The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-04-07
They Mean Much More
Than People Think.
PUBLIC AND CITY CONCERNED.
An Injunction Suit of Great
Importance.
THE EDISON CoMPANY's RIGHTS.
Vast Corporation interests at 1.-THE
Bottom of Case Now Before
Judge Hebbard.

Chief Engineer Sullivan of the Fire De-
partment has had District Engineer Wells
and Engineer Croker OF Company 8
clambering over housetops during thel
past two days and trying to identify GER
tain electric wires which the department
has long commended were distractions to
firemen and menace to life and property.
The engineers were accompanied by A.
B. Huntington, electrician for the Pacific
Power Company and Assistant City and
County Attorney Stoney, representing the
city in the injunction proceedings in
progress in Judge Hebbard's court.
The litigation is the elimination of
long and hard-fought battle between the
city and electric light Companies which
have had their wires crowded off the street
poles by the Edison Light and Power
Company. and. apart from the question of
the validity Of the ordinance prohibiting
the stretching Of wires over the roofs OF
houses, involves big corporation interests.
The public is deeply concerned In the out
come because If it should be definitely de-
termined that the stretching of wires over
the houset0ps is unlawful all companies
attempting to compete with the Edison
concern in San Francisco in certain lines
of business must abdicate in favor of that
company, thus giving 1t an iron-bound
monopoly.
The injunction issued at the instance OF
the Pacific Power Company was intended
10 prevent the Fire Department from cut
ting down its wires, notice having been
given that unless the wires should be
moved within ten days they would be cut.
The hearing of testimony In the case
was concluded in Judge Hebbard's court
late Monday afternoon. George L. Low,
electrical engineer. was subjected to a
long examination as an expert. He testi-
fed as to the wires being a menace to life.
that he had tested with instruments the
wires of the Pacific Power Company and
that the normal voltage ranged from 400 to
700 volts, at fifteen am peres. which was
about an equivalent OF the pressure on
trolley wires The expert declared that
this voltage was not dangerous to life AS
to whether it endangered property he said
that that depended upon the car with
which the lines were constructed. If they
were properly put up no harm could be
done.
A. ]. Bowie, electrical expert testified
that in Boston the city had required the
removal of the wires from the poles to
the housetops.
Chief Engineer Sullivan was sworn and
said that be considered the wires on roofs
an impeachment to the department and a
menace to life. They acted as an intimi-
dalton to the men in the performance of
their work.
The case was then set for argument on
the 18Th inst. The object Of the inspection
of wires on buildings complained OF by the
department in setting up its side of the
case was not satisfactory, as the party
could not determine whether the wires be-
longed TO the Pacific Power Company, and
some wires were found to be fre-alarm
wires.
The con tention was started by the Fire
Department during the Scannell regime
about three years ago. The Pacific Power
Company charged that the Edison Light
and Power Company is at the bottom of
the whole trouble. although it is admitted
that the Fire Department is acting in good
faith.
1.-THE Edison people are trying to get
into their own hands monopoly of the
electric lighting business in the city of San
Francisco" said an electrician discussing
the matter yesterday. You can readily
see how closely that affects the public in
terests. Ii they can succeed In prohibiting
the other companies from running their
wires across the tops of buildings they
practically drive them out of the business.
because the Edison company holds the
franchise for erecting poles in the streets,
and there Is no other method of running
wires except by underground conduits,
which Is so expensive as to be out of the
question. In addition TO this expense diff
Guilty, the Edison Company has patents on
the most approved underground systems.
There is no pros pect of any other com pany
being able to secure franchises TO put up
poles, as this has been tried time and again
without success"
The speaker then explained how the
Edison Company had secured such grip
upon the electric business of the city. He
said: I'm the first place, the California
Electric Light Company secured the
original franchise TO construct pola lines
In any part of the city. Then the Edison
Light and Power Company purchased
from the original holder its plant and
franchise and assumed Its bonded debt of
100000. giving in payment 10000 shares
of its capital stock, or value OF 1850. 600.
TO the General Edison Electric Company
of New York the local company gave
portion of it's stock for the sole right to
use the Edison apparatus of any kind and
to use its underground system. By this
means the Edison Company in San Fran
CISCO secured The pT0G6ctlOn OF all OF the
nine companies of the East, which are
consolidated into the General Company OF
New York, all of which companies agree
with the San Francisco company not to
furnish any machinery for cen trail station
light or isolated plants within 500 feet of
the underground mains of the Edison Light
and Power Company.
$50 you see that all outside companies
are excluded from the use of poles and
from underground c0nduits, and if the
Edison Company can run them off the
roofs they will have full swing.
"What this means to San Francisco may
be inferred from a single example of the
value of these rights. A few years ago
the Electrical Improvement Company had
almost secured franchise to put up poles.
The stock Of the Electric Light Company,
which then held the existing franchise,
fell from about 500 share to S12. Since
then the Edison Company has absorbed
the Electric Improvement Company, and
its stock is again up to S21. The differ
ence in the price of the stock means diff
ference In the earnings, which come out of
the pockets of the people. The Edison
Company now charges Sic month for
lights which until it had bought out the
California improvement Company could
be had for 81 or SIS a month. There tagaip
Won see the effect of exclusive rights"