The morning call., 1892-06-09
SOUTHERN PACIFIC METHODS.
The Condition of Geary Street
Causes Trouble.
Propsrty-owners Protest Against a Change
in the Grade By the Com
pany.

Many and loud are the complaints being
made by property owners along the line Of
the Geary Street, Park, and Ocean Railroad,
which is reconstructing its roadbed. The
principal cause of dissension is the fact that
the roadbed is being raised from 10 u
inches at various places I'd what the rail-
road officials claim TO be the official grade,
and which will probably compel the prop
! erty-owners along the line to raise their
sidewalks prOportiOnately. They further say
that the company is causing them great in
convenience by tearing up eight or nine
blocks at a time, which remain unpayed for
an unreasOnably long time, and there Is no
attempt made TO restore them as quickly as
| they should be.
A solid wall or paving stones, which have
been torn up by the railroad builders, runs
along the edge Of the sidewalk on one side
Of the street, bockading The entrances TO
the houses and any one attempting 10 cross
would be obliged to climb the pile, which
varies from to . feet in height at the I'M
minent risk of breaking their nrckS.
In case of fire between LaTkin and
Laguna streets a disastrous cOntlagTatlon
would ensue, as the department could not
possibly reach it unless from some Of the
side streets that are rot blOckaded. The
damage in such case would be enormous.
Piles Of sand, debris, iron yOkes and other
building material obstTuct the street ana
make passage impossible
Max Kahn. butcher at Eaguna ana
Geary streets, stated that only recently the
company finally put down a temporary
plank crossing on Laguna street That the
gangs Of men often worked all night and
that residents in the neighbOrh0od found it
impossible to sleep amid the Changing OF
iron and hammering
DANGER IN CASE OF FIRE.
Mr.. Kahn further said: "Iu case of fire,
UP to a few days ago, when this crossing
WAS put down, there would have been
great loss, as the condition of the street was
such that the department would have been
greatly delayed in reaching H. Should the
company tear up two blocks at time we
would not object but they tear up eight or
ten blocks at a time and repair the street at
their leisure. 1t is an outrage for the city
to allow It"
Between Larkin street and Van Ness
avenue the grade has been raised from
TO - inches, which will make a high ridge
in the center of the street and property
owners in these two blocks are much wrought
UP Over.the matter.
They were satisfied with the old grade of
road, but now fear that the large Increased
| fall TO the sidewalks Will cause much dam
! age during winter when heavy rains come
| on. They assert that unless they raise their
| sidewalks 10 corresponding height their
| cellars and grounds VIII be flooded, aud
! fail to see why if the old roadbed was built
| on the official grade the new company
should see TT TO raise it.
A. Waters, who owns the property al
| 10O0-1C02 Geary street, gave some pertinent
| facts t. the reporter.
"When the old road was built" said he.
1--WE presumed il was built on the official
| grade We all raised our sidewalks as re-
| QuiIed and the eurbing was put in. Tho
| city accepted the street and we supposed
| that the grade would remain as il was. Now
| the new company sees fit 10 raise its road
! bed and We will be put TO 4 great and IN
necessary expense for a second time,
AN OUTRAGE.
It is an outrage TO allow the people to be
robbed 10 this manner. II the old road was
not built on the official grade, why then did
the city accept the street and allow Us TO
build rs we have dOne?"
Charles SchToth and Louis Westerfield
OF the firm Of Schr0th & Westerfed own
about 225 leet from Polk street to Van Ness
avenue. Mr. SchToth was found ct his resi-
dence at 10C5 GeaTy street yesterday after
noon.
Il am much opposed TO the change In the
grade. as il will put US to great expense in
raising cur sidewalks, and If we DON'T we
will be drowned out next winter, that Is ali.
/ don't believe the city is aware of the
change al all and l will willingly join the
other property IL making a YigOr-
Gus protest against IT,
DR.. Henry Gibbons, who resides on the
corner Of Polk and Geary streets, said: 1T
is an outrage on the prOpeTty-owners on the
street. The citizens should combine and
favor the appointment or election of a
Board If Public Works, such as they have
in other large cities, and then We would
| stand a show.
'At present there seems to be no system,
and the corporations do pretty much as they
| please"
| All the property-Owners had similar st0r.
| les to tell. Since the road has been given
! over to the Southern Pacific combination
| the wishes of tile public are utterly disre-
| garded
| Robert T Morrow, vice-president of the
/ road, stated that the road was undoubtedly
/ being built on the official grade. but that
| the whole street had IN 10 or i years doubt
! less sunk as the sand settled.
At the City and County Surveyors Office
! in the new City Hall the statement was de-
! MED yesterday, and il was claimed that if a
/ good foundation we're built nothing is pref
/ cradle to good sandy soil.
! The company employs Its own engineers
| to do the work, ana there is no one present
/ TO protect the city and property, and no
| one knew whether the grade had been
! changed or not.
! A vigorous protest will doubtless be made
! by the prOperty-owners in the near future,
! and the truth aseertaned after inYestiga-
/