The morning call., 1894-10-19
CARS TO RUN WITHIN A MONTH.

Twelve years ago the corporation now
known as the Market-stTeet system of
streetcar lines maintained line of cars
which ran as far south as Fifteenth ave-
nue. in the district known as Butchertown,
or South San Francisco. At that time a
pile bridge extended from the Potrero to
Butchertown. over which the corporation
operating the car line was permitted to
levy tolls from all passengers and trains.
The people rebelled, and subsequently
the tax over the bridge was successfully
fought While the profit to the company
from the tolls was large, the road itself
was operated at great loss. and when the
only source of profit to the company was
shat off it tore mp Its tracks and the pee pie
of South San Francisco were told by Sec
retary WilcutU that they would have to do
without road for at least Ten years. The
threat was carried out 10 the letter, and
the people VINO bad had the temerity to
defy the great corporation have been COM
pelleG all these years to get along the best
they could and to see their property
steadily depreciatng aud themselves COM
paratvely isolated from convenient COM
muuicatiOu with the rest of the city.
Now all these things are being changed.
The company has relented, and before
many days the Changing of the electric
car will be heard in tue streets.
Railroad avenue, from the bridge up to
Eighteenth avenue, is completely torn up
and Impossible owing TO the grading made
necessary by the laying of the car tracks.
The Spring Valley Company has also
seized the opportunity for replacing it's
small mains by S-inch pipes. and the San
Francisco Gas Company Is also laying
pipes so as to extend its facilities over the
entire territory.
When all these works are completed
Railroad avenue will theD be paved with
basalt blocks as far as the stTeetcar track
run, and thus a splendid rock pavement
will beiavailable from Fourth-street bridge.
along Kentucky street and Railroad ave-
nue., a distance of nearly two miles. South
San Francisco in consequence of all these
improvements is now having boom. At
least 800 men are at work, and
the streets are full of teams employed
in plOughing up the streets and removing
the dirt. while propSrty-owners are busily
engaged IN hgurlng out the amount OF the
advance on their real estate and grumblipg
over the big tax which must be raised to
pay for these high-priced improvements.
The tracks are now laid from First TO
Seventh avenue and men are beginning
paving tie street. Beyond Seventh
avenue the laying OF tracks is likely to be
delayed somewhat owing to grading, but
the work is being pushed for all It is
worth, so that no delay will ensue from
the coming rains. Without interruption
from this source track-laying to Eig teen b
avenue will be completed in about one
week. The regarding of Railroad avenue
leaves some dwellings far above the track
and some below. The adjustment of
buildings to a common Level will add
materially 10 the heavy tax which the
property-owners will have to meet. The
total cust of regarding aud paving Raiir0a ad
avenue is estimated at $500, ,000, which falls
upon a district 800 feet 10 wild b, of which
the main avenue is the center.
1t is thought oy the railroad people that
in less than month the elec RE cars will
be running from Third and Townsend
streets to Eighteenth avenue. The CON-
pletion of tie line will immensely benefit
South San Francisco. as many workmen
engaged in the manufactures at the
PotreTo and vicinity express their de-
termination to build homes on the lots
purchased in the past, but w bich they have
been compelled to leave unoccupied owing
II the absence of transporta ion.
Another important improvement is
making commendable progress in the
exien sion of Army street to Kentucky
street. The cut in the hill just south of
the rope factory has been completed, and
the filing across the bay, several hundred
feet in length, has been raised almost to
grade. The extension OF Army street
affords a new outlet 10 the Potrero and
Sou lh San Francisco, for the whole south
western portions of the city.