The morning call., 1893-10-06
Southern Pacific Makes
an Offer.
OAKLAND TO HAVE A TEST.
An Engine and Coaches at Its
Disposal.
THE RAILROAD TO FOOT BILLS.
The Board of Trade May Ascertain If
Trains in Oakland Run
Too Slow.

There were many complaints in Oakland
yesterday about the slowness of the trains.
Every body said that the Southern Pacific
was trying to make the speed ordinance
obnoxious, and thus secure its repeal.
Some of the trains on Seventh street
were timed yesterday, and those who dld
so said they were being run at slower
rate than the speed ordinance required. A
few boats were missed in consequence, and
the passengers who were compelled to
warm their heels in the big depot at the
mole complained bitterly, but not at any
action which the Council has taken in the
matter All last week no boats were
missed, aud the people are we'll aware that
there is no reason why boats should be
missed this week, unless. as has been sug-
gested. the railroad company is retaliating
because of the Dow wire ordinance.
The o'clock train last night dumped its
passengers at Oak street instead of carry
ing them to East Oakland. presumably to
make up its schedule time. This caused
great outcry frop tie big trainload OF peo-
pie, aud there were many patrons made
in that crowd for the Davie boats.
Finally certain members of the Board OF
Trade made complaint, and Attorney
to Walter Kenney OF that body and said to
him.
I'VE are not running the trains slower
than the ordinance permits, and we will
let you prove it to your satisfaction. At
any time you may name, locomotive OF
the Southern Pacific and Vice. President
Crocker's private car will be placed at
yonr disposal. You can engage your own
engineer and firemen-send East for them
if you wish. We will pay their wages and
furnish the coal. We will place BOyer's
automatic speed-indlcators on the wheels
of the coach and provide members of your
committee with stop-watches. You can
thus make test to your satisfaction. for
we will clear the Seventh. street track
from the end Of the mole to Frultvale, and
you can make as many trips on it as you
like Afterward we will take you down
in the freightyard, turn car upon end,
place an indicator on one of the wheels,
turn il around and let you see how many
revolutions it makes in min ute"
The offer of Mr.. Brown was accepted.
and the Board of Trade named Saturday
and Sunday as the days for making the
test.
Mr. Brown said the car would be ready,
that his proposition would be carried out
in full, and it was agreed that three test
trips should be made over the road each
day.
The Council has nothing to do with this;
it is citizens test, pure and simple, and
whether it will influence fu ture legislation
remains to be seen.
The railroad company has taken off all
of the locks from the wire doors with
which it had provided its Seventh-street
cars, and in their stead has placed latches.
1t is thought that in this way the company
hopes to evade the Dow ordinance.
The ordinance prohibits "any gate.
door, netting. slide. bar or other con-
trivance in front of, or in connection with,
or in proximity to any platform or steps of
any car of such railroad, which will pre-
vent, impede, or in any degree interfere
with the free and unobstructed egress and
passage from said platform or said steps
by any person thereon at any time while
said cars are within the said CITY,"
Under the above 1t will be seen that the
removal of the locks on the doors will
avail the railroad company very little.
There is general protest from commu-
ters generally against being locked up like
sheep. and it is just possible that the re-
moval of the locks was to quell their mur-
murs of discontent.
At the meeting OF the Ordinance and
Judiciary Committee of the City Council
held last night the Dow ordinance In rela-
ton to gates on cars came up.
Smell and BarstOw wanted the ordinance
amended SO as to permit of gates on cars
that could be opened readily from the in
side.
Dow and Campbell wanted the ordinance
reported on as offered. and declared them
selves opposed to any substitute that
would prevent the free ingress to or egress
from cars.
The meeting was pretty stormy one,
and there was passage at arms between
Barstow and Campbell. when the charge
of falling down to the railroad was hurled
at BarstOw, who declared that he was
tired of hearing this accusation.
After some discussion the whole matter
uant over until to.niphf