The morning call., 1891-09-06
ALAMEDA.
Residents Treated to a Surprise by the
Railroad.

Residents Treated to Surprise by the
Railroad.
Rev. John Doughty, a Swedenborgian
minister, will hold services this evening in
the parlors of the Park Hotel.
a carriage containing seven persons was
wrecked yesterday on Harrison avenue,
near the old Ferndale Station, and the occu-
pants narrowly escaped death. The oceu-
nants were Mrs. Helen Morgenstern, Miss
Lila Singleton, Harry Parker. Gertrude
Parker, Mrs. T. q. Parker and Anita Par
ker the latter an infant in its mothers
arms. As the carriage was approaching the
deBOt a boy riding on a horse suddenly
emerged from behind some brush, and
raising his hat in the air, frightened the
Horse which Mrs. MOrgenstern was driving.
The animal SHE'D, and then giving sudden
leap forward overturned the carriage at the
edge Of the bridge over Sausal Greek. All
the occupants we're thrown out, some fall
lag down the banks OF the creek. Mrs.
e: :MUrgsnstern received severe injuries about
the head. and Miss Singleton was badly cut.
Strange to say Mrs. Parker and her infant
escaped with only few bruises, while the
others have only scratches as reminders Of
theirunpleasant experience.
The residents of Alameda were treated to
a surprise Yesterday afternoon by the South
erD Pacific Company At o'clock train
pulled into Alameda aud stopped at the sid
ing at the gore lot formed by Railroad and
Lincoln avenues, east Of Park street. The
cars were piled with lumber, cut In sizes,
and big gang Of men commenced
10 unload. In few minutes the
foundation of depot was laid. The build
ing will be 20X40 feet, and heavy timbers
enter into its construction. The land on
which the building is going up has been
used as street, but the railroad company
claims it as its property, and for several
weeks there has been great deal of discus
sion over the Railroad avenue fran
chise. The railroad company has no fran
chise to operate its road on this avenue at
present, having laid its track on it before
sucha municipality as Alameda existed.
Although the company did not ask for
franchise, it no doubt was willing that one
should be granted it, butdesired that 1t con-
tain no provision relative to the charging
Of fares within the city limits. proposed
franchise. silent On this point, received so
much opposition that 1t was with
drawn and the City Trustees decided
to POSTPONE indefinitely any action
in the matter Of granting franchise to the
company. While the subject was under
discussion the City Attorney gave it as his
opinion that the company had no right to
= Railroad avenue, and was therefore oper-
ating its road on 1t only by suffrage. The
company, to show that it had no regard for
any such opinion, immediately commenced
TO lay a double track on the avenue, and the
work Is now in progress. II the City At
torney Is right in his opinion the company
could be stopped by an injunction, but
neither the City Trustees nor any citizen has
deemed 1t advisable thus far to resort to
such process.
Now the company has decided to build a
depot. which demonstrates quite fOrcibly
that II believes 1t has right to Railroad av-
enue, and intends to make use of such
fnh bp of fba
with the approval OF some citizens and the
condemnation OF others. There has long
been need of a suitable freight-depot. and
on several occasions petitions have been
presented to the City Trustees to have con-
demned the piece of land on which
the company commenced to erect build
ing The matter is still pending before the
Trustees, but the company has not waited
until the condemnation should be made, but
has taken the matter into its own hands,
ard before the middle Of this week the build.
ing will be completed. No event has oc-
Cured in Alameda for a long time which
created so much excitement as the erection
OF the depot.
prominent real estate
man, was almost overcome with rage When
he saw what was going on. He rushed
around 20 find the City Attorney to learn
whether something could not be done to stoI
the work, but that official could not be found.
Leonard became very indignant at the rail,
road company'S actions and wondered wbai
kind Of citizens Alameda contained to sub
nit TO such an outrage, as he termed it
Street Superintendent Frodden was finally
induced to swear to a complaint charging
the company with obstructing O public
street, and warrant was then served upon
d. Robertson, district foreman Oh tine con
struetion department, but he was very
quickly released on bonds furnished