome the splendid program we have achieved. To the ever- present courtesy and cooperation of Frank Y. McLaughlin, State Admin- istrator, WPA, and his able corps of assistants, I beg to extend my heartfelt thanks.
Early in the year, the Congress of the United States appropriated $4,800,000,000 for the purpose of taking the citizens of the nation off relief and putting them on a works program. The President was given extraordinary powers to put this program into effect. Each city and community was requested to prepare a works program, having for its basis the employment of all citizens who were on relief and eligible for employment. In accordance with the President's executive order, I, by authority of your Honorable Board, sponsored a list of projects, under the able supervision of Assistant City Engineer Clyde Healy, and forwarded it to the Works Progress Administration at Washington, the total sum being approximately $37,000,000.
The program was approved, virtually, as presented. It consists of the rehabilitation of most of our public buildings, the reconstruction and repair of many of our most important streets, the building and rebuilding o^ boulevards, the construction of recreational centers on lands previously purchased under my administration, the improvement of our public parks and squares and the setting up of sundry technical and professional projects, looking to the employment of what we com- monly term "white collar" men and women.
San Francisco's program also includes grants from the Federal Gov- ernment to assist in the building of the San Francisco Bay Bridge Exposition, on the shoals north of Yerba Buena Island. The total amount of these grants, including the pledge of the Exposition Cor- poration, is $9,647,000. With these Federal grants, San Francisco and the Bay region will be assured of an Exposition, in dignity and keep- ing with similar enterprises of the past, here and in other world centers.
I am happy to announce that nearly all citizens of San Francisco, eligible under the Works Progress Administration, are now engaged in gainful occupation of a character commensurate with their abilities
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 1936. 37
and previous business and professional training. San Francisco, at this time, is the only one of the Pacific Coast municipalities which has been able to comply fully with the Federal program. The morale of those affected has been admirably maintained and the added payrolls are giving great stimulus to all local business interests and enter- prises.
Bay Bridges.
San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge —
San Francisco is built on the end of a peninsula, extending along the Coast and is thus, by nature, isolated from the mainland, save for one connection at the south, adjoining San Mateo County. Thus, it has been necessary to enter San Francisco by boat at two of its three gateways. How much this situation has held back San Francisco's growth is difficult to estimate.
Now, however, two great bridges are about to end San Francisco's isolation. After these bridges are opened and allow the public in and out of San Francisco on the north and on the east without inter- ruption, the next great barrier which we must attack is the elimination of tolls. These tolls are tariffs against San Francisco's growth; and, for that matter, the growth of California, because free circulation of travel is necessary for the growth of a commonwealth.
The $77,600,000 San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge, on which ground was broken July 9, 1933, has now been under construction two years and a half, and before nine months more have elapsed, or a total construction time of three years and three months, the California Toll Bridge Authority expects to open the highway portion of this bridge.
At the beginning of the year 1935, the entire substructure or under- water portion of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge had been completed, and in the West Bay, three of the four steel towers had been erected and the fourth was just being started. The huge center an- chorage in the West Bay was up to half its present height. In the West Bay, the 14 deck truss spans that bring the bridge down gradu- ally to ground level in the Oakland tide lands had been built and the 500-foot through truss spans were soon to be started.
Since then, five 500-foot double deck through truss spans have been built. Both the East and West anchor arms of the world's third longest cantilever span have been erected and now the derricks are beginning the delicate task of erecting unsupported steel out over this quarter-mile expanse of water.
The scientific world is interested in the cantilevering out of this huge double-deck span whose ends, according to schedule, will meet in the middle within a few months, if engineering expectations are realized.
A tunnel of such bore that a four-story building could be passed through it, upright, is completed through Yerba Buena Island and lined with concrete.
Approaches which will give San Francisco its first elevated high- ways are now taking form between Harrison and Bryant Streets and on Rincon Hill. These approaches were financed out of State High- way funds and Federal aid, allotted by act of the State Legislature. To date, there has been expended on this bridge and its approaches, approximately $40,000,000.
All San Franciscans will join in my commendation of the splendid service rendered by The California Toll Bridge Authority, Earl Lee Kelly, Director of Public Works of the State of California, Chief En- gineer Charles E. Purcell and all who played a part in this great project. Their efforts will be long remembered by all loyal Cali- fornians.
Golden Gate Bridge —
Progress on the Golden Gate Bridge has also been rapid. With spinning operations proceeding at top speed, the wire strands that will make up the two thirty-six and one-half inch supporting cables
38 WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 1936.
will be finished by June 1, it is reported. This bridge, which will cost $27,165,000 and will open to traffic by May 1, 1937, is now 60 per cent completed.
It was begun in December, 1932. Its Chief Engineer, Joseph B. Strauss, states it will be the most monumental structure in the world of its kind, not only from the standpoint of height and length, but also as to the beauty of its architectural design.
It will be the longest single span bridge in the world, twenty-four hundred feet from center to center of the piers and seven hundred feet longer than the second longest, the George Washington Bridge.
Our thanks to the Directors of the Golden Gate Bridge and High- way District, Chief Engineer Strauss, his excellent staff and all others engaged in this great undertaking.
Federal Projects.
San Francisco's new Federal Building, in the Civic Center, will be in use by April first. Its cost will exceed $2,750,000.
The world's most modern Mint, at Duboce Avenue and Buchanan, will be completed by December first, at a cost of over $1,000,000. The completion of this splendid structure will give impetus to the removal of an unsightly mass of rocks, and the construction of creditable build- ings, in their place.
Controller.
During the past year the office of the Controller, under the provisions of our Charter, continued its highly constructive performance. The Controller has discussed with me his plans for a continuation of its studies and creative recommendations.
The personnel survey, recommended by the Controller June 6, 1933, is well under way. Certain of the procedures established, such as those in connection with traffic tags, tuberculosis subsidy, and commitments to the Sonoma State Home, have not alone contributed to a greater operating efficiency, but also have increased revenues.
The Controller has pointed out to me that if full benefits are to be derived from certain recommended procedures, enforcing legislation will have to be enacted.
On the recommendation of our Controller, your Board, by Resolution No. 1338, established a Tax and Legislative Committee, to protect the interests of and to provide proper representation for San Francisco, in connection with tax revisions that were to take place as of January 1, 1935, under various constitutional provisions; to analyze the effect on San Francisco of the various measures of the Fifty-first Session of the California Legislature, and to cooperate generally with San Francisco's representatives in the State Legislature.
As a member of this Committee, I must say that its work has proved a valuable contribution of service to our citizens and taxpayers. This Committee, as continued for the interim between legislative sessions, is essential in view of the possibility of an emergency session of the California Legislature.
The Controller, in his annual report, acknowledged the cooperation of our representatives in the State Legislature; the representatives of our many sister cities and counties; the members of your Honorable Board, and the various department heads, who gave so much of their time and service to the Committee.
Pursuant to the Controller's request, your Board, by Resolution 2306, has authorized me, and I have appointed a Committee consisting of Francis V. Keesling, William H. Nanry, Controller Leonard S. Leavy, City Attorney John J. O'Toole, the President of your Board, and the chairmen of the Supervisors' Finance and Judiciary Committees to undertake a study of the Charter fiscal mandates and the conflicts in Charter provisions and the Constitution of the State of California, to the end that proper authority for the control of certain items included in the mandates of these instruments be placed under the jurisdiction
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 1936. 39
of those charged with the responsibility of legislation and administra- tion, and that existing conflicts in law be eliminated.
It is hoped that, as a result of the work of this Committee, measures will be initiated and approved which will enable us to make a further reduction in the cost of government.
The budget for the fiscal year 1934-35 was balanced on a cash basis, despite the fact that taxes were delinquent 3.3 per cent and other revenues 15.6 per cent. The resources of the cash reserve fund, which was created under amendments to Sections Nos. 80 and 81 of the Charter, initiated by the Controller, now total $2,570,103.40. Cash loans from this fund made possible contractual performance under 1935 PWA grants. The merit of our financial condition is unquestionably reflected in the rates of interest quoted to us on tax anticipation notes and in connection with the sale of our bonds, as well as in the excellent publicity San Francisco has been receiving in the financial newspapers throughout the country.
My thanks to Controller Leonard S. Leavy and his valued corps of assistants for the splendid record they continue to maintain.
City Attorney.
The report of the City Attorney for the calendar year shows that nine hundred and seven actions were commenced against the City: Superior Court, City and County of San Francisco — 794; Municipal Court — 102; United States Court — 3; other jurisdiction — 8.
In addition to these cases, there are pending fifty-two, involving the Hetch Hetchy water project. Only one of these cases has been brought to trial, to-wit, Meridian, Limited v. City and County of San Francisco. In this case the court has announced its decision sustaining plaintiff's riparian right. The formal judgment is now in the course of prepara- tion. In due time an appeal will be taken. The remaining cases affect- ing the City's water rights on the Hetch Hetchy will undoubtedly be brought to trial during the present year.
One rate case is pending, dealing with rates for natural gas, before the United States District Court.
Recent reduction of rates for electricity made by the Pacific Gas^ and Electric Company has, for the time being, ended any necessity for rate litigation on this subject. Our rate engineers are studying the effect of these rates and when sufficient time elapses to show their effect, a report will be made as to whether it will be possible to obtain further reduction.
Litigation involving the right of the Market Street Railway Com- pany to operate the so-called "one-man cars" in San Francisco was tried before a special master appointed by Judge Louderback. The master announced his decision to the effect that our ordinance requiring that a street car should be in charge of a motorman and a conductor was unconstitutional. The master has not submitted his findings to the court. When he does we will argue the matter before the court and if the decision is against us, the City Attorney will advise an appeal.
The increased number of cases commenced by the City during the past year is due to the many cases instituted to recover taxes paid under protest, upon the ground that in our 1934-35 expenditures we exceeded the five per cent limitation provided by Section 20 of Article Xin of the Constitution. One of these cases is now in the course of trial in the Superior Court. It will undoubtedly be carried to the Supreme Court and its final determination by that court will practi- cally determine the other pending cases.
A prolific source of litigation against the city is the claims arising from injuries sustained by pedestrians falling on broken sidewalks. In this regard I would recommend the utmost diligence on the part of the Director of Public Works in compelling property owners to repair damaged walks in front of their property.
Claims based on damages sustained by reason of the operation of municipally-owned automobiles are also the cause of much litigation.
40 WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 1936.
Where the damage is serious some of these claims run into large amounts and are a serious liability to the City. The City Attorney recommends that a proper amount be included in the budget estimate for the coming fiscal year, so that funds would, to some extent, be available to compromise claims where there is no question as to the liability of the City and when a reasonable settlement can be made.
The number of claims filed during the past year, exclusive of those filed against the Municipal Railway, was one hundred and thirty. Ninety-two of these were based on sidewalk accidents, the remaining thirty-eight being divided among all of the other municipal depart- ments, most of them arising from automobile accidents.
Claims against the Municipal Railway are investigated by its Claims Department in a most efficient manner, but when it comes to investiga- tion of claims arising in other departments, the office of the City Attor- ney has had great difficulty in ascertaining the facts relative to many of these claims, for the reason that it has not, nor have any of the other departments, a skilled investigator who can be sent to gather the necessary facts to enable the City to make the proper defense to the claims. The City Attorney also recommends that a Claims Investi- gation Bureau be formed, which would take over the personnel and duties of the present claims bureau of the Municipal Railway and then add to that personnel the necessary employees to permit the investiga- tion of claims arising in other departments. The added personnel would be small, but he believes that such a bureau would greatly reduce the amounts finally paid on these claims, either in compromise or on judgment.
I wish to express my sincere gratitude and appreciation for the splendid services rendered by this Department, under the able leader- ship of John J. O'Toole. His office, considering the vast amount of litigation and the manner in which it is handled, is conducted at an exceedingly low cost, for which we are deeply indebted to him and his excellent staff.
Municipal Court.
In twelve Municipal Courts, 12,082 civil actions were brought and 22,753 small claims actions — a total of 34,835, in comparison with 16,885 reported in the 1935 message. In the criminal department, 84,249 pro- ceedings were filed, as against 76,794 in 1934. This report is for the period, January 1 to December 1, 1935.
Receipts totaled $174,580.81, with expenditures $192,744.03, the excess of expenditures over receipts having been $18,163.22. The added de- ficiency this year is accounted for by the great excess of cases handled, and the large number of official and pauper actions filed, for which no fees are collected.
The duties of those attached to the Municipal Court have been dis- charged most satisfactorily.
Office of the Public Defender.
The office of Public Defender is conducted by Gerald J. Kenny, Pub- lic Defender, assisted by two deputies and one clerk-stenographer, the total cost of the office for the past year having been $16,632.46. Persons who received legal advice numbered 2990. The total number of cases handled in all courts was 1097, with a total of 2173 appearances. In the Superior Court, 488 cases were handled. In the Municipal Court, 562 cases were handled by the Public Defender. The Public Defender handled also 36 cases in the Juvenile Court, attended two coroner's inquests and 11 insanity hearings.
The Public Defender and his staff deserve commendation for the satisfactory manner in which their duties have been carried out.
Police Department.
During the past year perfect cooperation has been accorded to each of the various departments of our city government, with a view of
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 1936. 41
rendering the most efficient service to all of the citizens of the City and County of San Francisco.
Our Police Department is outstanding in the matter of modern im- provements, designed for the suppression of crime and the arrest of criminals. During the past year, through cooperation of my office and your Board, funds have been made available to enable our police to keep abreast of the most modern criminal defensive equipment.
The number of robberies and crimes of violence still remains at a low minimum, considering the fact that San Francisco is one of the largest seaport cities in the world, and that its population is outstand- ingly cosmopolitan.
Bank holdups, though very common throughout the United States since the advent of the depression, are of rare occurrence here, and such cases as have occurred have been quickly and efficiently cleared off the record by arrest and conviction of the criminals, as evidenced this year by the effective capture of the Stevens gang. Organized crime has never found a foothold.
The traffic problem demands keen attention. Our night traffic service is one of the main factors in keeping traffic accidents and deaths at a low minimum. This is effected through persistent drives in various parts of the city — especially at dangerous crossings and during the night hours. Through this continuous vigilance, reckless driving during the night hours has been greatly curbed.
At my request. Chief Quinn sent me a report of hazardous inter- sections and locations wherein bulkheads, proper signals, safety lights and other improvements to lessen automobile accidents can be fur- nished. Every safeguard tending to curtail the dreadful toll of death and injury in traffic must be provided with the least possible delay.
The Police School of Instruction has functioned during the entire fiscal year. Cooperating with the School Department, in checking up on truants, a voluntary organization within the police department called the "Big Brother Movement" has handled with splendid results very many cases of wayward school children. The members of the Big Brother Movement attend to such cases on their time off regular duty.
The following figures are interesting: sick and injured persons taken to hospitals, 5404; insane persons handled, 208; lost children restored to parents, 255; missing persons located, 2234.
The photograph gallery, criminal investigation laboratory and Bu- reau of Identification show a volume of work probably outstanding in the entire country. Prom fingerprints and photographs our Bureau of Identification made 7002 identifications. At the present time in the Bureau of Identification, there are 326,412 photographs and 199,137 fingerprints on file, thus making our collection one of the most com- plete in the world.
Property valued at $162,430.23 was recovered during the past fiscal year. Persons fined for traffic violations numbered 41,401.
Out of 3690 automobiles reported stolen, 3639 were recovered, a fine record.
The morale of the Department was upheld. I feel that the present cooperation between this Department and other units of our city ser- vice will continue and thus enable the San Francisco Police Depart- ment to continue to be classed as equal to the best in the United States.
To the Police Commission, Chief of Police Wm. J. Quinn and the Department in general, I wish to express my gratitude for service notably performed.
San Francisco Fire Department.
The San Francisco Fire Department has again, during the year 1935, made us all proud of its achievements; and, maintaining its usual fine record of promptness and efliciency, continues to merit our full confidence.
42 WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 1936.
Indicating a return to more normal conditions in our trades and industries, there has been a slight increase in the number of fire alarms responded to, which reached the figure of 7605 by the end of November 1935, as against 7354 during the same period of the previous year, an increase of 251. But notwithstanding this increase in alarms, the actual fire losses have in every instance been held to the normal.
With reduction of the current appropriations for the conduct of this important branch of the city government to the minimum, compatible with safety, there has nevertheless been accomplished a very material improvement in the fire fighting equipment, through the extension of high pressure mains, installed from the Bond Issue of 1933. The bulk of these extensions are now completed, and the added protection af- forded by the high pressure system is now available in the Potrero District, the Marina District and in parts of the Park-Presidio and Sunset Districts.
The prestige of the San Francisco Fire Department is such as to need no extended comment by me. I cannot allow this opportunity to pass, however, without reminding our property owners of general reductions in fire insurance rates on certain classes of buildings. The Board of Fire Underwriters' Actuaries informs me of a study now being made, and which should be completed this year, leading to a general and substantial reduction on every frame mercantile structure in the city. It is obvious that such reductions cannot continue in effect, unless we keep our fire fighting apparatus up-to-date, by means of an annual program of replacement, in so far as our finances will permit.
I review with pride the record of the San Francisco Fire Commis- sioners, Chief Engineer Charles J. Brennan and the officers and men of this most efficient Department.
Civil Service.
During the past year, the Civil Service Commission has scheduled and completed 47 examinations, for which 15,940 applications were filed. Of these applicants, 11,826 appeared for examination and 2811 successfully passed, and 9015 failed to qualify. Sixteen other examina- tions are now in process of completion and twenty-two new examina- tions are about to be called.
There are at the present time a total of 290 active lists of eligibles in effect. During the current year 473 permanent certifications and 1945 temporary certifications were made by the Civil Service Com- mission from these lists of eligibles upon requisitions of the various departments. Because of the civil service temporary appointments made from near lists, and the prompt holding of examinations when near lists are not available, emergency non-civil service appointments have been reduced to a minimum.
iPursuant to a recommendation of the Controller, the Mayor re- quested the Civil Service Commission to make a survey of all the departments of the City and County government, the tentative scope of which survey may be summarized as follows: overlapping or duplicated functions, both inter and intra-departmental; obsolete or unneces- sary processes, functions, reports, etc; tentative recommendations for simplifications or consolidation of processes or functions or the trans- fer or coordination of related or basic functions; determination if any present services are non-essential and if so, elimination of same; possible elimination of positions to be effected through resignations, deaths and retirements over a five-year period.
These surveys are now in progress and reports will be transmitted as they are completed.
The Commissioners and efficient staff have my hearty thanks.
Board of Education. Establishment of the San Francisco Junior College to provide further training for young men and women who were graduated from the local high schools had been advocated for many years, but opportunity for
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 1936. 43
realization did not come until February, 1935, when Dr. Edwin A. Lee, Superintendent of Schools, recommended the inauguration of the college as part of the local high school district.
The Board of Education, upon the nomination of Dr. Lee, named Mr. A. J. Cloud, Chief Deputy Superintendent of Schools, to the presidency of the new junior college and a faculty was selected on the basis of edu- cational experience in the junior college field and training and exi)eri- ence in recognized higher institutions of learning.
The motivating influence of tax-paying parents for the establishment of a junior college in San Francisco was two-fold; the long distances traveled daily by students residing in San Francisco to junior colleges and the transportation and expense involved. A conservative estimate placed the annual expenditure of nine hundred and seventy-five San Francisco students attending junior college in other counties at one hundred and seventy-five thousand dollars. In addition to this amount, the San F'rancisco Board of Education paid out to other counties during the fiscal year 1934-35, the sum of $90,000 for tuition as required by law. Therefore, the total annual amount spent in other counties by students and the taxpayers has been more than a quarter of a million dollars. After careful study, the Board of Education instructed Dr. Lee to make recommendations looking to immediate establishment of the college. We did not rush into this new proposition. As far as San Francisco was concerned, there was considerable criticism at the seeming delay. It was pointed out that other communities in the State, not nearly so large as ours, had created junior colleges and that San Francisco was paying large sums annually for the education of those residents of San Francisco who were compelled to attend junior college in other localities.
Through an arrangement perfected with the Regents of the Uni- versity of California, use of the University Extension Building at 540 Powell street was granted for a period of two years for use as a junior college. Enrollment of 1450 students during the first semester of the new institution is a definite indication that the demand on the part of our citizens for such an institution is justified by the spon- taneous response evidenced by the registration.
Afternoon junior college classes have been held at Galileo High and Mission High School buildings. There is ample indication that the new institution will have a registration of 3500 students before Janu- ary, 1937. Anticipating this situation. Superintendent Lee and the Board of Education are giving immediate consideration to the selec- tion of a permanent site for the college. Attendance at the college is not mandatory under the laws of the State, but the remarkable holding power of the new institution is demonstrated by its consist- ent attendance records.
Mrs. Mary Prag, beloved educator, passed away on March 17, 1935, after more than 71 years of service to the cause of youth, Mrs. Prag had served as a teacher in Girls High School, later as vice-principal, and in the last 14 years of her life served with credit and distinction as a member of the Board of Education.
Hon, Ira W. Coburn, who rendered valuable service as a member of the Board of Education for many years, resigned on February 26 because of ill health, Mr, Coburn had been identified with the realiza- tion of the school building program since 1923 and his technical knowl- edge in this field was invaluable to the Board of Education.
The first new elementary school (Visitacion Valley) to be com- pleted out of the proceeds from the 1934 issue of schoolhouse bonds was occupied this week. Construction is proceeding on four other new elementary schools (Lawton, Francis Scott Key, Glen Park and Patrick Henry) and these buildings will be occupied during this year. All these structures replace wooden buildings erected many years ago. Ground was broken recently for the new Sunshine School. When completed, this building will house the children of the Sunshine School for Crippled Children and those of the Buena Vista Health SchooL
44 WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 1936.
Both schools will be operated as separate institutions, the Sunshine School occupying the first floor and the health school occupying the second. The children of each school will use separate entrances from different streets. The consolidated school will offer each group of children added educational and health advantages. Bids were opened recently for the erection of a building to house San Francisco's first vocational school which will be located at Twenty-second and Bart- lett streets.
Overcrowding in San Francisco's senior high schools will be relieved with the completion this year of the George Washington High School in the Park-Presidio District. This new secondary school will pro- vide that section of the City with long-needed high school facilities. Residents of the Marina District will be afforded junior high school accommodations with the completion of the Marina Junior High School during the coming year. Funds were recently made available through Federal aid for the erection of a building to house the shops, adjoining the academic unit, and construction of this unit will start within three months.
Lowell High School, the last of eighteen school buildings to be repaired under the mandatory terms of the Field Act passed by the 1933 LfCgislature, has been completed and will be reoccupied within a few days. Completion of this rebuilding program has been delayed because of two major fires — (Girls and Lowell High School buildings) — while buildings were being repaired. Despite these delays San Fran- cisco is the first city in California to complete its rebuilding program to bring all school structures within the terms of this law which is retroactive in its provisions.
The past year in the public schools has been marked by the con- tinued growth of a harmonious spirit among the administrative and certificated staff, under the leadership of Superintendent Lee and the Board of Education. This condition has aided greatly in dealing with the many problems with which the Department is called upon to deal.
We continue to maintain our public schools normally, for which, in goodly measure, thanks are due the Board of Education and all under their authority.
Employees' Retirement System.
The Retirement System included 11,230 employees at June 30, 1935. During the fiscal year ending on that date, 167 members were retired because of age or disability, and 114 members died. Many of the positions thus vacated were not filled. On June 30, 1935, there were 1596 persons receiving allowances under the Retirement System, this number including aged and disabled members retired from miscel- laneous departments and also retired firemen and policemen, and their widows, where death resulted from performance of duty.
The administration of the State Compensation Insurance Law, as it affects all City employees, is centralized under the Retirement Board in accordance with the new Charter, instead of being handled by the various departments in which injured persons are employed. Reports of all injuries among approximately 11,750 employees are made to the Retirement Office, and claims are adjusted and benefits paid in accordance with the State law and Charter, the City and County now acting as self-insurer in connection with all employees. During the fiscal year 1934-35, 868 compensation cases were handled, under which either weekly benefits or medical expenses were paid. Approximately 1468 additional cases were handled which were not of sufficient sever- ity to qualify for compensation benefits of any kind. The invest- ments of the Retirement Fund at June 30, 1935, totaled $15,927,000, as against $14,311,000 as of June 30, 1934.
Mr. Ralph Nelson, Secretary-Actuary of the Board, deserves a full measure of praise for the efficient handling of this most important department. To the members of the Board, who have unselfishly served many hundreds of hours during the past year without remunera- tion, I offer my sincere thanks.
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 1936. 45
Assessor's Office.
Assessor Russell L. Wolden indicates the 1935 Assessment Roll to be: total non-operative, $1,004,362,529; a decrease of $23,963,774 from the 1934 total. Property assessed by the State Board of Equalization was, $137,453,360, making a total for 1935-36 of $1,141,815,889. This is a reduction from the peak year 1930-31 of $161,209,176.
The 1935 Assessment Roll consists of two separate sections. In the one is listed all of the property assessed by the Assessor. In the other is listed the property of public utilities now subject to local taxation under the provisions of the Riley-Stewart Act, which property was valued by the State Board of Equalization.
The 1935 assessment roll as compiled by the Assessor was subjected to exhaustive investigation by the State Board of Equalization, and following that investigation and several hearings in Sacramento, was approved by the State Board of Equalization, as equitable and pro- portionate. The assessment rolls of scores of counties in this state were revised by the State Board of Equalization and it is very much to the credit of this office that the San Francisco assessment roll was approved by the State Board of Equalization without revision or cor- rection of any kind.
The operating costs of the Assessor's office continue to decrease. During the past seven years the total operating costs have been re- duced from their high point by 30.4 per cent, a saving of $106,603.00.
It will be well to recognize now that the 1936 assessment roll will have certain determinable losses. Securities no longer subject to tax levy, valued in 1935 at $170,000,000, will be absent from the 1936 assess- ment roll, as will $11,000,000 in assessed valuation of motor vehicles, the latter being exempt from personal property taxation beginning with 1936. The Assessor informs me that, to offset these losses, and to minimize the increased burden to real property which these personal property decreases will entail, the Assessor's office will strive for a more equitable distribution of the tax burden between real property and personal property during the coming year. I wish to comment on the able manner in which this Department is administered.
Sheriff.
Sheriff Wm. J. Fitzgerald's report, indicating business done in his office for the calendar year 1935 (December estimated), shows process and papers filed and issued, 25,434, a slight decrease from the year 1934. Evictions 420; about 100 less than last year. The decrease in evictions is held due to improvement in organized relief extended to those without work. Patients, prisoners and wards transferred to State institutions, 1160, about the same as the previous year.
Number of auctions of real and personal property 195, as against 247 in 1934. Prisoner days served, 230,796, an increase of about 40,000 over 1934.
The per diem cost per prisoner for food and other overhead expenses reported at IS^/^c, a most commendable reduction from 21c in the previous year, is partly due to the raising of vegetables at the new institution.
Public Utilities Commission.
Citizens of San Francisco should indeed be gratified by the admin- istration of their $160,000,000 municipal utilities enterprises during the past year.
Water sales have increased under a lowered rate schedule. A new rate cut will soon be ordered. Profitable operation of the Municipal Railway has continued with a five-cent fare and increased revenue. All street lights are now illuminated. New lights have been installed and costs have been reduced. San Francisco Airport has made extra- ordinary strides with air traffic increasing, the field enlarged and new developments under way which assures that it will shortly becoine the
46 WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 1936.
United States terminal of Pan-American Airways and the headquarters of the Coast Guard flying service.
More than one-half of a $15,855,000 utility construction program under PWA bond issues has been completed. Over 16 billion gallons of pure Hetch Hetchy water have been delivered to our local reservoirs. Substantial progress has been made in formulation of plans for a rapid transit system and for municipal distribution of the electric power generated by the Hetch Hetchy project.
During 1935 the Public Utilities Commission awarded contracts for construction costing $5,340,302.43. Work costing $4,725,192.87 was com- pleted during the year.
The Public Utilities Commission and Mr. Edward G. Cahill, Manager of Utilities, deserve the highest commendation for their able adminis- tration of these important municipal departments.
I refer briefly in the following paragraphs to the operations of the individual utilities during 1935:
Municipal Railwny —
Revenues of the Municipal Railway have continued to increase. The operating revenue for the year 1935 amounted to $3,030,000, an increase of $79,000 or 2.69 per cent over the preceding year. This healthy in- crease in street car riding for the second successive year indicates that, with a continuation of present efficient management of the Municipal Railway, we may be assured that it will meet all its obligations in the future and continue to operate profitably with a 5-cent fare.
Net income for the year amounted to $99,000 as against a net income of $163,000 for the year 1934. This reduction in net income reflected a wage restoration to employees of $69,000, as well as the operation of additional service required to accommodate an increased number of passengers. The sum of $360,000 was expended for maintenance and reconstruction in order to maintain the high standard of equipment and trackage of the Railway properties.
On July 28, 1935, the Municipal Railway inaugurated service on a new bus line which is providing urgently needed transportation to the Eureka Valley and Diamond street districts. This new line connects with the "K" and "L" lines at the Eureka Station of Twin Peaks Tun- nel. To improve the service on the Tenth Avenue cross town line, three modern buses were purchased and placed in operation. Two additional buses have been ordered to replace old equipment.
On December 1, there was retired from earnings the sum of $100,000 in bonds of the Railway so that there now remains an indebtedness of only $1,700,000 against the Municipal Railway properties, which are conservatively valued at $10,000,000.
Over eighty million passengers were carried during the year. Street cars and buses traveled a distance of approximately nine million miles.
Water Department—
The San Francisco Water Department has completed its fifth calen- dar year of operation as a municipal utility and continues to show substantial financial profits, both to water consumers and taxpayers.
Reflecting business recovery, as well as increased use of water be- cause of lower rates, the Department during the past year distributed approximately fifty-two million gallons of water daily, as compared with fifty and one-half million gallons daily for the year 1934.
The increased consumption is not entirely reflected in increased revenues due to the fact that a 10 per cent reduction in water rates was put into effect on December 1, 1934. As a result of this reduction 108,000 water consumers of the system have saved approximately $682,000 in their water bills during 1935. Net revenue of the Department for the year is approximately $2,328,000 as compared with $2,961,285 for the preceding calendar year. The decrease of $633,285 in net revenue, it will be noted, Is considerably less than the cash saving to consumers through the water rate reduction.
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 1936. 47
On October 28, 1934, water from the Hetch Hetchy project was first delivered into Crystal Springs Reservoir on the San Francisco penin- sula, making it available for the use of the people of San Francisco. Since that time, approximately sixteen billion gallons of water from Hetch Hetchy have been delivered into our local system.
Work has progressed steadily under the $12,095,000 PWA bond issue of November, 1933. With the Federal Government paying 30 per cent of the cost of labor and material involved, more than one-half of the construction contemplated is now completed and the entire program will be finished within the coming year. Major items already completed include the Bay Crossing Pipe Line No. 2, which will provide for de- livery of more than sixty million gallons daily from the Hetch Hetchy and Alameda sources. Excavation of University Mound Reservoir has been completed and the reservoir is ready for concrete lining. Some fifteen other contracts, including approximately one hundred miles of distribution mains, have been completed and are in service, improving fire protection and domestic supply.
In addition to this bond issue program, advantage has been taken of the offer of the Federal Government under the Act of 1935 to start other Water Department improvements costing $374,892, 45 per cent of the cost of which will be paid by the Federal Government.
The financial results of the Department's operations during the period of municipal ownership must be most gratifying to our people. During this period, the gross revenue from all sources has amounted to $38,029,032, with operating expenses totaling $23,455,367. The net in- come during that period amounting to $14,573,665 has been applied as follows: to General Fund for reduction of taxes, $4,069,388; to re- demption of bonds, $5,976,011; to additions and betterments to the water system, $3,979,142; to surplus, $528,252; to other appropriations, $20,872. Total, $14,573,665.
Hetch Hetchy Construction —
More than 400 workmen have been continuously employed for the past six months on the enlargement of O'Shaughnessy Dam. Completion of this construction within the coming year will increase the capacity of Hetch Hetchy Reservoir from 67 billion gallons to 117 billion gallons, which is six times as much water as San Francisco uses in a year. Enlargement of this monumental structure to a height of 430 feet is a difficult engineering task and those responsible for prepara- tion of the plans and supervising construction are to be highly com- mended for their excellent work.
During the year, a new 5^/^-foot pipe line has been constructed across San Francisco Bay at Dumbarton Strait, paralleling the original Hetch Hetchy Bay Crossing Pipe Line which was laid in 1923 and 1924. This work will increase the transbay pipe line capacity to 110 million gal- lons daily, thus eliminating the last "bottle neck" in our water system.
Construction is in progress on Moccasin diversion works, a dam and conduit which will divert the flow of Moccasin Creek away from Hetch Hetchy Aqueduct and maintain the purity of the water coming from the mountain reservoirs. The old flume, which supplied water to the Early Intake Power House, was replaced with a new tunnel which commenced to deliver water on November 23, 1935. This will increase the reliability of the Early Intake plant and will avoid water leakage and reduce maintenance costs.
Hetch Hetchy Power —
Water conditions have been favorable for continuous operation of Hetch Hetchy power plants during 1934 with the result that the City has received a maximum return from the sale of its electricity. SuflB- cient water is in storage to assure full operation of the power system until some time in February, before which time there should be suflBcient run-off to permit continued operation throughout the winter.
The favorable season has made it possible to avoid any difficulties
48 WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 1936.
over release of water for irrigation in the San Joaquin Valley. It is hoped that negotiations now under way with the irrigation districts may result in a satisfactory disposition of this matter for all time without further court proceedings.
Since 1925 and up to December 31, 1935, San Francisco received a gross revenue of $23,000,000 for sale of Hetch Hetchy power. After paying all operating costs and interest on the bonds allocated to the power system there remained a surplus or net profit of $9,000,000, which has been transferred to the general fund to meet interest and redemption charges on Hetch Hetchy water bonds.
The gross revenue for 1935 was $2,371,000, while a net profit of $1,130,000 was realized after paying operating expense and bond interest.
Street and Public Building Lighting —
The past year has seen a material improvement in the lighting of the streets of the City and a marked decrease in the cost. On January 1, 1935, 2050 of the 20,183 street lights in the City were unlighted be- cause of the curtailed street-lighting appropriations. Persistent efforts of the Public Utilities Commission resulted shortly thereafter in the granting of a reduction in street-lighting rates aggregating over $100,000 per year. This has permitted operation of all of the installed lights from March 1, 1935.
During the year, the number of lights in service has been increased from 18,133 to 20,429, a net increase of 2296. Of these 2050 were lamps restored to service and 236 are new lights. The majority of new lights are owned by the City. Many of them have been installed on streets which will serve as approaches to the Transbay Bridge.
In spite of the increase in the number of lights, the appropriation for the current year is $66,400 less than for the preceding year. The per capita cost of street lights in San Francisco is less than $1.00, which is lower than that of any other American city of equal size. Three years ago, the cost was $1.33 per capita.
Contracts have been awarded for installation of new city-owned lights around the Federal Building in the Civic Center and on Fifth street from Market street to the Bridge terminal.
An appreciable reduction has been made in expenditures for gas and electric service for City departments. It is expected that the saving this year will amount to nearly $70,000 without in any way curtailing the activities of the Department. This reduction has been effected by close scrutiny of the monthly bills and by rearrangement of the gas and electric services.
Work has gone forward in making a complete survey and record of aU street lights and in providing a system of control for the more than 1000 gas and electric accounts. In conformity with City policy, new tracts open for residential development must include the lighting of streets in their plans. New tracts known as Francisco Heights and Pine Lake Park are being equipped with modern street lights which will be deeded to the City before they are placed in service.
Rapid Transit —
As noted in my report of last year, the Public Utilities Commission was directed to prepare a study of the best means to provide for rapid transit within the City, to relieve traffic congestion and at the same time make satisfactory connection with the westerly terminus of the Transbay Bridge. The Commission prepared this study and secured the services of Mr. Robert Ridgway and Mr. Alfred Brady of New York, experts on this subject, to come to San Francisco and look over the plans. On July 9, 1935, these two consulting engineers issued a report approving the Commission's plans with but minor changes.
The proposal calls for the construction of subway lines on Market street from the Bay Bridge Terminal to Church street; on Mission street from Market, through the Bernal Cut; and on Montgomery street and Geary street at a total cost of $52,700,000.
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 1936. 40
A committee of citizens, headed by Mr. Marshall Hale, is giving this subject further consideration so that when a plan is decided upon it will receive the endorsement of the major civic bodies.
In the meantime, the Public Utilities Commission is requesting WPA funds with which to make preliminary surveys to expedite the prepara- tion of plans and awarding of contracts; immediately upon receipt of funds with which to carry out the project.
The matter of rapid transit is one of the most important now facing the City, as at the present time it takes longer to reach some of the outlying residential districts than it will to cross the bay via the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge to some of the East Bay communities. If this condition is not remedied, a considerable percentage of San Francisco residents may be tempted to move from the City.
The Public Utilities Commission has also cooperated during the year with the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge Authorities in laying out street-car lines to the bridge terminal, assisting with their lighting problems and in furnishing information useful to the Authority on other matters connected with the location of the terminal.
8an Francisco Airport —
The year 1935 witnessed the most important developments in the history of San Francisco Airport.
Little more than one month ago Pan-American Airways, the world's largest air transport company, signed an agreement to establish its Pacific Coast headquarters on our municipal field.
This agreement is contingent upon the completion, within the com- ing year, of a $1,675,000 construction program which was started about December 1 by the Federal Works Progress Administration. This pro- gram includes the establishment of a seaplane base with channel to deep water, turning basin, ramps and other facilities, reclamation of additional tide flats to enlarge the landing area and pavement of runways. I cannot too strongly urge that this project be prosecuted most diligently and efficiently in order that we may receive the im- portant benefits to be derived from the establishment of this base at our Municipal Airport.
San Francisco Airport during the past year has been designated as one of the few "super airports" of the nation and as such has been selected by the Federal Government for extensive development.
The Airport continues to be the terminal of the only air transport line operating in Northern California. Complete service to all points of the United States and nearby countries is available over this air line and its connections.
Another major air line — Transcontinental and Western Air — has in- dicated that it will utilize San Francisco Airport as the western ter- minus of a new transport route operating from San Francisco to eastern and middle-western cities via Winslow, Arizona, and Albu- querque, New Mexico. An application for this route is now pending before the Interstate Commerce Commission.
Comparison of trafiic figures for the calendar years 1934 and 1935 shows an increase of 29 per cent in passenger arrivals and departures, the figures being approximately 38,000 in 1934 and 49,000 in 1935. The Airport also handled an increase of 73 per cent in air mail pouches and 30 per cent in air express, there having been a total of 52,000 air pouches and 69,000 pieces of air express dispatched through the field during the past year. Transport planes in and out of the field totaled 16,300 in 1935, an increase of 27 per cent.
Enlargement of the Airport landing area under the $260,000 WPA bond issue voted in November, 1933, was successfully completed, qualifying the field for the highest class transport rating by the Fed- eral Department of Air Commerce. Other work was accomplished with SERA funds, including drainage, sewerage, paving and elec- trical facilities.
Six airplane sales agencies, five flying schools and a fully equipped airplane an^ engine repair shop are operating at the field.
50 WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 1936.
Office of the Treasurer.
The Treasurer's office must be conducted under the provisions of the State law and the Charter. The volume of business for the fiscal year 1934-35 was in excess of the previous fiscal year, without additional office costs.
The Treasurer is the custodian of the securities of the Retirement System which amount to $15,124,312.50.
The Treasurer of the City and County is, by virtue of his office, the treasurer of the Islais Creek Reclamation District, which is located wholly within the City and County.
The National City Bank of New York is the designated fiscal agency of the City and County, and pays matured bond interest and bond re- demption which amounts to approximately $7,000,000.
The cost of handling one dollar in the Treasurer's office is .00321, which, from available data, is the lowest in the nation for volume of business handled.
Actual cash received and cash disbursed, $157,030,787.20; interfund and departmental accounts, $88,906,203.48; interest earned on deposit of public funds in banks, $398,600.15; coupons paid, approximately 343,000; amount of coupons paid, $7,726,985.75; amount of bonds re- deemed, $6,266,100; number of demands handled, 404,565; number of emergency demands handled, 367,179; tax anticipation notes issued and redeemed, $8,500,000; inheritance tax collected for the State of Califor- nia, $1,431,632.50; tax anticipation notes examined, approximately 1600; total cost of office, including stationery, employees, etc., $48,861.01; commissions earned and fees received and deposited, $11,692.92; which should be credited to the office expense, leaving the actual cost to the taxpayers of the Treasurer's office for the fiscal year, $37,168.09.
A truly splendid exhibit of efficiency and economy. I wish to com- mend the admirable manner in which the Treasurer's office has been conducted under the supervision of Captain Duncan Matheson and his most capable staff.
Parks.
The park system has been the recipient during the past year of many lasting betterments provided by the utilization of the unemployed labor furnished by the Federal and State relief projects.
Early in the year it was very evident that, if San Francisco was to have a zoological garden commensurate with the other cosmopolitan and cultural institutions that have made our beloved City a happy and proper dwelling place, the acquisition of more land was imperative. To this end, approximately 69 acres were acquired from the Spring Valley Company immediately east of the present Zoo site and adja- cent thereto. At this time, over fifteen hundred of the unemployed citizens of San Francisco are clearing, grading and preparing this tract of land for a Zoo; which, when completed, will take its place among similar outstanding institutions of the world.
For many years the unimproved section of Lafayette Square, held in private ownership, has been a subject of rightful protest by the citizens of the vicinity. I am now happy to state that this land has been acquired by the City and within the year will be properly land- scaped and play areas developed and thrown open to the public for their enjoyment forevermore.
The restoration of the Palace of Fine Arts is now in its final stages and it, too, should be completed within the coming year.
So, also, should 1936 see the construction of roads, walks and retain- ing walls at Aquatic Park, where work is now progressing rapidly, through the aid of Federal agencies.
The Kezar Stadium, mecca of sport lovers and the scene of many historic athletic contests, has been provided with all modern facilities necessary for proper conduct of major athletic events, through the use of Federal and State funds.
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 1936. 51
The Federal government, through its general works program, has expended over $150,000 in the beautification of the park on Telegraph Hill.
An interesting and educational addition to the many attractive fea- tures of Golden Gate Park will soon start to take shape in the form of an arboretum, for which plans have already been drawn and which will be created from moneys generously bequeathed to the City by the late Mrs. Helen Strybing. All who know of the skill and enthusiasm with which Superintendent of Parks John McLaren approaches any project which calls for the use of growing things, can be sure that this arboretum, when completed, will house one of the most comprehensive collections of plants, trees and shrubs in the world.
Altogether it would seem that our park system yearly offers more to our citizens in the way of health, recreation and educational di- version.
To the Commission, its staff, and our beloved John McLaren, I ex- tend my hearty thanks.
Recreation Department.
For 29 years the Recreation Department has been providing the citi- zens of San Francisco with ever-increasing opportunities for more abundant living.
The Recreation Department has supervision over 80 recreation units representing 453 acres. There are 34 playgrounds and centers, 22 schoolyards, 8 gymnasiums, 2 open-air swimming pools, 1 mountain camp and 13 playground sites.
The attendance for last fiscal year, on these various recreation areas, was 5,276,237.
Money was provided in this year's budget to start establishing play- grounds in the following districts where there are insufficient recrea- tion areas: Bay View, $15,000; Eureka Valley, $25,000; Upper Noe Valley, $25,000; Ninth and Ortega, $6,000; Longfellow, $20,000; Haight- Ashbury, $25,000; Sunset, $25,000; and Corona Heights, $25,000.
The Department cooperated with the SERA and WPA authorities in expanding its program of supervision and development.
One hundred and twenty individuals attended the six weeks' insti- tute for recreation workers which afforded additional training for those employed in the field.
The Commission is constantly enlarging its work to meet the in- sistent demands for a more varied program and additional recreation areas. Extensive improvements were made at Camp Mather during 1935. The work included remodeling 110 cabins. The total patronage for this season was 2100, being 250 additional guests over the previous year. The Commission and their staff have rendered valuable service to our citizens of tomorrow.
Board of Permit Appeals.
The court of last resort, in so far as permits are concerned, is the Board of Permit Appeals, consisting of five members, which to date has heard two hundred and twenty-nine appeals. While appeals are not numerous, they are often complicated, because of controversies encountered among property owners and merchants in the neighborhood in which the applicant desires to locate.
The Board has given most thoughtful consideration to such appeals, with the endeavor to satisfy, as far as possible, parties concerned, and at the same time observe the law. The Board also makes it a rule to inspect all premises involving permits. Matters that come before the Board are appeals from the decision of the Chief of Police, the Chief of the Fire Department, and Director of Public Health, the Director of Public Works, the Art Commission and all licenses granted by the Tax Collector.
Decisions of the Board of Permit Appeals have been upheld on two occasions by our local Superior Court and on one occasion by the State Supreme Court.
52 WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 1936.
The Board is to be commended for the thoughtful and efficient con- sideration they are giving their work.
City Planning Commission.
Numerous applications for changes in the Building Zone Ordinance were considered by the Commission during the past year. Many pub- lic hearings were held, and in each case the property under consid- eration was investigated by the Commission, in the field. The depart- ment is at the present time conducting a survey of Industrial Dis- tricts for the purpose of ascertaining just what changes are necessary, properly to plan our ultimate industrial needs. Additional indus- trial sites must be made available. New industries, providing employ- ment and payrolls, must be gained.
The volume of routine work in the office has greatly increased dur- ing the past year, and a noticeable increase in building activity makes it apparent that the Commission will be confronted with a greater number of planning problems from now on.
The Commission has recently sponsored, as a Works Progress Ad- ministration Project, a program for a comprehensive Use of Property Survey of the entire City and County, the purpose of which might be termed an inventory of building activity during the past fifteen years under our present Building Zone Ordinance.
It is proposed to show by the results of this study a comparison with the conditions that prevailed in 1920, and to provide the neces- sary information for a complete revision of our Master Plan. It will show conclusively that sections zoned in a particular classification have not developed as originally planned and the apparent need of making many changes that will be best suited to the ultimate develop- ment. The information obtained will be of tremendous value to not only the City Planning Commission, but to various other departments in the municipal government and the citizens of San Francisco. The Commission has made an exhaustive study of the needs of San Fran- cisco concerning approaches to the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge and the Golden Gate Bridge.
The members of the staff of this Commission have shown intelligent and unselfish concern for the important duties entrusted to them.
War Memorial Trustees.
Unique in the activities of city governments, anywhere, is our War Memorial Department. It includes the operation of the Opera House and the Veterans' Building, the Museum of Art, and the Court of Memory, and is under the direction of a Board of eleven Trustees and a Managing Director. The department continued during 1935 to earn an enviable record of achievement.
Our magnificent Opera House, built by the people, has made possible another superb season of grand opera, the feature of which was a presentation of the notable "Ring Operas" of Richard Wagner, pro- duced on a scale not exceeded anywhere in the world. This was made possible solely from the extraordinarily complete facilities and equip- ment in the Opera House. During the season, which took place in November, 1935, four "Ring" operas and nine operas from the stan- dard repertoire all brought overflowing crowds to enjoy the fine music and further establish San Francisco as an outstanding musical center.
The Opera House, because of its capacity, affords the citizens of San Francisco an opportunity of annually enjoying a three weeks' season of popular-priced operas, which is in no way slighted in point of production and excellence of cast, in comparison with the main sea- son. Thousands of citizens, for as little as 50 cents and no more than $1 per performance, are able to thoroughly enjoy finely produced standard operas.
Our Opera House is the home of the San Francisco Symphony Or- chestra, which this year has scheduled at least 24 fine symphony pro- grams. The outstanding musical stars are heard here throughout the
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 1936. 53
season. The Opera House is the only municipally owned structure of its kind in the United States.
Last year brought great improvements to the Auditorium in the Veterans' Building. This little theater, graced with the eight Frank Brangwyn first prize murals, is now equipped with a most modern electrically operated orchestra pit elevator. The hall is so built that with a level floor it becomes one of the finest maple floored auditoriums in the West, and by the touch of a button, and the installation of upholstered seats, it is immediately transformed into a fine concert hall.
Activities in the meeting halls and veteran affairs headquartered in the Veterans' Building are ever on the increase. Often, twenty lodge- rooms are occupied with important meetings, both afternoons and nights. From 2000 to 5000 people enjoy the use of the facilities of this building every day of the year.
The first year of the San Francisco Museum of Art, occupying the fourth floor of the Veterans' Building, has been marked with im- portant achievement. For the first time the great Carnegie exhibit of paintings was brought to this City because the facilities of the new museum permitted adequate exhibition of this world-famous collec- tion. Over a dozen fine exhibits featured the first year of the museum. During 1936 a continuous round of fine exhibits are booked.
These buildings are a constant tribute to the American Veterans of all wars, a classic addition to the City's world-famed Civic Center, and a great credit to the fi.ne public spirit of all its citizens.
My thanks to our War Memorial Trustees, and Mr. Selby Oppen- heimer, the Managing Director.
Art Commission.
This group of artists, musicians, architects, literateurs and laymen of distinction has freely given time, study and consideration to the aesthetic and cultural welfare of the municipality.
The Committee of Architecture, John Bakewell, Jr., Chairman, has continued to play a most important part in the construction of the approaches to the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge. Designs for via- ducts, spans and arches and the development of the Fifth Street Plaza have received studied consideration. It is highly gratifying to know that the recommendations and suggestions of the Committee have been successfully carried out, thereby assuring that this project will have the dignified and magnificent approach worthy of the City of San Francisco.
This Committee has also been active on the project for the building of public schools financed by the recent school bond issue. The majority of the designs for these schools were approved as submitted and others have been dealt with in a manner which promises best results.
Among the many accomplishments of the Art Commission, one of the most noteworthy events during 1935 was the overwhelming victory of its campaign, last May, for Charter Amendment No. 3, when eighty- five thousand citizens voted to add a half cent to the tax rate for the purpose of maintaining a symphony orchestra. This achievement es- tablished San Francisco as the first city in America to subsidize, by the people's mandate, a symphony orchestra. The people of San Francisco are thus assured the best in music, at prices within reach of all. San Francisco, in fulfilling this obligation to its citizens and taxpayers, is giving under the direction of the Music Committee, the Honorable J. Emmet Hayden, Chairman, a series of ten Municipal Symphony Concerts with the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra, and the greatest personalities in the world of music as guest artists, at admission prices of from twenty to eighty cents.
Rigid supervision of all works of art placed in parks, squares and buildings which belong to San Francisco, continues under the direction of Commissioner Charles Stafford Duncan.
54 WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 1936.
Under the activities of an ERA art work project, supported by the Federal Government, many artists and sculptors have been given em- ployment. The Commission re-afRrms its policy of assistance rather than obstruction, in matters submitted for its consideration and recog- nizes with appreciation the cordial cooperation of the heads of other Municipal Departments, of the engineers and consulting architects of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge, of the Federal Government, particularly the officials of the CWA and SERA, the Musical Asso- ciation of San Francisco, the Musicians' Union, and the artists and architects preparing the designs of matter submitted.
It must be recalled that the San Francisco Art Commission, at its inception, was considered experimental, because it was the first Art Commission in the world to supervise and control the expenditure of all appropriations for music and the advancement of art and music. That it has worked with acknowledged success for four years is a source of deep satisfaction to its members and our fellow-citizens, generally. It is looked upon as a model to be copied and is constantly consulted by groups of citizens of other cities of the United States contemplating the formation of such a commission. I appreciate the work so unselfishly done by this Commission.
San Francisco Museums.
The year 19B5 marked a further stride forward in the development of the two municipal museums of San Francisco. Nearly 900,000 people visited the California Palace of the Legion of Honor and the M. H. de Young Museum.
The most important event was the great exhibition of American Painting held jointly in both museums during June and July, paint- ings of the 18th and 19th centuries being shown at the M. H. de Young Memorial Museum, and contemporary American paintings displayed at the California Palace of the Legion of Honor. Altogether, 459 pictures were gathered from various museums and private collections in the country. The fact that the great Eastern institutions, such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, the Pennsylvania Museum of Art and the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts in Philadelphia, the Art Institute of Chicago, Detroit, Cleveland, Cincinnati and many others, most generously re- sponded to our request for loans is the best proof of the growing repu- tation of our municipal museums as serious institutions for the study of art and of San Francisco as an important Western art center. The great success of the exhibition, which in little more than one month was visited by over 220,000 people, was the best reward for the efforts in assembling it. To create a lasting record of this event a magnificent catalogue was published, which sold in thousands of copies to the local visitors, and also was sent, as cultural propaganda, to hundreds of museums, libraries, educational institutes, and art magazines in America as well as in Europe.
Another show which created considerable interest was the exhibition of Soviet Paintings and Prints held in the California Palace of the Legion of Honor in August. Outstanding in the field of decorative arts was the large exhibition of Textile Art Through the Ages held in August and September in the M. H. de Young Memorial Museum, in which hundreds of magnificent examples of the weaver's craft were shown.
The continued work of the SETRA and later of the WPA has greatly improved facilities of the M. H. de Young Memorial Museum. Re- modeling and modernizing the east wing, provided the museum with excellent galleries for temporary exhibitions, a library room, print and textile study rooms, various workshops, etc. This work is still in progress. The standard of the collection has been considerably raised by the addition of numerous works of art, mostly acquired from funds available through the generosity of the late Mr. M. H. de Young.
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 1936. 55
The California Palace of the Legion of Honor was fortunate enough to acquire from a fund generously provided by Mr, Archer M. Hunting- ton, a characteristic man's portrait by the French 18th Century painter, Jean Baptiste Greuze, and an exceptionally fine landscape by the French painter Jean Baptiste Camille Corot.
With the improvement of educational facilities, the work carried out has progressed steadily. Weekly lectures and radio talks by members of the museum staffs have found lively response and cooperation be- tween the museums and schools has been further intensified.
In brief, no efforts have been spared to make the two museums into educational institutes worthy of our city as an important cultural center of the country. I am pleased by the progress made in this vitally important department of cultural activity.
San Frajticisco Public Library.
The Library Department has experienced an active and constructive year. The circulation of books for home reading amounted to approxi- mately 4,000,000 volumes. It is estimated that nearly 9,500,000 people used the various departments of the main library and branches, in 1935.
During the depression, thousands turned to the library not only for recreation reading, but also for cultural and educational advancement. Unfortunately, the library has been struggling during these years with an inadequate book fund. If it is to maintain its high standard of ser- vice additional funds must be set aside for the purchase of books.
I recommended that $40,000 be appropriated for the opening of four new branch libraries to be situated in the Visitacion Valley, Parkside, West Portal and Bernal Heights districts. The Visitacion Valley branch was the first to be opened with a collection of books amounting to 5000 volumes. On account of insufficient funds this branch was at first operated by volunteer help from the neighborhood. However, since July it has been in the hands of trained librarians. Next a branch was opened in the Parkside district. It also has a model collection number- ing 5000 volumes. Negotiations are being made for suitable quarters in the West Portal and Bernal Heights districts. These branches will be opened very soon. Similar collections of books have been purchased for each branch and are being prepared for installation. It is indeed a satisfaction to know that these districts are receiving library service after being without for so many years. Judging by the great use made of the branches already opened, their need was evident.
The Business Branch in the Russ Building has proven of great value to the business and financial district. Our Music Department, which is probably one of the most complete west of Chicago, has rendered aid to our professional and amateur musicians. The Chil- dren's Department has been especially active, working in fine harmony with parent-teacher associations and schools throughout the city. Many scientific, literary, musical and educational lectures were held in the main library assembly room.
An audit of the library system was taken under the direction of the Controller's office and the library was found to be in excellent condition.
Many valuable old documents and files of early newspapers were repaired by a number of SERA workers. The Max Kuhl collection of rare books and the Phelan Memorial collection of California authors were enlarged by many valuable gifts from Mr. Albert M. Bender of the Library Commission.
In the endeavor to place the resources of the library before more of the people of San Francisco, an intensive drive was made for new members. The library received excellent publicity for this purpose through the cooperation of the municipal railway, radios, newspapers, schools and clubs.
The enormous volume of work could not have been accomplished with the limited staff, were it not for the untiring energy and enthus-
56 WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 1936.
iastic cooperation of all members, to whom hearty commendation is due.
Deserved thanks to Librarian Robert Rea, the Trustees and his courteous and efficient staff.
Chief Administrative Officer.
The administrative departments of our municipal government, under the direction of Chief Administrative Officer Alfred J. Cleary, have continued during the past year to establish practical business methods in handling the public business entrusted to them, in accordance with the letter and the spirit of the new Charter. New employments have not been created except when absolutely necessary, and replacements have been made to fill vacancies only when fully justified.
The Department of Works is directing the remaining PWA con- struction projects, which have provided the building industry with new life and have greatly relieved unemployment in the building trades and among laborers. This department has likewise proposed many new projects in accordance with the national program of the PWA and WPA, notably the proposed San Francisco 1938 Exposition. In this connection, Mr. Clyde Healy, Assistant City Engineer, traveled to Washington, spent several weeks in conference with Federal officials in charge of the huge public works and relief programs, and through his Skill and experience, was of material assistance in securing for San Francisco not only vital help in the development of the Exposition site and buildings, but also additional projects as well. These projects total the enormous sum of approximately $37,000,000, and their progress to completion will reflect a positive increase in employment in San Francisco, as well as a considerable share of new prosperity for all of our citizens.
The County Welfare Department has met with a vast increase in the volume of old-age pension cases consequent upon the reduction of the age limit from seventy (70) years to sixty-five (65). This increase, while taxing the facilities of the Department to the utmost, has been met with commendable effort to expedite the claims filed and to handle the claimants with the additional tact and courtesy which they deserve.
The Street Traffic Advisory Board has worked with the press and with public-spirited civic agencies in a general effort to reduce the mounting toll of traffic accidents. It has considered many plans and suggestions at its meetings and has put into effect recommended changes at the points in the City where danger or congestion has required them.
Through the enactment of appropriate legislation, the garbage dis- posal problem has been satisfactorily adjusted, and by authority of the Board of Supervisors, a contract entered into for a long term, thus guaranteeing to our citizens a modern sanitary method of handling the collected refuse. In addition, provision has been made for creating additional acreage for San Francisco, when certain public lands suit- able to the purpose of fill and cover are made available.
Mutual discussions, participated in by the administrative department heads, have provided many valuable new ideas and suggestions. These meetings will continue to provide a medium for exchanging timely ideas, and will provide necessary contact between departments having joint duties and jurisdiction.
Department of Finance and Records.
This Department includes the functions and personnel of the offices of the Registrar of Voters, County Clerk, Recorder, Public Adminis- trator and Tax Collector. Its Director, Mr. Arthur Curtis, continues to carry on the duties of his office in a most exemplary manner. I admit my high appreciation of his services.
The total expense for this office for the calendar year 1935 was $5,830.61. All requisitions and purchase orders connected with the five
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 1936. 57
departments under this division clear through the office and a com- plete account is kept of expense and operation of these departments.
Tax Collector's Office. For the past three years this office has included the Department of Delinquent Revenues, which collected up to December 6, 1935, the sum of $537,166.19, a most commendable achievement for which Ignatius Richardson may take great credit. For the calendar year, up to Decem- ber 6th, the total collections of the office were $29,052,523.19. The total collections, exclusive of the License Bureau, showed an increase of $3,617,170.09, over the same period in 1934, of which sum $2,530,655.99 was caused by the public utilities being returned to the tax roll. My thanks to Tax Collector Bryant and his experienced staff.
Registrar of Voters.
In this Department, three elections were held in this calendar year, viz.: Special Municipal Election, May 2d; Special State Election, August 13th; and General Municipal Election, November 5, 1935. With regard to the Special Election on August 13th, the Board of Supervisors went on record as agreeing to find funds to reimburse the Department of Elections for this expense. The figures are about complete and it will cost approximately $40,000.
In the General Municipal Election of November 5, the largest num- ber of votes ever cast at a Municipal Election were recorded — 186,992. The full complement of 1055 voting precincts were used. No com- plaints were made and no trouble was experienced. Full returns from all voting precincts were received, tabulated and given to the press and the public within four hours of the closing of the polls, a most enviable record, and one probably without a parallel, considering the large number of votes.
A decision by the Supreme Court of California in November neces- sitates a new registration, beginning January 1, 1936. This was an entirely unexpected expense at the time our budget was filed. A new Index to the Register and 300,000 Affidavits of Registration must be printed and a large force of extra clerks will have to be employed. These will necessitate a request for an additional appropriation for this Department as soon as the expense has been estimated; this, of course, being additional to the $40,000 mentioned above. Sincere thanks to Registrar Charles J. Collins and his experienced corps of assistants.
County Clerk.
Upon the establishment of the Municipal Court, the personnel of the County Clerk's office was reduced by transferring twenty deputies to the said Municipal Court. In the meantime, deputies have been trans- ferred to other departments of the municipality. The personnel now consists of the County Clerk, Chief Clerk and fifty-four deputies.
Despite the reduced personnel, the County Clerk has been able to keep the business of the office up to date, and to continue to show a splendid profit in revenue from the General, Probate and License departments of his office.
A loss in the revenue of the Civil Department is caused by the filing in the Municipal Court of all civil actions involving two thousand dollars or less, at a loss in fees to the County Clerk's office, amounting to the sum of about thirty thousand dollars per annum.
A loss of revenue in the Criminal Department is caused by the transfer of jurisdiction of and the revenue from the former Police Courts and Traffic Court to the Municipal Court, which amounted to an average of about one hundred and forty-five thousand dollars per annum.
County Clerk Mulcrevy and his competent and courteous corps of deputies merit high approval.
68 WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 1936.
Public Administrator.
The report of the Public Administrator shows that the office has been conducted with a substantial profit. As you are aware, some of the fees applicable to the attorney for the Public Administrator were withheld in the estates pending a court decision as to whether or not these fees belonged to the attorney for the Public Administrator. However, in the past few days all these withheld fees, amounting to approximately $18,000 have been deposited in the treasury of the City and County of San Francisco, and so appear in the report as filed by the Public Ad- ministrator. In a survey of this office by the Civil Service Commis- sion, released recently, other matters were mentioned, which are now in process of adjudication.
Operations of the office, from January 2 to November 30, 1935, in- cluded: number of estates, wherein the Public Administrator took pos- session, 215; number in which final accounts have been settled and allowed, 198; attorney's fees collected and paid into County Treasury, $31,155.10; administrator's fees collected and paid into County Treasury, $26,837.18; total, $57,992.18; total cost of operation of office, $35,669.71; profit, $22,322.48. Administrator Phillip C. Katz and his assistants continue to render valuable service.
Recorder.
For the calendar year 1935, a total of $107,795.20 was received as recording fees. Total salaries paid during the year, $85,816.79; surplus over salaries paid, $21,978.41. There were 61,657 documents filed and recorded.
This office, most courteously presided over by Edmond Godchaux, popular dean of all county officials, is now undermanned. The last Legislature enacted a new law requiring chattel mortgages to be re- recorded every four years. Under this new law, the Recorder received in the course of two days approximately 24,320 folios. It was neces- sary to secure an additional appropriation of $4,000 from the Emer- gency Reserve Fund to meet the necessary expense, caused by em- ploying additional help. Copied, free of charge, for City, State and Federal use, 1988 documents.
Department of Electricity.
The outstanding accomplishments of the Department of Electricity during the calendar year 1935 are as follows: Manufactured, installed and maintained fire alarm boxes, police boxes and traffic control de- vices. Radio receiving sets were installed in 15 automobiles of the Fire and Police Departments.
There were installed 43 fire alarm boxes, making a total of 1492 boxes in service. Monthly tests of fire alarm boxes totaled 17,626. Total number of signals transmitted, 48,355.
Applications received in the Inspection Bureau numbered 14,687; inspections made, 44,324; installations approved, 13,421. Inspection fees and other revenue received, $41,132.39. There were manufactured 39 traffic signals and 24 fire alarm boxes.
Total expenditures amount to $192,232.61. Under the direction of Chief Ralph W. Wiley, this department continues to function com- mendably.
Real Estate Department
As an extension to the Municipal Airport for handling seaplanes, the City is acquiring 440 acres of privately-owned tideland in San Fran- cisco Bay, adjoining the 1112.5-acre tract of land being purchased from Mills Estate. The City now holds title to 60 per cent of the latter tract.
Easements are being bought for Crystal Springs Pipe Line No. 2 from Millbrae to University Mound Reservoir. Ten hundred and eighty-five acres of land on the Calaveras Reservoir watershed and
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 1936. 69
many lots for Sunset Reservoir have been purchased. A quitclaim deed to a large lot on Seventh avenue has been obtained.
A school site in Miraloma Park has been conveyed to the City in exchange for a parcel of land on Nineteenth avenue. Additional lands have been purchased for Patrick Henry School, Sunshine School, Mission High School and Visitacion Valley School.
Final payment has been made for the Angelo J. Rossi Playground site and appraisals are being made of lands required for other play- grounds.
Negotiations are being carried on for the acquisition of lands re- quired for the widening of Nineteenth avenue from Lincoln way to Sloat boulevard, for the Castro-Divisadero Divisional Highway, Mc- Laren Park roadway, widening of San Jose avenue, Potrero Hill Play- ground roadway and other projects. The purchase of lands for widen- ing Army street from Potrero avenue to Bryant street has been com- pleted. Acquisition of property for the realignment of Sloat boulevard west of Thirty-ninth avenue is nearly finished. Practically all of The right of way parcels for the Richmond Sewer Tunnel have been ob- tained.
On April 1 the City entered into a lease agreement for the use and purchase of an additional 69 acres of land for Pleishhacker Playground and Zoo. Ten parcels of land at a total cost of $200,000 are being purchased for Lafayette Park* at the rate of one parcel per year.
Miscellaneous leases of City lands have been awarded, including a lease to Hearst Radio, Inc., for a receiving station on the Crystal Springs property in San Mateo County, a machine shop at the Airport and other locations.
Through relief agencies and the use of surplus rental funds, the Auditorium has been rehabilitated. A greater variety of attractions than ever before are being booked in the Auditorium. We find it im- possible, occasionally, to accommodate prospective tenants.
The conduct of this Department, under Joseph J. Phillips, has been such as to amply justify the makers of the Charter, in setting it up.
Department of Public Works.
The Department of Public Works, consisting of ten bureaus, has finished a year in which the completion and advancement of many projects of great importance and benefit to our City are noted.
The entire program for the extension of our high pressure system is in process of completion, the cost during the calendar year just ended having been $954,255. All extensions requested by the Chief Engineer of the Fire Department and others interested in this problem have been complied with. The completion of this system brings our ability to protect property to a standard not excelled by any American city. The result should be a sizable further reduction in fire insur- ance rates.
During 1935 there was expended for new construction and general repairs to existing school buildings, the sum of $1,689,133. Buildings to be constructed under the school bond issue passed by the people in 1933 and included in the above total are: Visitacion Valley School, $162,096; Glen Park School, $203,978; Marina Junior High School, $565,565; Patrick Henry School, $94,397.50; Starr King School (yard work), $4,147; Francis Scott Key School, $174,600; Starr King School (library), $4,258; Sunshine-Buena Vista School, $265,423; Agassiz School, $194,649; Lawton School, $169,788.
Upon construction of the George Washington High School, $730,059 was expended. This much-needed school is now completed.
With the practical completion of the school program, housing con- ditions for our youth have reached a point guaranteeing no further crowding, with ideal conditions for play. Any further program, due to increased population, should be handled on a "pay as you go" basis.
On extensions to our main sewer system, there was expended th© sum of $841,781. This included the Fifteenth street sewer; the Sixth
60 WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 1936.
street, Howard-Brannan; the Brannan street sewer; which replaced obsolete sewers.
New extensions will take care of storm and sanitary conditions in the industrial area for some time to come.
There was expended the sum of $102,117 on contracts for boulevard construction. The cost for general improvement of streets was $101,- 345. It is anticipated that in the streets and boulevards program for 1936 all major downtown streets leading to or being a part of the approaches of the San Francisco Bay Bridge, will be reconditioned and realigned.
Completed major projects during the calendar year 1935 amounted to $3,451,470; itemized as follows: "new" school buildings, $1,070,348; High Pressure System, $954,225.80; Sewers — reinforced concrete, $841,- 781.45; Boulevards, $15,820; Reconstruction and alterations of schools, $411,665.02; alterations and remodeling of public buildings, $36,694; Reconstruction of streets, $101,345.06; Improvement of unaccepted streets, $19,591.52.
The Psychopathic Cancer building, adjoining the San Francisco Hospital, is now well under way and should be turned over to the Department of Public Health by the end of this fiscal year. The cost is approximately $750,000.
Contemplated Major Projects —
The cost of completion, during 1936, of the major projects referred to below, is estimated at $2,549,681.
School Buildings: Marina Junior High School, shop building, $188,- 000; George Washington High School, shop building, $138,000; Aptos Junior High School, 10 additional classrooms, $84,000.
One of the most important of these projects is the Richmond-Sunset Sewage Disposal Plant. Plans are under way for the beginning of the first unit, to cost $120,000 about February 1st. The entire project will cost $962,000. It will eliminate the disposition of sewage in the waters of San Francisco Bay and the Pacific, a matter of serious concern for so many years.
Plans and specifications are being prepared and contracts will be awarded on the following items, under the High Pressure Bond Issue of 1933: Bay Bridge Approach District, $32,000; Mission District, $70,000; Clay Street Hill District, $18,000; Cisterns, $143,000; Hydrant Reducing Valves, $10,000; Operating Valve Machine, $10,000.
The following work on major streets, for which funds are available, will be prosecuted during the calendar year: Fifth street, Mission- Townsend streets, $57,340; Fremont street, Market-Harrison streets, $43,000; First street, Market-Harrison streets, $45,000; Harrison street, Embarcadero-Fifth street, $85,400; Anza street, cut thru to St. Rose's avenue, $41,181; Folsom street, Embarcadero-Tenth street, $105,300; Steuart street, Embarcadero-Mission, $10,030; Beale street, Embarca- dero-Market street, $43,920; Spear street, Embarcadero-Howard street, $14,770; Battery street, Embarcadero-Market, $75,000; Bryant street, Second and Fifth streets, $42,700; Sixth street, Townsend-Mission streets, $48,800; Eighth street, Townsend-Market streets, $56,120; Eighteenth street, Guerrero-Dan vers, $34,460; Seventh avenue, Law- ton-Lincoln way, $16,900; California street, Presidio avenue-First ave- nue, $34,760; First street, Embarcadero-Brannan, $5,000.
Of the total, $759,681, the Public Works Administration will pay 45 per cent and the City and County of San Francisco the balance out of the one-quarter cent gasoline tax revenues.
Lombard street, leading from Van Ness avenue and connecting with the Golden Gate Bridge via Lyon street, is scheduled for improvement as a one-quarter cent gasoline tax project on State highways within San Francisco; therefore, it will be constructed as funds are available therefor. This thoroughfare will be 100 feet wide, and will cost ap- proximately $1,300,000.
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 1936. 61
Nineteenth avenue from Lincoln way to Sloat boulevard is also a project destined for accomplishment from the one-quarter cent gaso- line tax for State highways in San Francisco. Initial purchases of property on this important improvement have already been made. This thoroughfare will be 100 feet wide and will cost approximately $2,200,000.
A comprehensive report has been made of a proposed Divisional Highway extending from Lombard street to Alemany boulevard, a distance of 4.9 miles, and involving a cost of $8,340,000. On account of the magnitude of this project, it will have to be approached grad- ually as funds become available. A new thoroughfare, a feeder of and tributary to the Divisional Highway, is being cut through between Castro and Divisadero streets, at a cost of $185,000. Of this amount, $60,000 is for property. Property purchase is virtually complete, and it is hoped that construction funds will be available in the near future.
Laguna Honda boulevard between Dewey boulevard and Seventh avenue, which has heretofore been improved by a temporary pavement awaiting the settlement of large fills, is now scheduled for improvement under WPA operations, and will represent an investment of $71,000.
Another important thoroughfare scheduled to be accomplished under WPA operations is Geneva avenue from Prague street to the County line. This will complete a cross-town thoroughfare leading from Mis- sion street to Bay Shore boulevard, and will prove of considerable importance as a traffic artery.
There are now pending before the Park Commission preliminary plans submitted by the City Engineer, approved by the District En- gineer of the California Highway Commission, for a road crossing Golden Gate Park from Nineteenth avenue to Park-Presidio boulevard. This will be an important link in connection with the Golden Gate Bridge traffic, and it is hoped that an early agreement may be reached between all concerned in so far as Golden Gate Park is affected, so that work can start on this project.
Department of Public Health.
It is of interest to note that this Department is now in its fifth year, under the efficient direction of Doctor J. C. Geiger, Director of Public Health.
It may be remembered that 1934 saw the lowest general death rate (11.6) and the lowest infant mortality rate (33) ever recorded here; This year, although general health conditions as determined through the interpretation of vital statistics are excellent, these two rates for general mortality and for infant mortality are slightly higher than they were for 1934 (12.3 and 34). In interpreting the slight elevation of the general death rate, it must be borne in mind that the increase is not due to an increase in the incidence of communicable diseases. Also, it is of considerable interest to know that the rate for 1935, for San Francisco, will again be the lowest for any major city, a position of no little significance, particularly when it is realized that this rate is considered the most sensitive single index of efficiency of public health work in the field of public health administration. Of interest, also, is the fact that the birth rate, slightly higher in 1934 than dur- ing the years immediately prior thereto, although low in San Francisco tor many years, has remained at the same level for 1935.
The reported incidence of communicable diseases has been noticeably low during 1935. With the exception of measles, chickenpox and whooping cough, in which instances there were slight increases, the reported incidence was within the normal expectancy. The specific death rates for communicable diseases, including tuberculosis, remain low, as evidence of a changed order, over what conditions presented several decades ago. During the Century of Commerce, celebrated last October, a brief study was made of the vital statistics of early San Francisco compared with those of today. It was found, for example, that the high general death rate of 27.6, in 1868-1869, was due in no
62 WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 1936.
small extent to such factors as more than 700 deaths due to smallpox; several hundred due to diphtheria; nearly 100 due to typhoid fever. Contrast these data with those of 1935, with a general death rate of less than 12, with no deaths due to smallpox, three due to diphtheria, and four due to typhoid fever. While it is true, I am told, that diseases rise and fall in their incidence, there can be little doubt that public health measures have played important parts in the achievement of lowered incidence of the reportable diseases, year in and year out, as seen in San Francisco. It is important to remember, however, and I am sure that those of us who remember our own experience of the early years of this century, will appreciate the fact also, that we must not relinquish our efforts for the control of communicable diseases. We must strengthen our position and concentrate our efforts to attain greater effectiveness in a continual campaign to achieve the goals of preventive medicine in "preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting physical and mental efficiency through organized community effort."
Child health activities during 1935 were quite extensive. Nearly 60,000 physical examinations were carried out by school and health center physicians and more than 7200 immunizations were completed against smallpox, diphtheria, together. More than 30,000 children, unable to be provided with private dental care, were given care in the Dental Hygiene Division. Home visits, made by the 74 public health staff nurses, in addition to health center and school nursing duties, totalled more than 90,000.
In the technical services, also, large numbers of inspections were made; these comprised inspections of housing, plumbing and gas appliances, dairy ranches, pasteurizing plants, food stores, et cetera, on routine inspections as well as on the basis of complaints.
During 1935 the Department initiated legislation, which is now effective, providing for fees for milk inspection services, thereby bring- ing nearer to full realization the provisions of the New Freeholders' Charter, requiring that the various inspection services be self-sustain- ing through fees payable for the service. It is pointed out, however, in this same relation, that legislation has not yet been passed providing for inspection fees covering the cost of meat and market inspection as now carried out by the Department of Public Health.
Even though, for nearly two years, the Director of Public Health has limited admissions to the San Francisco Hospital to true medical and surgical emergencies, the average daily patient census in that institution has exceeded the limit of 950, necessarily imposed on the basis of the budget for the current fiscal year and the costs for opera- tion of the hospital to approximate 1050 at the present time. The Laguna Honda Home has continued to care for but slightly less than 2000 patients per day, and the Hassler Health Home for approximately 85 patients per day. The Emergency Hospital Service provided emer- gency care for 65,000 during the year.
I am confident that you, as well as I, recognize the excellent quality of the work done by the Department of Public Health, but I want to emphasize, also, that I have had no little pleasure and personal satis- faction, which I believe you will share, in the knowledge that San BYancisco's Department of Public Health has received national recog- nition for good work and efficiency. The American College of Surgeons, holding their first clinical congress in the West in 1935, chose San Francisco because of its excellent hospital facilities.
Not the least of these was our own San Francisco Hospital. The comment that has come as a result of this meeting has been most commendatory, for the parts played by the Department of Public Health and the San FYancisco Hospital, particularly.
All San Franciscans may well be proud of the high prestige estab- lished by San Francisco's Department of Public Health.
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8. 1936. 63
Juvenile Probation Department.
The report of the Chief Probation Officer R. R. Miller, covering the fiscal year 1934-35, indicates an increase both in volume and expendi- tures, compared with the previous fiscal year. During 1934-35, a total of 1597 cases passed through the court, involving the care of 3366 children, as of June 30, 1935. The Detention Home during the fiscal year cared for 1742 children as against 1848 of the previous year.
The budget allotment for 1934-35 was $575,000, of which $553,514 was actually expended. Reimbursements from the State, parents, etc., amounted to $169,509. This showed a substantial decrease over the expenditures of the previous year, which totaled $561,341. The cost of State School commitments was $16,650 against the $20,000 allotted this office. The duties of this office have been performed competently and economically.
County Welfare Department.
The County Welfare Department has the administration of State and County Aid to the Needy Blind and the Needy Aged and Half-orphan Aid for children living in their own homes with their widowed mothers.
This department, in November, 1935, had under its care 269 blind persons, the cost of whose care totaled $8,937.50 for that month. Of this amount, 50 per cent will be returned to the county by the State.
There were 469 families served through the Half-orphan Aid section of this department, involving 1076 children. The amount paid for the care of these children during November was $19,983.79, and of this amount approximately 55 per cent is to be refunded by the State.
The list of the aged has greatly increased since passage of the amended State law covering Old Age Security, which became effective in September. The November figures show 2133 aged receiving aid totaling $61,789.54, as compared with $34,658.85 in October, 1934. The State will refund 50 per cent of this amount to the county.
The staff of the Department, under the able direction of Miss Eugenie Schenk, has been doubled, principally to meet the additional work Involved through the increase in Old Age Security applications. With the influx of hundreds of new applications, the task has been difficult. The work is now well organized, however, and investigations of all qualifying applications under way. From September 15th, when the new law became effective, until the end of November, 466 old-age cases had been recommended for aid.
I wish to commend the formation of clubs in the three divisions, blind, aged and widows, the purpose being to promote a better under- standing between themselves and the Department staff. The three groups are self-governing and are interesting themselves in bettering conditions, improved legislation and increased understanding in general, and particularly in the classes they represent. They have speakers and social gatherings, and make an altogether fine contribution to the life of the community. This department is breasting its increasing problems most satisfactorily.
Coroner.
The Department of the Coroner, Dr. T. B. W. Leland, had an unusually active year, there having been 2578 cases, or 264 more than in 1934. Suicides numbered 202, being 14 less than in the previous year; autopsies performed, 1867, or 166 more than in the last report; inquests, 2504, an increase of 423.
Coroner Leland reports 111 motor vehicle fatalities as against 106 In the year 1934, and four deaths of children under 15 years of age, as compared with eight, the previous year.
The Coroner's ofiice is one of the most economical and efficiently conducted departments in the municipality.
Purchasing Department. The Purchasing Department occupies an important and strategic position in our government. A large proportion of the cost of govern-
64 WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 1936.
ment is represented by the cost of materials, supplies, equipment and contractual service. Our charter recognizes purchasing as one of the major functions of municipal management and provides for the full development and advantages through centralized control. The care and skill exercised in buying is reflected in the operating costs of all de- partments. During the past twelve months our purchases were divided among eighty-five definite classifications. The purchases were the result of the receipt of 56,700 requisitions from our city and county depart- ments and are exclusive of requisitions received from the State Emerg- ency Relief Administration, San Francisco Emergency Relief Organiza- tion and the Public Works Administration. The budget for the Buying Division of the Purchasing Department is approximately $28,500 for the past year. Considering the fact that the Department spent approxi- mately $5,500,000 in the twelve months period, the actual cost, per dollar expended, is less than six-tenths of one per cent, to cover the cost of negotiating the purchase, a trifling expense, compared to the direct savings achieved.
The purchasing unit of the City and County is departmental in its makeup and in addition to the buying division it consists of repair shops for the maintenance of the municipality's automotive equipment, garages, warehouses, storerooms and a gas and oil service station.
The Department, by virtue of Charter provisions,