The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, July 22, 1896, Page 16

16 THE SAN FRANCISCO CALL, WEDNESDAY, JULY 22, 1896. DANGER LURKS BENEATH THE PAVEMENT, Channel - Street Sewer on the Swift Road to Ruin. CRUMBLING OF THE ARCH Jarring to Pieces Under the Wheels of Southern Pa- cific Trains. ELDER’S STARTLING DISCOVERY Track-Builders Hastening to Move the Steel Rails to a Place of Greater Safety. George W. Elder, the official expert of the Street Committee of the Board of Bupervisors, has made a great discovery. The Channel-street sewer, he has ascer- tained, is cracked in several places. Bricks have dropped from the &rch, mortar has fallen off. This sewer is the drainage outlet for more square miles of populated territory who were employed by the Street Depart- ment. These men were cleaning the sewer, to prevent it from becoming clogged up. While they were in the sewer a Southern Pacific freight train rolled heavily over their heads. The walls of the sewer quaked and trembled and the floor of it was jarred violently. The demonstration was so striking that the Street Depart- ment employes, thinking that discretion was the beter part of valor, made a pre- cipitate retreat and declined to return to work in the sewer. Also from other sources of information it had come to the knowledge of THE CALL that, following this alarm, which was promptly communicated to ‘the head of the Street Department, the Southern Pa- cific Company was notified that their trains were in danger because of the cracks in the sewer. About that time the cars began to move so slowly that every one noticed the snail’s pace and remarked it. No one vouchsafed any information as a matter of course. A painted board having upon it the word “slow” was placed be- tween the main track above the sewer and the side track, a few feet to the south of the sewer. That order to the engineers is followed implicitly. Mr. Elder’s mission when he was found at Channel and Sixteenth streets was so manifest, in the light of information al- ready received, that he did notdeny it. He was at that place to acquire informa- tion and to observe the effect of passing trains. Not far below Sixteenth street there projects a manhole, only a few feet necessary to make a fill of possibly ten feet to provide a roadbed. At the outset seeing what was contemplated I said the rolling of heavy trains over the sewer would hurt it, and since the roadbed was put down 1 have kept careful watch. “The first sign to me that there was trouble was given by the slowing down of the trains. Then, as I have said, I sent in an expert to inspect and also make a personal inspection of the interior of the sewer. It is true thatthe workmen em- ployed by the Street Department to clean the sewer were frightened away when the sewer shook around them. They were afraid that they might be killed by masses of falling bricks. “The main track, over which the passen- ger and freight trains are run to and from San Jose, was formerly in the yard, and it was necessary, in order to run around in this direction, to make the fill above the sewer. “When the track was being laid I told some of the railroad people that they were inviting danger, but they seemea to think that I was mistaken, and said so. Ail the time I was contident that the track would damage the sewer. I haveseen the shaking of a manhole beside the track from some distance when a train was passing over the sewer. Only to-day have I become fully aware concerning the damage which has been accomplished. Workmen have refused to enter the sewer during the past three or four days because it was shaken s0. “The railroad trains are not moving here now st a greater speed than four miles per hoar as you have observed. The rail- road company is taking every precaution to avoid accidents. It would pe awkward to have a train fall through to the bottom of the sewer. The track is less than five feet wide, and the sewer is eleven feet wide, £0 that there is room for that to already to cause a collapse. ‘Only two years ago, the sewer, of course, being opeu, Mr. Helms, a grocer, got damages amount- ing to $1600 against tne City for water set back from the Channel-street sewer.” Train after train crept slowly along be- tween Ninth and Sixteenth streets vester- day. When afternoon came a large force of men was put to work by the Southern Pacific Company. The force tearing down the paintshop in the yards was doubled. Over a hundred men were set to work fill- ing in for the new track to be laid and the dirt flew with haste. The work will be pushed 8o that the main track may be moved to a safe place as soon as possible. Concerning the Channel-street sewer the following additional facts are learned at the office of the City and County Sur- veyor: The outlet is 8 feet 6 inches by 11 feet 6inches in dimensions. The height at Sixteenth street is only about 5 feet, and the breadth there is less. Formerly the tracks of the railroad ran about 20 feet from the sewer. The brickwork is in four sections, the length of the sections being respeotively, 620, 1587, 1458 and 415 feet. The total length of the brick structure is 4080.74 feet. The fall is about 8 feet to the mile. The sewer is round and is plastered over the bricks on the inside. HIS WIFg'S BAD TEMPER. Cigar-Dealer Lang Lays All His Family Troubles at His Spouse’s Door. The answer of Charles Lang, the Pine- street cigar-dealer, to the complaint in di- vorce of his wife, Bessie Lang, has been filed. . He denies the charges of his better haif that he dragged her about the house by ber hair; that he hit her with a chair; that he called her vile namss, or that dur- 1ng her illness he said he hoped she would die. He admits, however, that he did FOUR THOUSAND GORGEQUS WHEELS Will Be Ridden in the Illuminated Parade Saturday Night. BALLOONS WILL GO UP. Many Immense Bonfires Will Light the Way on Market Street. LADY BICYCLISTS IN LINE. Judge Campbell Will Lead Unattached Wheelm-n—Making Progress With Details. The cyclists demonstration on the 25th for new paved streets will undoubtedly be & most original and entertaining parade for several reasons. The Bay City Wheelmen promise special / The Street Committee of the Supervisors has discovered that the great Channel-street sewer has been dangerously cracked by the passage over it of heavy trains. Many square m:les are dependent on the integrity of the big drainage outlet and its collapse would also mean eXtreme peril to traffic. Company has taken the alarm. putting down a new track. The Southern Pacific Railroad The picture represents a force of men at Sixteenth and Channel Streets yesterday endeavoring to equalize the pressure on the sewer by In the meantime the utmost caution is exercised in running trains over the doubtful locality. in the city oi Sar Francisco than any other big drain here existing. All that portion of the City 1n the region of the | panbandle of the park, a large slice of ter- ritory south of McAllister street, the en- tire Mission, and in fact fully one-half of the densely populated portion of San Francisco, is much concerned in the integ- rity of the Channel-street sewer directly. The sewer was built in 1876. Twenty years it has served its purpose well. ‘Within the past two months it has been shattered. perbaps fatally, and by the trains of the Southern Pacific Company. The sewer is not alone in danger. The Southern Pacific Company’s trains crawl along at a snail’s pace on the main track between Sixteenth and Ninth streets. The construction department of the rail- road has fears that the cars may crush through the top of the seweras through an eggshell, and fall with passengers or freight to the bottom of the drain. The situation is conceded to be very serious and very novel. A vigorous search was made yesterday for Mr. Eider. He was found on the cor- ner of Sixteenth and Channel streets, in- tensely absorbed in watcoing some opera- tions upon the track above the sewer and upon the old paintshop of the Southern Pacific Company, which latter workmen were uemolishing as speedily as possible. A gang of trackmen stood on the track, not far from the oid paintshop, busied somewhat with work on the compara- tively new roadbed, which has been down only a few weeks. Mr. Elder at first was less communicative than the railroad em- ployes. Itwas known by the representa- tive of THE CALL, on the spot, that not many days ago there was a somawhat nsational exit from the sewer of men NEW TO-DAY. 75 vears of well earned fame stands to the credit of this Cramps, Colic, Chol- era Morbus, Di arrhoea, Dysentery and other ills of the stomach. Acts like a touch of magic. As harmless as milk. FRED BROWN C0., Philadelphia. from the main track. This has been ob- served to sway back and forth when trains ran at the old rate of speed, and was, in fact, one of the first manifestations con- cerning the shaking up which the railroad was giving the sewer. While the repre- sentative of THE CaLL looked on the whistle of a locomotive was heard in the distance. A few seconds later a passenger train from San Jose appeared. The sewer has its proper outlet at Ninth street and its beginning at Sixteenth street. Between these two points there is a distance of over 4000 feet, or, roughly estimated, about three-fourths of a mile. The train crossed Sixteenth street hardly moving, having steadily slackened 1ts speed for some distance before the cross- ing was reached. The engineer and fire- men were hanging out of opposite sides of the locomotive cab. The occupants of the baggage-car were in the door openings of that vehicle. They occupied these posi- tions all the time the wheels were drag- ging slowly along to Ninth street. The passengers seemed unconscious that there was any particular reason for this sudden and long spell of slow riding, but looked about curiously nevertheless. The section or track hands of the Southern Pacific Company who were in evidence watched the track and train alike keenly, suspending their work tem- porarily. One of the track-workers, a man evi- dently acquainted with the facts, ex- plained quite fully what was going on. The old paintshop is being torn dowa, he said, to make room for track-laying south of the present embankment, upon which at this point, there are two tracks and switches. “What is the need of this?” was asked. | ‘“The sewer is cracked.” “Whnat are the men going to do?"” “They are going to put down a new track 1o equalize the pressure upon the sewer and to take off the direct pressure.” The foundation of the old paintshop is at least ten feet below the level of the top of the present railroad embankment. Con- sequently at least that height of earth must be made there and the new bank will have to be extended from 2000 to 3000 feet at least. This work will be quite expen- sive. The fact was noted as signiticant of the dangers existing. “What do you know about this matter?’ was asked of Mr. Eider. “Well, I know that the sewer is cracked because I sent a man in there to make an inspection. The Street Department dia not give me the information, but I found out that there was trouble. The man who went into the sewer for me is one whom I can fully trust to report the facts fairly, and he is fully competent to judge of the facts, being a skilled mechanic. I have personally looked through the-sewer and bave satisfied myself by my own observa- tion that the sewer has been badly dam- aged. There are several cracks. One of them is very long. Others are shorter. Some pieces of brick have fallen or been shaken from the arch. The condition of the mortar shows that it fell lately, and there is no doubt that the cracks which I saw are fresh. *'L consider thisa serious matter. The Southern Pacific Company seems to be getting ready to move its tracks bafore the winter season, when the rains are sure to test the strength of the sewer, I have been studying and watching down here for several days, but I did not know posi- tively until to-day all the facts of which T am now possessed. I did not want to say anything until I was sure. “The main track of the railroad, which is above the sewer, has been in 1ts present position only about two months. It was George W. Elder, Expert of the Street Committee. Who Discovered the Danger- ous Condition of the Sewer. happen. The cracks that Isaw extend most of the way from Sixteenth street to Fourteenth. The arch is broken and bricks protrude, while some have fallen. The railroad men admit that they are shifting tracks to take the strain off the sewer. ‘‘A collapse in winter time of the sewer would be very serious. It would affect property-owners in an area embracing many square miles of residence property. The sewer has not been able always to carry off all the volume of water poured into it during protracted and hard storms in the past. From Eighteenth street as far down as Thirteenth street, and as far up as Howard street, more or less damage has been done during heavy rains simply because the drainage could not be carried off. I have seen manhole covers lifted out and water shot out to a height of from six to eight feet at the crossing of Eigh- teenth and Bhotwell streets, and at other points, “I have seen boxes floated out of grocery stores on account of the backing of water in thai section when the Chan- nel-street sewer was clear to carry off all the drainage. When the pressure of all the water in its wide area of dralnage is brought to bear next winter the full ef- fect will be felt on the cracks and may cause a collapse. That would mean a loss, which in total it is diffica’t to approxim- ately estimate, especially if the cave-in shouid take place in the night. If the cave-in should happen between Ninth or Tenth and Twelfth streets the whole sew- age of a great part of the City would be arrested. “Encugh damsge may have been done strike at her with a chair. He says that at the time of .that episode be was asleen about 10 p. ., when his daughter called to him, saying her mother was abusing her. He got up, and in the altercation that foi- lowed struck at his wife with the article of furniture mentioned. Lang claims that_his wife has a violent temper, is addicted to the use of vile lan- guage, drinks to excess, and isnota fit custodian for her children. For a further and separate answer the husband asserts that his wife’s name is Briddget. not Bessie, and that on May 14 she deserted him, and that the two older children, being allowed to use their own t;{:cretlnn in the matter, remained with im. Lang srlys for the custody of the chil- dren and that his wife be restrained from interfering with the community property. He also claims that the income from his ousiness is but $35 per month, not $150, as ciaimed by his wife. ———————— TWISTED A BOY'S EAR. George Johnston, a Grocer, Wanted on a Charge of Battery. Joseph Holland, 208 Twenty-third street, swore to a complaint in Judge Joachim- sen’s court yesterday charging George Johnston, grecer, Twenty-third and Flor- ida streets, with battery. Holland’s son, Joseph, a boy about 9 years of age, went to Johnston’s grocery on Mflfldl; to purchase some soda crack- ers. Johnston had been annoved by boys vlaying pranks upon him, and thinking the Holland boy was one of them, as soon as he entered the store caught him by the ear and twisted it so hlfi as to tear it, A phyfician haa to pat several stitches in the torn ear. e Loaxs on diamonds. Interesi low. At Uncle Harris, 156 Grant avenue * I features in the way of floats. Six oreight have already been prepared. The nature of the floats is a close secret and will be divulged oniy on the night of the jollifi- cation. The Imperial Club will turn out over 200 men with every wheel decorated. The Vailejo Club has asked for an as- signment in line and the committee has decided to put this club, with the Acme and Reliance of Oakland, together with the other clubs of the suburban bay towns, in one division. The parade will be headed by children riders. It is said that San Francisco has the smallest bicycle riders in all the worla, and the City intends to demonstrate this in the parade. The youngest wheelmen wiil be only 3 years old. The committee on parade purchased 3000 lanterns for decorations yesterday, and will place another order for as many more before the end of tnis week. Judge Campbell has been requested to lead the unattached wheelmen, The electric light company has agreed to furnish “electric lights fof the grand stand. As regards decoration, the com- mittee has decided to coucentrate flags, buntings and illumination at the corner of Fourth and Market streets. The prize for the best-mounted aid to the grand marshal will be a handsome gold medal, the size of a si'ver dollar, with the head of a horse in bas relief on one side and on the obverse the words: ‘‘Awarded to South Side Improvement Club, July 25, 18%.” The Merchants’ Association has joined issue with the cyclers and tke South ide clubs. The executive committee of the Cycle Board of Trade and the South Side Im- provement clubs met last night at 18 Mc- Allister street, and made considerable headway with arrangements. Various comimittees reported, and the reports were acted upon at once. The outlook 1s that next Saturday night there will be at least 4000 wheels in the parade. All will be decorated, and man: of them will be elaborately ornamented. Some revelations in the way of decora- tions of wheels are promised. The most sanguine, active workers in getting up the parade predict that there will aD; ‘Wwhere from 4000 to 8000 decorated whee! in line, and this would make one of the most novel and gorgeous illuminated pa- rades San Francisco has ever seen. Reports of the committees last evening show that a platoon of police will head the parade; that the Superintendent of Streets will be requested to clean up on Friday the streets over which the parade will move; that outside clubs from Val- lejo, Santa Rosa, Petaluma, Napa and otber surrounding towns will be in line; that there will be an immense bonfire at Market street and Van Ness avenue; that bushels of redfire and fireworks galore will be set off; that illuminated banners will be carried -howinfi the inscription “Repava Market Street”: that there will be numerous beautiful illuminated floats of unique and wonderful design; that there will be four or five brass bands in wagons to stir the air with music, ana that there will be other interesting feat- ures, the particulars of which are kept secret until they astonish the admiring public m their debut. One of the most attractive divisions of the F‘"‘l. will be composed of the Alpha Ladies’ Cycle Club. The ladies will ride at the head of the procession. They in- vite lady riders who are not attached to the club to join with them, The South Side Improyement clubs, while co-operating with the ge: de, have made arrangements todo a little inde- pendent booming of the South Side on their own hook and at their own expense. For instance, they have leased a vacant lot across from the speakers’ stand, at Market street and Van Ness avenue, snd around this lot will ve letters composed of Japanese lanterns, reading as follows: “Finish Folsom Street and Repave Mar- ket.” Besides this they will send up count- less paper balloons .xf over .own bearing the same demsand. A brass band wflmu between speeches on the stand, wh: wiil also be deco- rated. It is understood that the cycle clubs NEW TO-DAY—DRY GOODS. [MPORTANT ANNOUNGEMENT! Owing to the late arrival of a very large shipment of Cotton Wash Fab- rics we will offer, commencing MON- DAY, July 20th, 1500 pieces BEST QUALITY PRINCESS DUCKS and TAILOR MADE SUITINGS, all staple colors, at 1 858 per Yard The sale of these goods will con= tinue until our Semi-Annual Stock= Taking, which takes place July 31st, and our customers in the interior are requested to write for samples at once., The above goods are sold everywhere in the United States at 124c per yard. ORPORA: " 1892, - 111, 113, 115, 117, 119, 121 POST STREET. will furnish their own decorations, but 1500 lanterns with wire have been pur- chased for wheelmen who are not mem- bers of clubs. and they will be distributed free. Up to 12 o’clock next Saturday these lanterns and wires may be had at 18 and 20 McAllister street, and after that hour on Saturday at 519 Valencia street. WOMAK SUFFRGE NOTES Return of Miss Mary Hay From the Chautauqua Assembly. Precinct Clubs Are Being Organized All Over the City and in the Interior. Miss Mary E. Hay, chairman of the\ Woman Suffrage State Central Commit- tee, returned yesterday afternoon from her trip to Pacific Grove, where she has | organized a large Woman Suffrage club. “I found much enthusiasm among the suffragists at Pacific Grove,” she said, shortly after her return, ‘“and they re- fused to be satisfied until they had a club. 8o I called a meeting, and before I knew it the ciub was formed, with Mrs. Hollen- beck as its president. “The woman’s day at the Chautauqna assembly was a grand day for us. The at- | tendance was simply astonishing in its magnitude, women coming from far and near. On Monday night Miss Anthony made a long address before several thou- sand people. The geeat auditorium was packed from the platform to the vestibule, numbers being unable to force their way in- to the building. Miss Anthony’sappearance was greeted with repeated bursts of cheer- ing, in which the men’s voices fairly drowned out those of the women. She spoke as 1 have never heard her speak before and carried her audience by storm. Mrs. Blinn also spoke and seemed to have imbibed a liberal draught of the spirit of the hour, for her eloquence made her sway the minds of her hearers like one inspired. v “And now,” concluded Miss Hay, with an accent of finality in her voice which meant business, ‘‘my correspondence has been gathering since my departure last week, and L have a mountain of letters to answer; so don’t expect me to talk any more.” The committee’s rooms in the Woman Suffrage Bureau are always kept fragrant with flowers, members and friends seem- ing to vie with each other as to who snall send the fairest and sweetest floral expressions of their loyalty to the cause. An addition has been made to the furniture in the shape of a most gracefully designed’ and highly polished box, which, thouzh very orna- mental, is intended to serve a practical end well, juadging from the daintily etched inscription above it: ‘“Contribue tions to the campaign fund.” The work of organizing the precinct clubs is rapidly approacking completion, and the outlook seems most promisiag. ————— ‘Wants Her Child. Mrs. Frances Lindsay yesterday petitioned for a revocation of the leiters of guardianship over the person and estate of Lillian Lindsay, a minor, granted F. J. Kane of the Society for the Prevention of Crueity to Children. The child is one of the unfortunates mixed up in the Peter Lane case and it is alleged that Kane secured the appointment as guardian by mis- representation. ‘When Baby was sick, we gave her Castorfa. ‘When she was a Child, she cried for Castoria. When she became Miss, she clung to Castoria, When she had Children, she gave them Castorig, 22 Geary 8t., Near Kearny. The Black Goods House will place on sale during the coming week several lines of superior makes in BLACK KID GLOVES WHITE KID GLOVES At an unusual reduction from regular prices, with the object of largely in- troducing their superior merit. SEE THE VALUES IN BLACK DRESS GOODS! Samples forwarded. GoodssentC.0, D, R. T. KENNEDY COMPARY. Telephone Grant 518. Elegant Desks and Bookcases, highly polished.............. CARPETS. Four-room Outtit, Parlor,Din- ing room, Bedroom and} $75 00 Fine selected Ash Bedroom) = Suit, 6 pieces, Bevel mirror,{ $16.00 Parlor Suit, upholstered in) Hafidsome Sideboard.......... } $10.00 And Upward ~ Brussels _and Ingnins,} 50 Cts sewed, laid and lined...... and upward Also a complete line of household goods of every s onlers tecelte prompe. astention. Geogs ked and shipped froe to Qakland, Alameda Kitclienty 5o s s o~ silk brocatelle.............. § $22‘00 ‘And Upward Choice Patterns in_Velvets, description at proportionately low prices. Houses pac] and_Berkeley. Inspection cordially invited and credlt extended to all. M. FRIEDMAN & GO., 224, 228, 230 and 306 2nd 308 STOCKTON STREET, And 237 POST STREET. Telephone, Main 1528. Oven Evenings NEW WESTERN HOTEL. EARNY AND WASHINGTON STS.—pp. modeled and renovated. KING, WAR| Euroj Rooms 50¢ 2800 w plan. ; per week, $8 to $30 per montn: and ater every room elevator runs allnigi per day, 33 tree baths; fire grates ia