The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, May 28, 1895, Page 14

A 14 £ THE SAN FRANCISCO CALL,' TUESDAY, MAY 28, 1895. KIPLING'S READY BOTTLE The True Private Mulvaney Says His Biographer Was Liberal. McMANUS' THREE WAR MEDALS The Hero of the “Black Tyrones” Now an Expressman at Hayes and Laguna Streets. Tare CaLL's exclusive publication Sunday morning of the biographical sketch of William McManus, who was undoubtedly the original character from which Rud- yard Kipling drew the inspiration and material for his famous stories of Private Mulvaney, has created something of a sen- sation in the literary centers, both here and in the East. The Carv's article was telegraphed to the Eastern newspapers, and from there much of the story found its way across to London, even at the cost of cable tolls, and not only have the literary centers been in- terested in the CALL’s international literary “scoop,” but the thousands, almost mil- lions, of readers who have been fascinated by the wonderfully clever character draw- ings and droll tales of Kipling’s hero of the Black Tyrones, have been almost equally captivatea with this strange but true story of the real Private Mulvaney—who is now a teamster by occupation, with head- quarters on the street corner at Hayes and Laguna. Everybody in the neighborhood knows him, and everybody who knows him likes him as much as did Kipling, though none but a Kipling dare attempt his portrayal. His home on Alemany street is a modest little cottage, but it is neat and tidy with- in, showing that the real Dinah Shadd is as neat and smart as her husband, and Kipling has said that he “is the smartest man on dress parade.” But she is not the Dinah Shadd of fic- tion—William MecManus indignantly de- niesit. “It is thrue I was a corp’ril in thim days that Kipling tells about, but the tale I told him the night we lay in camp when we ought to have been on helping the Ghoorkhas was not my courting story, but that of a chum in the same regiment. “We knew Kipling was a-taking notes all the time, but there was a little news- paper in Central India that he used to write them things for and I never thought they would get any further.” =And Kipling himself tells of the sus- picions aroused by his notebook. He men- tions it _particularly in the ‘“Three Mus- keteers,’’ after Mulvaney, Otheris and Learoyd, ‘privates in B Company of a line regiment, and personal friends of mine,” had told him how they prevented “p’rades av Thursdays.” “But young mon, what's t’ notebook for?” and Mulvaney answers: “This time next month we’re in the ‘Sherapis.” 'Tisimmortal fame the gentle- man’s goin’ to give us.” And sure enough, Kipling gave him more fame than even Kipling may have | dreamed of in those d They were the | days before Mulvaney, or McManus, won his medals—the proudest emoluments of a line soldier, and that years later should win him a place of Lionor in the dress pa- rade of the San Francisco McMahon Guards. They were all given to him at the same time, after the campaign in Cen- tral India, when he re-enlisted against the advice of Colonel Stewart. “Before the regiment leit Dungeree Green for Liverpool,” said William Me- Manus last evening, “‘the colonel sent for me, and I had no notion of what he wanted of me until I got there. Then he called me inside and got out a bit of a white box and opened it. ““ ‘Here are three medals for you, Private McManus,” he said, and he pinned them on_.d I remember almost the very words he said. “‘This one is due for the Indian cam- paign, McMan he said. ‘Every soldier of her M who lands nere and is honorably discharged is entitled to it. This one is for personal bravery in savin, the life of Colonel Shower at Jancey, an this one is for good conduct in camp, in barracks and in action.” And as he pinned the last one his eyes winked a little I thought to myself, and I always had a notion he knew I was a devil at all times, and no better conducted than I ought to be. Then he gave me the fifty rupees that each man got as his sharein taking the treasure at Jancey. o “How much all the treasure was I don’t know, but it was something immense. I know it was told that the Crown got thou- sands of pounds out of it, besides what was given to the army. All the officers got something. Their share was in proportion to their rank, and the lowest officer got more than twice what the private’s share amounted to. Then there were 2000 and more native troops, and all of them got 30 Tupees apiece.” “Bein’ what I am,” Private Mulvaney once said to his famous biographer, “‘wid no good-conduc’ pay an’ a devourin’ thirst—'" and then the private told histrue failing, and a failing that has not abated with fiis years, though wm{mred to many another man of his age William McManus seems to be none the worse for this thirst. And maybe it was this thirst that, when assuaged by the contents of Kipling’s bottle of quart of ale, unloosed a tongue that told many a tale the whole world has laughed or wept over. “Kipling always had a bottle with him,” ul?'s cManus, “which was not strange at all for that country, for 2 man can’t live without the stuff down there. But Kip- ling’s bottle or his cad of ale was always at the service of any soldier he met, and I used to think he liked to hear the stories of the barracks-rooms just because they A STRE WINNER: AXND You Cax BET oN IT, Is THE “CAPTAIN MARRYAT” CIGAR. “FINEST BEYOND QUESTION.” HARBURGER, HOMAN & CO., New York, Makers. f. LEVI & CO., 117-119 Market St., Distributing Agents, amused him. He didn’t always take note® and as I tell yon, for a long time we didn’t know who he was. ¥ “But all that Kipling ever wrote about me never made me the marked man that that article in the CALL did. Man alive, everybody’s been at me since then, and wherever I go people want to speak to me now and see the man that Kipling chris- tened Private Mulvaney.” MoOLINTOOK'S FEAR. He Thinks That Loomis Was Threaten- ing Him. Private Detective McClintock was on the stand yesterday in the case of Loomis against Somers. He recited the old tale of how he was shot at the Russ House by Loomis, and in the midst of his story started and insisted that Loomis was threatening him as_he sat in court. His attorney denied this, however, and the matter passed. McClintock also intimated that Loomis’ attorney (Watt) had suggested to him to leave the country. The suggestion had been made in a saloon, where Watt was *‘treating’’ the witness. Watt in cross- examination showed that the words of the suggestion if made at all were uttered in a jocular way, and he intimated that the witness was always “holding him up” for small loans. There was some testimony as to Attor- ney Hudson encouraging witness to hold out for $1000 for the book of evidence Somers had asked him to discover, and saying that if he (McClintock) would help to “‘pene- tentiary’’ Somers he (Hudson) would give him the book free. LEE FAIRCHILD'S LAUGHS, He Provokes Many of Them at the Metropolitan Temple Last Night. N, ~ Y A Description He Wrote of Skookum That Cost Him a Sit- uation. Lee Fairchild, Mrs. H. Lewis and the Mandolin Club of the high school enter- tained a small but select audience in Metropolitan Temple last night. The entertainment was given under the auspices of the Portia Law Club. Mr. Fairchild was the drawing card. He was funny, not only because he said he in- tended to be funny, but that the andience thought he was funny and laughed. His ciaims of being a hypnotist, however, were vindicated, though he did not choose to smile in concert with his hearers. The Mandolin Club played with skill and effect and the singing of Mrs. Lewis called for several encores. Mr. Fairchild first told his hearers how he felt when he was an actor and next gave them a lesson in modern oratory. “Fifteen years ago a speaker could talk as long as he wanted to, a day and a night if he wanted to,” said Mr. Fairchild, “But the man who would presume to talk more than ten minutes to-day ougit to be hanged. “When I wasin Washington I wrote a boom article about the town of Skookum. | It cost me my iob. ‘Skookum,’I said, ‘is situated on both sides of a river without a | bridge. The streets are shady, but the woods are full of the same kind. There is only one live man in the town, and the other man is not accommodating enough to die. (Since writing the last clause 1 learned that he was shot to-day.) The railroad facilities are not first class, but we expect three roads in the near future. We have set aside ten acres for depot sites and freight yards—the town it- self covers half an acre. It is dry six months and tries to rain the other six months, but don’t succeed. The river which flows between the town and itself is called Skunk River. It flows along smoothly, but is principally occupied in trying to run away from itself. It has (water) power enough to ran a hundred mills, and incidentally, all the inhabitants out of the town. The inhabitants of Skoo- kum have gotten up a petition to Congress to widen the river, so that steamboats can pass the place from which it took its name.’ ““As T said, if you have never been through a boom, you don’t know anything abouta boom or anything else.”” He then spoke of booms in general, rusted railway tracks and the coyotes, whose lonesome midnight howls ‘made night hideous and full of nightmares around the ruins of deserted boom towns, and likened those nocturnal coyotish snarls to the “snarling pennings” of Am- brose Bierce. “I was brought up on the farm with the other crops,” he continued under the head of crogs; *‘and the reason that I am not better than I am is because my father did not pay as much attention to me as he did to the other crops.” The audience was dismissed in good humor. MARCINKOWSKI'S “ WIFE." She Was Not Legally Married, and He Loses by It. Judge Murphy yesterday rendered a judgment in favor of Mary Carlisle, ad- ministratrix of the estate of Isabella Marcinkowski, against Joseph Marcin- kowski. This was a suit involving the legal bar- rier of miscegenation. Isabella F. Marcin- kowski died intestate on July 28, 1893, owning a house on Pine street, near Mason. On February 27, 1895, her hus- band, Joseph, entered the Inrnpefl:y, and the administratrix, Mrs. Carlisle, promptly brought a suit for ejectment, assessing her damages at $1000. Joseph, who is a tailor, claimed the ownership of the house on the ground that he married Isabella in 1877, nmf lived with heruntil the time of her death; that he had contributed $4000 toward the building of the house, and having lost and repurchased it, he had placed it in Mrs. Marcinkowski's name, believing her to be his lawful wife. At that point bis case failed, for it was proved that Isabella Marcinkowski was a mulatto, and the law did not Tecognize any union between the parties as marriage, 'he judgment against Mnrcinkowsgki was ‘‘for the plaintiff for possession of the premises, and $50 damages for retention thereof.” TrE Royal Baking Powder avoids all de- composition of the flour as caused by yeast rising, thereby saving a large percentage of its most nutritive elements, making the flour go one-fourth further. —————— Chess Match Postponed. A number of enthusiastic chess players as- sembled in the rooms of the Mechanics’ Insti- tute last night to guard their kings from the attacks of the knights of Victoria, B. C. Six local players surrounded the tables at 6:30 and decided {o advance the king’s knight’s pawn as a starter. The fact was turned over to the telegraph operator in the corner of the room, but the manipulator of the . ke: could get mo response from the island. BLUE COATS INSPECTED, Officers and Men Paraded on Van Ness Avenue Yes- terday. NEW UNIFORMS AND HELMETS. The Police Commissioners Pleased With the Appearance of the Men. The inspection by the Police Commis- sioners of the employes of their depart- ment of the City Government took place on Van Ness avenue at noon yesterday, and the finest body of men to be found among the peace officers of any City in the | world, in the opinion of Commissioner Gunst, marched and countermarched for | the edification of their superiors and inci- dentally for that of hundreds of citizens who gathered to view the ceremony. There were 425 patrolmen in line, but the total number of bluecoats was swelled to nearly 500 by the presence of captains, ser- geants and corporals and nearly a score of upper office men. Though the inspection had been an- nounced for 12 o’clock, Van Ness avenue was crowded with spectators long before that hour, and Captain Dunlevy, who with forty men from the Harbor front was the first to arrive, had considerable difficulty in getting his men in position. Later, how- ever, a squad of mounted officers succeeded in keeping clear a space sufficient for the evolutions. Company A, the ‘‘Grenadier Company” of the force, assembled at the new City Hall, and_headed by Captain Douglass, Drillmaster Marshall and Special Officer Heitlar, drummer from Battery C, Second Infantry of the National Guard, marched in imposing array to the inspection-ground. Company B, under the command of the veteran Captain Short, was late in arriv- ing. It is composed of the officers sta- tioned south of Market street, and the de- lay was owing to the greater distance the men had to march toreach the rendezvous. The line when formed extended over three blocks. Before it stood the captains and the sergeants in command of platoons, and in the rear individual officers who had been selected as fileclosers because of their former experience in the militia or in the regular army. The captains wore short | six-buttoned” blouses ornamented with shoulder-straps and with department and service stripes in gilt braid about the cuffs. Their heads were surmounted by caps, on the front of which, within a goid wreath, appeared the word “Captain” in gold let- ters. Their stars, too, differed materially from the ordinary police badge. The sergeants were attired similarly, ex- cept that the word ‘‘sergeant” appeared on the caps instead of ““captain.” The patrol- men wore their long blue coats tightly but- toned, and helmets on the front of which, within a silver wreath, appeared each one's number. Every member of the force wore white gloves, and_though the white belts | and clubs with which they will be equipped by next Thursday were lacking, the gen- eral effect was very fine. ‘When the line was at length complete, in column of platoons, in columns of fours and b{ twos. Back and forth they passed till all were ready to stop, when they were ranged in close order with the Commis- sioners in front, and a_photograph of the entire command was taken. Chief Crowley yesterday wore his new uniform with the stars of a brigadier-gen- eral. His coat is a double-breasted eight- buttoned blouse, and his cap_is banded with gold. A gold wreath in the front of his head gear surrounded his title of ‘“chief’’ in gold letters. Mr. Crowley did not wear his sword yesterday, but promises to don it on Decoration day-. An incident in which mounted Officer Hanley figured furnished amusement for the sgectawrs, and emphasized the fact that the police have not yet become accus- tomed to their new headgear. Hanley was ordered by the Chief to clear the teams from an adjacent block, and he started for the scene with his horse on a run. The ghan, Spillane, Tobin, Price, Christianson. Company C, Captain Dunlevy—Platoon commanders, Sergeants Maloney, Helms, Mahoney. The Police Commissioners expressed themselves as well pleased with the im- provement in theappearance of the men which has been effected by the adoption of the new uniforms. Mr, Gunst, to whom largely belongs the credit of having in- augurated the change, holds that a finer body of men cannot now be found in the police force of any city in the world. TENDERED HIS RESIGNATION. Policeman George T, Smith Would Not Wear & Helmet. When the new orders were issued some of the patrolmen grumbled about havin, to wear heimets and their coats button up, and a few declared that they would rather resign than obey the orders. CHIEF OF POLICE CROWLEY IN HIS NEW UNIFORM, [Sketched from life for the “Call” by Kahler.] ,/nl‘/} | violent exercise dislodged his helmet. He tried in vain to catch it, and when a small boy rescued it from the dust the crowd | cheered. e | The police have been drilling under Cap- | tain Marshall of Company A of the First Infantry only five months, and during The feeling of dissatisfaction gradually wore away and only one man has shown that he meant what he said. He is Patrol- man George T. Smith, and his resignation from the department was tendered yester- day morning. Smith is & young member of the CHIEF OF POLICE AND POLICE COMMISSIONERS REVIEWING THE FOROE ON VAN NESS AVENUE. [Sketched on the spot by a “Cali" artist.] the Police Commissioners, who had watched its formation from their carriage, alighted, and in single file, headed by the Chief, walked about the line. As ‘they gsssed each man they glanced sharply at is uniform to make sure that it was of regulation material and cut, and two or three unfortunates whose clothing did not come up to the requirements were directed to buy new aniforms, After the inspection the Commissioners returnea to their carriage, and the whole force passed in review. The men marched that time the individual officers have averaged one hour's drill a week. The ! showing made yesterday was therefore very creditable, for the men kept step well and marched with a good alignment. In the review the officers marched in platoons commanded as follows: Company A, Captain Douglass—Platoon commanders, Sergeants Birdsall, Gillan, Flanders, Robinson, Wittman, Nash, Mar- tin. Company B, Captain Short—Platoon commanders, Sergeants Conboy, Mona- Vancouver chessmen learned of the break and agreed to gather a team together and pla) over the wire. The local players waited un ;;ugl ll‘) g‘;log, and as nodulm had assembled e the main R L and secondary matches ————— A Relic of the Davie Ferry. Judge Seawell yesterday rendered a decision s; t::evuue of Alexander Hay et ol, vs, the avie Ferry and Transportation Company et al The judgment was agalnst the detendant Whit: ney, Standard and Oakland Transter, as fol- lows: InfavorofJ. O. Dunsmuir, $109115; J.,b Taylor, $108 67; C. J. Hendry's Son & Co., 24 25; Hay & Wright, $963° 80; Pacifi arine Railway and Ways Company, $171 36 Osakland Iron Works, $876 41; and that the money in the hands of the Alameda Sheriff arising from the sale of the “Frank Silva’ be applied 1o satisfy the judgments of Joan O, fls)::imcu‘;r. J. P. Taylor and CharlesJ. Hendry’s ——————— THEY manipulate paper into every conceiv able shape; print or bind it, Mysell & 521 Clay sirest. TSR HINTS OF HOW THE OLD HELMETS OF THE FORCE MIGHT BE . UTILIZED. [Skétched by @ “Call artist) force. He was appointed on July 6, 1894, less than a year ago. THE NEW TAX LAW, Judge Sanderson Decides It in Favor of the Assessor and It Will Be Appealed. Judge Sanderson yesterday rendered a verdict in favor of Assessor Siebe in the test case brought against him by Rode & Co. This is a suit to test the matter of the collection of personal taxes under the new law approved last March by the Legisla- ture. According to this law the Assessor may demand the amount, of taxes on per- sonal property immediately on rendering a statement of assessment, and should the owner refuse or omit to pay, he can author- ize the Sheriff to at once seize the property, providing that it does not constitute a lien upon realty. . The confention of the Sheriff’s attorneys is that the new law has worked well in the interior, and only sets San Francisco on a uniform footing with her sister counties. Theg also say that a taxpayer may after- ward receive back any excess by provin his grievance before the Board of Equal- ization. The contention of the other side isto the effect that the law is discrimina- tive, and does not give the citizen the ben- efit of due process of law. On_these grourds, among others, it is claimed to be unconstitutional. The matter will be taken to the Supreme Court without delay. ——e———— TrE United States Government Chemist, after an examination for the Indian De- artment, made the emphatic statement hat “The Royal Baking Powder is the purest in quality and highest in strength of any baking powder of which I have knowl{dge.” Governor Blaisdell’s Suit. Judge Seawell yesterday gave judgment for $3262 02 in favor of the Bowers Rubber Com- pany Ag;lnn Governor H. G. Blaisdell of Ne- vada. The plaintift sued for $4558 02, being a ‘balance on goods delivered between January 3 ana December 20, 1893. The Governor claimed that all the goods were not of sufficient:y good quality. ———— . The Boys Are Aroused Upon the subject of pure salt water in which to swim by the agitation of the sub- ject by the Crystal Baths, which com- pletely empties the tank each night and refills’ with pure, warm sea water. ————————— A New Department. Furniture moved, stored, packed and shi at low rates by Morton Special mfi»‘z‘fgv. Only yenced men em- loyed; equipment class. Offices, 31 Eury street -:n'l 408 Taylor street. 5 DEFECTIVE STREET WORK, Grand Jurors Make Discoverles on a Tour of Investi- gation. PROSECUTION MAY RESULT. Poor Bitumen Used and No Cement Mixed In the Concrete Foundations. The street contracting firms of Flinn & Treacy and Crummey & Hogan will re- ceive a little attention from the Grand Jury for their work on the public streets of this City. Koreman W. H. Gagan and W. J. Newman, Edwin Danforth and Monson Russell of the Street Committee of ‘the Grand Jury drove about the City yester- day inspecting work done on the streets and they expressed themselvesas surprised at the apparent neglect of the Superin- tendent of Streets Ashworth in permitting specifications to be ignored. Property-owners have for many years complained that they were at the mercy of contractors who paved streets in front of their places in a wretched manner and then charged higher prices than good work justly - commanded. Still no one took any steps to correct the abuse until a few weeks ago. Flinn & Treacy were re- cently awarded the contract for bitumin- izing the street in front of some property on Hayes street, between Fillmore and Steiner, which belongs to Mayor Sutro. When the Mayor learned that the work was not being done according to specifica- tions he objected strongly and declared his intention not to pay for the work as the concrete foundation was laid in a loose manner and no cement was mixed with the rock and gravel. Mayor Sutro instructed his financial sec- retary, George T. Gaden, to make an in- vestigation of the bituminizing of streets in other parts of the City. Gaden foi- lowed out the instructions, though the investigation seems to have been confined 5rmcxpnlly to contracts secured by Flinn Treacy. The result of the investigation showed that the contractors secured a high price for what the grand jurors who were out yesterday thought was very poor work. This was in the case of bitu- men pavements especially, for the man- ner in which the work had been performed 'was sufficient to make it appear that bitu- minous rock was virtually valueless for paving purposes. . The investigation brought to lighta pecu- liar operation which is being carried on in South San Francisco. A hill is being cut down forty to fifty feet presumably to Froperly grade a street, but _the Grand urors smiled as they looked at the cut being made through almost solid rock, when to them, at least, it appeared there was not the slightest reason in the world for the cutting unless it might be to carry out a scheme to give some contractors a chance to grind money out of property-owners and furnish the contractors with a large lot of good rock thich they are using to fill in another place. The investig'fiting party, consisting of Foreman W. H. Gagan, W.J. Newman, chairman of the Street Committee of the Grand Jury, and Edwin Danforth and Monson Russell, members of the com- mittee, were directed to a few of the places where bad street work has been discovered, George W. Eider and George T.Gaden acting as guides. The places picked out to show to the members of the Grand Jury were the worst found in the different branches of street work. The first place visited was Elwood street, an alley off O’Farrrell, between Mason and Powell. The specifications called for two and a half inches of bitumen on a concrete foundation. The investigation showed that in the middle of the street the bitu- men was only one inch thick. In another place it was only one and a fourth inches thick. The thickest place found was in the gutter, where the bitumen was two and a fourth inches thick. George T. Gaden said: ‘‘This was one of the best paid for pieces of work done in the City. The price con- tracted for was 22 cents a foot. 1t is quite evident that the contractors did not use half as much bitumen as the contract called for, and no one knows how poor the concrete foundation underneath is. Still the work was accepted by Superintendent Ash- worth’s deputy, James A. Dobbie, on Feb- ruary 25 last. *‘The fact that the work was accepted shows that the deputy was negligent, that he was paid to make a favorable report or that he had instructions from Superin- tendent of Streets Ashworth to pass the work. At all events, the illegally p formed work was accepted, nudg Su tendent Ashworth is responsible. This is one of the things which have caused con- tractors to compiain that Flinn & Treacy were the favored friends of Superintendent Ashworth. The other contractors would not be allowed to do work in such a ['wretched manner. Therefore, they had no chance to be awarded contracts, as they would have to put in a bid high enough to enable them to honestly carry out their contract. This particular contract was let to Flinn & Treacy, but® A. J. Raisch put down the bituminous rock for them.’’ ‘While driving out through the Mission the party passed along Stevenson street, or San Carlos avenue, and Bartlett street. A bituminous rock pavement was laid on San Carlos avenue, between Eighteenth and Nineteenth streets, two and a half years ago by the San Francisco Paving Compan%, of which A. J. Raisch is man- ager. The contract called for a pavement of 234 inches of bituminous rock on six inches of concrete. The street was found to be in such a wretched condition that the specifications of the contract could not have been carried out. The street was full of holes, and they showed to the minds of the grand jurors that only a slight coating of poor bituminous rock had been placed over an apology for a concrete foundation. San Carlos avenue is but little used by teams, and only by carriages or delivery wagons. Still in two and a half years the bituminous rock on agparently one-third of the street had crumbled away, exposing a gravel foundation that was quickly hol- lowed out. 3 ‘W.J. Newman, who was in charge of the party, did not hesitate to express his feelings in strong terms. is indignation increased when the investigators reached Bartlett street. In front of the noted Em- manuel Baptist Church, where the pave- ment has just been laid, there are some holes and the bitumen in many places shows symptoms of early decay. On Bartlett street, between Twenty-third and Twenty-fifth, the condition of the pavement is worse. It is quite evident that the laying of the bitumen was done by persons who did not understand the work. The rock was of a very poor qual- ity. Apparently it was the ‘waste stuff taken from the surface of a mine and when put down was overheated. At all events, 1t has run, sunk and cracked, and soon the whole street will be full of holes. All the jurors expressed themselves as surprised at the way the rock was spoiled, and they said it was no wonder that some people called bituminous rock ‘‘poultice pavement.” All in the party were strongly in fayor of bituminous rock as a pavement, but they realized how the trickery of con- tractors had about ruined some of the streets paved with it. . The greatest surprise given the inspect- ing grand jurors was at the corner of Mis- sion and Army streets. There Flinn & Treacy are putting down a bituminous- rock pavement. The specifications call for eight inches of concrete. The contractors were about to put down a lot of rock and sand without any cement. They learned last. Saturday that Gaden was going to have an investigation made and they hurriedly scattered six barrels of cement over the sand and pieces of rock. But that will not save them. One blow of a pickax was sufficient to show that the concrete foundation was but a sham. There was a thin paper-like crust of cement over a lot of earth and small stones. The specifications of the contract had been wantonly violated. This was found to be especially true in the middle of the street, just along the cartrack. Where the greatest strain would be on the bituminous pavement there wasno founda- tion but that of loose gravel. 3 The grand jurors turned from the sight in disgust to inspect the catch basins or cesspools at each of the four corners of the street. The specifications call for a depth of 6 feet 9 inches for each catch basin. Actual measurement to the top of the curb showed a depth of 5 feet 3 inchesonly. The basins did not come within a foot and a half of the contract. This meant a big profit to the contractors. These violations of the contract could not ha;:ren without the knowledge of Sup- erintendent Ashworth’s deputy. All the members of the party were indignant over the revelations at that place. They walked to their buggy soberly and all were slow to speak. All BXfircssed their belief in Sup- erintendent Ashworth’s honesty, but they were deeply impressed with the fact that he must be held responsible for the work, This was especially the case with Edwin Danforth and Monson Russell, both of whom have known Ashworth for years. “I can’t believe that Mr. Ashworth has any knowledge of this,” said Mr. Dan- forth, “but I am going to call on him and tell him about it.” “Soam I,” replied Mr. Russ, “for I don’t believe he would countenance the acceptance of such work.” Mr. Danforth said: “I have been given to understand that Mr. Ashworh is in no way under the control of the bosses, and that he does not have to truckle to them. I think he has said he has none of the bosses’ men in his office, but there is cer- tainly dishonesty in the street department. I:am sorry Mr. Ashworth is not along with us so that he could see this himself. Of course, it is his business to personally look into these matters, so he is morally responsible.’’ 5 A long ride across San Francisco fol- lowed, until the corner of M street and Ninth avenue South was reached. The junction of these streets is in a deep cut with solid stone walls running up thirty to forty feet on three sides. Gaden and Elder brought the grand jurymen to the place to show them what a mockery of comply- ing with the conditions of the contract to macadamize the street, but the absurdity of cutting down & bill to put M street on a lower and more level grade struck the in- spectors as amusing. street South leads to nowhere, hardly anybody liveson it, and the grand jurors did not see the slight- est reason in the world for making the cut through the hill. Looking at a house which stood hlns- ing over tie cliff, forty feet above his head, Mr. Russell said: “If I lived in that house I would give up my lot rather than have to pay the contractors for this. alleged street improvement. It will cost that poor fellow more than his property is worth. He will have to have a balloon fo get up to his house from the street.” Mr. Danforth, in a laughing way, said: “Oh, this is a good job. Itisa job indeed to give the contractors a chance to make double money. Apparently they will make the property-owners pay well for this excavation, and evidently they are hauling all their rock away to sell to some- body else. What in the world anybody can find for an honest excuse to cut down this hill I can’t see. But I suppose it was done to give somebody work.” An investigation was made of the way in which the macadam on M street was laid. The specifications were as follows: Between the gutters will be spread a layer of sound, hard rock, not less than six (6) inches in depth, broken ‘into fragments as nearly reg- ular in shepe as practicable, which shall not measure more than six (6) inches in any direc- tion, nor less than an average thickness of two (2) inches; after this has been spread over the entire longth of the improvement it must be thoroughly rolled. Upon the first layer thus prepared will be spread a second layer of hard rock four (4) inches in depth, well broken, in pieces measuring on ~an’ average not more than two (2) inches in any direction, This second layer to be thoroughly rolled in the same manner as the preceding. Upon the second layer will be spread a third layer of fine hard rock two (2) inches in depth, to be well watered; it is then to be cov- ered with fine hard rock (1) inch in depth that will pass through & half-inch screen, and to be well watered and rolled, and on completion the roadway to present a uniform surface, with arise of one (1) inch in every three (3) feet from the center of the gutterway to the center of the roadway. Crummey & Hogan, the contractors, ap- parently made no attempt to fulfill the re- quirement of the contract. They blasted out the rock in the hill and carried it off and hauled a mixed lot of decomposed *‘red rock,” earth and clay, and dumped it on the street to a depth of several inches. No attempt was made to put the large stones on the bottom, as reguired by the contract. The pickax showed that two or three inches below the surface there was a mix- ture of mud and clay, with some small pieces of soft red rock. Hugh Crummey, an ex-Buckley lamb, came up to explain why he had not paid any attention to the specifications. He said: * When this Eacks down it will be just as good as if I ad followed the specifications.”” ‘When asked why he had failed to carry out his contract and had done only as best suited himself, Crummey could give no answer. He argued at length on the possibility of red rock making a good road- bed until Mr. Danforth said in a sarcastic way: “Well, I suppose you are right. No doubt the macadam will be sufficient for all the teaming that will be done way out here.” Mr. Newman asked: “Why was even this macadam put down up to the base of this 40-foot cliff? You must know that a great deal of the work will have to be done over again after the cutting of this cliff is completed. The roadbed will be virtually destroyed by falling rock.” Crummey had no reply to make. He could only talk on red rock. The grand jurors drove away both amused and disgusted. The ‘‘job” by which contractors were allowed to cut down a colmtrY hill, cart away the rock and then pile a lot of red rock and mud on the street in the place of macadam was such a brazen piece of business that they could not help laughing. Notwithstanding all these things Super- intendent Ashworth accepted the street, and he has made a vigorous fight to get the bill for paving it through the Mayor’s office. The investigating party then went to Bernice street, between Twelfth and Thir- teenth, where Flinn & Treacy, aided b their subcontractor and A. J. Raisch, ha laid a bituminous rock pavement. This work was better done than in other streets, though it showed a depth of only two any two and a quarter inches in places. Gaden and Elder said their business com- pelled them to go to the City Hall, but they offered their services to the grand jurors any other morning. The jurors thought they had seen the worst of what the experts could offer, so they declined and gave up the investigation. “The com- mittee will meet " to-morrow to make a report on the matter. The Contractors’ Side, The members of the contracting firm of Crummey & Hogan positively assert that they have not violated the specifications of their contract. M. C. Hogan said last night: “In regard to our work in South San Francisco, on the crossing of Ninth avenue and M street, I wish to state that property-owners have said it is one of the best pieces of work that was ever com- pleted in that portion of town. The work was accepted by the Superintendent ot Streets a?t_er We presented a certificate from the City and ounty Surveyor. The terms of the specifications were fully com- plied with.” Mr, Crummey said: ‘y‘I was there when the Grand Jury came. Mr. Gaden said the work had not been done in accordance with specificationsand that the rock should be tested by the rattler test. Itold him he was mistaken, and when I slslhowed him the specifications he confessed enwasAwrong, as the rattler test is only C{: ed for south of Colusa street. During :G e time of my conversation with the rand Jury, Mr. Gaden tried to hurry them away without givi show them my yer giving me a chance to