The morning call., 1891-05-27
HUNTINGTON'S REPLY.
The Protest Against the Proposed
SeVenth.Street Subway.

There is bitter opposition in Oakland 10
proposition under consideration by the
Southern Pacific Company for the construc-
tiOn of a subway on Seventh street to take
the place of the surface road now in oper-
alton on that thoroughfare.
Upon the occasion Of President Hunting
toms recent visit the City Council of Oak
and. in accordance with petition signed
by a large number of citizens, preached the
scheme to the Southern Pacific people and
held two meetings with Messrs. Hunting
ton and Towne concerning it.
Believing that the project would be sup
ported by majority of the citizens of Oak
land, President Huntington agreed to COM
mence the work after a week spent in over
coming the objections of several high officials
of the company He had no idea OF en-
cOuntering objections from the other side,
and the cOmpany's chief engineer was or
dered to prepare plans.
Ga the evening before his departure for
New York Mr.. Huntington, in the course
of an interview with CALL reporter, said
1.-The work has been commenced at the
earnest solicitation of a majority of the peO-
pie of Oakland, expressing themselves
through the City Council. 1t will be an eX-
pensiye piece of work, without any CORE
spending benefit to the company, but if the
made"
No sooner had the intention of the COM
pany been made known in Oakland than
faction was organized to fight the pros
pective outway. This clique is composed
principally of property owners along
Seventh street, who object to the change in
the belief that il will tend to decrease prop
eTty values. In response to a recent protest
from this body, President Huntington has
written the following letter:
NEW YORK. May 10. 1891.
Gentlemen: am in receipt of your favor OF
April 20 ih, which have delayed answering, as i
have not been 10 lie Ullic- but once since my re-
turn from California. do not know that have
anything To say 10 the people OF Oakland on the
subject OF the Seventl-Street proposed improve
ment other than what they already know. We
haYs had complaint OF the danger TO the public
on account of our trains running In the open road
way, aud / do not know OF anythlng that would
more eifectuay prevent such danger than
sunken road.
OF course there is much said for and against
such an improve ment, and there are always red-
sons 10 be given on both sides. have no pi eier-
ence IN The matter except hat wish TO accOmmO-
cate the people OF Oakland In so far as can do
il with justice 10 the interests that represent In
that city. IL Is my own impression that the i'm
prov ment in question IS The best thing Tor the city
OF Oakland, as It would be well for US, and feel
Qulte sure thai if they (the citizens OF Oakland
understood just what We proposed TO do, and the
effect upon The welfare OF their city. they would
wish u To go ahead with the work. and be greatly
pleased when 1t was done aud in operation.
In New York here IL has been ACCOMPLISHED at
great expense 10 the companies GOing the work,
and think lie person VINO should urge anything
else would not be listened to; for through IL the
great avenue has been rendered unObjec tlOnabe
aud sale. In all Such great improvements very
likely some one may be disconnected, or may at
least hOnOrably think lie il, but an Improvement
like tile one proposed in Seventh street must
accommodate a very large majority of the peO-
pie AT all events hope your good people viii
understand that their interest and that OF the
Southern Pacific Company run together
The cOmDanV QPSiFaS - h line through
their city wiki special attention to their welfare
and accommodation. and at the same time with
a fair aud proper regard for the interest OF the
company. | certainly should not want TO make
an Improvement costing the large amount of
money that this Work would cost unless j thought
itwOuld be appreciated by the people Of Oakland.
Yours very truly. G.. Z. HTNTINGTON