The morning call., 1892-12-13
A LESSON FROM LITTLE DENVER
1t Pays to Run Owl Cars There.
I'm SAN FRANCISCO.
Population, 5000.


SAN Francisco, Dec &c. F. Croker
was seen at his Office this afternoon and
talked quite freely about the subject Of
owl ears.
81 cannot yet see," said he, "the absolute
necessity for the putting on of late cars on
our lines. but as said once before In an
interview 1 shall be guided largely by the
demands for such move.
"Ar the same time, understand me, shall
pay more attention TO our employees than !
will to the general public.
For instance. if our gripmen and con-
duetors together with our superintendent
and manager should say that there was in
their opinion popular demand. and that by
starting line of night cars we could build
up paying business it would have more
weight than a petition signed by 5000
people.
Public petitions in my mind are en-
titled to but little weight. There Is no rea-
| son why. so far as can see, any one should
not sign petition IL asked 20 do so. unless
they were to put it on the round that they
did pot care to see the company lose money
and that is not likely to be the case.
"As rule the average citizen is willing to
put his name to almost any petition pre-
sented without thinking of the result.
There is one great drawback 20 the run
E fl
considered and that is the trouble and ex-
pense involved. We could not run our
cable all night and make both ends meet. and
on our system there are but two or three lines
where horsecars are practicable. We could
of course run horses on Valencia street. say
to Twenty-sixth, and have tn EN- connect
with similar service on McAllister or
Hayes streets as far as Fillmore. This
could be done at a comparatively small ex-
peuse. but then the question Of It's necessity
arises.
Now. I know. rs we'll as any one else.
that there are a great many persons whose
| hours are such that they are compelled TO
go home at late hour; but have found by
experience that nearly all such people have
fixed rule of living. and owl cars would
not affect them to any great extent.
''If man has an occupation which keeps
him out until after the regular cars have
stopped and he hopes TO continue In his
employing he adapts his habits to meet
the necessities Of his life.
IF he works late he selects his place OF
habltation accordingly.
There are. you know, lots OF places
downtown where men can live convenient
to their work and within ten or fifteen min
utes' walk of where they work. Moreover.
little walk is beneficial to man who has
been cooped up for number of hours"
Continuing. Mr.. Croker added. with a
peculiar smile:
"Do not understand from this, however,
that we are not willing TO do all that is
reasonable. We are only waiting to be con-
WINGED.
IF we can be shown that owl cars are
necessary and that we will not lose money
by inauguratiDg them we shall not hesitate
10 fall into line.
''At the same time It would not be wise
for US to rush into this thing with our eyes
shut and take chances Of making failure
Oft
when we make definite move we want
TO be sure. and then we win know that the
thing will last
$50 far as am concerned do not know
just what the need is, for am seldom out
late at night.
eli there is really demand for them why
would not line Of buses pay?
at seems to me IL L were so situated that
/ had TO go home after the cars stopped
! running for the night I would be willing TO
pay 10-cent fare TO bus line. knowing at
the same time / could reach home quicker
in that way than I could by means Of a
| horseear
IF line Of buses would not prove profit
able at that rate it is safe to say that line
of cars at cheaper fare would not meet
| expenses"