The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-12-23
OWL CARS PAYING.
The Experiment Proves a
Decided Success.
A BOOM FOR HOUSE-OWNERs.
Wendell Easton Says the Metropolitan
Line Is Preparing for a
Further noYe.

The owl-car experiment which has been
made by the officials of the Metropolitan
line has been decided success thus far.
ana they are encouraged to believe that IL
will prove so for all time. Although cars
have been running for but few days
enough has been shown to demonstrate
that the idea has caught on, and the late
cars. it may be said, are patronized fully as
well if not better than those which are run
through the day.
Their enterprise in taking up the cause of
the night-workers and giving them a means
OF reaching the west end of the city at a
late hour is being greatly appreciated. Al
ready great number of applications for
homes along the line of the electric road are
being made. and if the service is continued
as 1t is likely to be there will be but very
few vacant houses along the line.
THERE'S scarcely man, in fact, who is
compelled on account of his employment to
remain out till late hour who does not ap-
preciate the spirit of the men at the head of
the Metropolitan road and who Is not will
ing and ready to do what he can to foster
the idea. To speak the truth. the men who
work OF nights prefer pleasant. airy home
in the Western Addition to few hot
coopei-up rooms downtown and they ale
among the first to take advantage of it.
Wendell EastOn. the president of the
company, was seen at his office yesterday
afternoon, and in reply TO a series of ques-
tiODs concerning the policy OF his road said
IL can only say that we are not discour-
aged at ali with the showing that has been
made by our late cars. On the contrary, we
are inclined TO think that the experiment
has been decided success thus far. Our
first move was to take half an hour off our
starting time in the morning and TO add an
hnlr time from do a
night
"0ur experience thus far has been that
the hour at night is worth more to US than
the half hour in the morning. So we'll are
we convinced of this fact that we have just
closed a contract with firm of carbuilders
for an additional number of cars and we
are receiving bids for additional engine
power Our new cars and engines we hope
TO have on the line within ninety days and
that will enable us 10 run cars all night.
by keeping six cars, say, in service from
/ O'clock at night until 6 0'ciock in the morn
Ing we will be able, think, TO start n car
from our downtown terminus every fifteen
minutes and thus accommodate all the late
travel
From other sources it was learned that
the late-car movement, partial as it is has
already resulted in positive boom in flats
and residences.
The Metropolitan line runs out into the
Western Addition and taps section of the
tlbJ dUOuHG}Uk III pl6hoHul,
healthful residences.
The night-wOrkers are grasping their
opportunity.
When a man whose family has been
cOODed up in small downtown rooms sees
that he can get out 10 a neat fat or cottage,
he is going TO move out there right away.
a large number of lessees of private resi-
dences, too, have extra rooms in their
houses which they would be 81 I'd to rent.
Hitherto along the line of Eddy and Scott
streets. etc, this has been impossible.
Although these streets are In the direct
line of travel to the city by day. they are
completely cut off at night after midnight
and the many householders who would have
been glad to add to their income by shelter
ing an extra Inmate in their homes have
been forced TO see the vacant space wasted.
This is the case. too. OF course, along
| many other lines of streets, which would
| be similarly benefited by bToad-minded rail-
| road management
For now the outlying residences along the
| line OF the Metropolitan road are throwing
open their doors to the night-worker and
| are catching him, too. They can offer cheap
! rents. pure air, and their last and most ire
| sistible bait is: Accessible BY the Late
| Cars"
The movement is also giving boom to
| the building of residences in the section
trayersed by the line.
| 1t takes very little nowadays In the closely
balanced condition Of the HOUSEKEEPING
| business to affect the building trade.
| Capital is always waiting on the alert to
| invest in houses and the popularity of a
| neigh borhood may be made or marred by
| the projection or closing up OF a line of cars.
| Ii has been deliberately considered by
| those most interested in residential prop
l. erty that the running OF night ears shows
more than mere enterprise on the part OF
| the Metropolitan line.
The directors, 1t is thought. have gagged
| the potential results of the section In their
! jurisdiction, and are judieiously developing
them.
| 1t IS plain, however that may be, that the
| public has caught on TO the endeayor of the
| metropolitan line TO accommodate iI.
| The people will remember that this line
| was the first TO pay attentio TO their DELHI
| erately expressed want, and they will alsC
remember that along this line the night.
| worker can attain his home at later hour
! tina on any other line in the city.
| This In itself is big boom for the Metro
| politaB road, and nobody bPgrudges wha
| II has won by liberal foresight exercised or
| sound business principles.