The morning call., 1892-05-25
RAILROAD FRANCHISES.
AdOiph Sutro in Favor Of One See
Fare From Wharf to Ocean.

AdOiph Sutro in Favor Of One Scent
Fare Prom Wharf to Ocean.
Quite an extended communication ap-
peared recently in an evening paper on the
subject Of the numerous street-railroad
franchises asked for by various parties,
claiming that Shere is a gigantic scheme to
corral all public travel west Of the Gene
teTies in the interest Of the Southern Pa
clfc Railroad Company. The article as
serted that many Of these franchises were
asked for not to build additional roads, but
70 prevent other companies than the Market
street lines from constructing connecting
routes, and cited the transfer of tie Bush
street franchise to the SUtteT-street cable
company as an example. The writer Of the
communication demanded healthy com pc
tition and fair fed for all in the matter Of
public travel, and den bounced the Efforts to
m0n0pOliZe all outlets to the ocean beach,
presumably by the Southern Pacific Com
pany, as mOnstrous wrong.
As AdOlph SutrO of SutTo Heights is well
known to take deep interest in all matters
relating TO the welfare Of the city, being
especially interested In improved and
speedy railroad communication 10 his prop
eTty and the Cliff House. he was visited by a
CALL reporter yesterday afternoon to as
certain his views regarding the general
tenor Of the communication alluded TO.
u IL
that he had read the article, and added:
''The communication puts this matter in
its true light and | am heartily in accord
with its sentiments. But | think it too late
now to ag;tate the subject, as the Church
street franchise was passed 10 print by the
Supervisors last night.
Il think most of these franchises are
in the hands OF the Southern Pacific
Company. That nor any other c0mpan Y
should be granted franchises whereby they
are permitted to charge double fare, no
matter what the distance. When making
an application a company should be given
to understand distinctly that no more than
one fare shall be exacted. This franchise
passed last night is a d0uble-faTe measure,
and if the road is constructed man will
have to pay 10 cents to get to the beach.
There is no use kicking, so far as can
see. The 5. ?. wants too much-it wants to
shut out every body. If these proposed
roads are constructed on a fair basis
have not the slightest objection. | would
like TO see the whole city gridironed with
them, but what do insist on, first, last
and all the time, is a single Scent fare
from wharf to ocean. The papers ought to
have made a tremendous fight years ago
against this double-fare business. ! am
greatly opposed TO the Southern Pacific
solely on this account.
''This peninsula is only six miles long,
and single fare is amply remuRerative TO
carry passenger its entire length. New
York. Boston, Philadelphia, Washington,
Baltimore, Cincinnati, st. Louis and other
large cities have roads eight miles and more
in length, over which only one fare is
charged. In am opposed to all monopolies
which attempt to exact double price for any
ommOdity-railroad fare or anything else.
The measure passed to print last evening is
no doubt in the Interests Of the Southern
Pacific. All my fight is ia the interest Of
the public and for a single fare. The moro
roads built the better for the public, but any
clause in franchise calling for a double
fare should be severely sat upon with both
feet, and all my efforts viii be used to
Illustrate such an attempt
"THE CALL Rnd the Bulletin are the
only papers IN San Francisco which have
independence enough to expose public
wrongs. The people OF our city ought to
congratulate themselves on the bold stand
which The CALL has taken recently In the
interests of reform. Its outspoken utter
ances against the cigarette evil, its right
eous war on the dives and terrible dens of
the city, its exposure of poisonous coffee
and other public evils should commend
THE CALL to every one who has the inter
ests Of decency and morality at heart"