The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-06-12
AGAINST THE PACIFIC MAIL.
ACTIVITY AMONG PROJECTORS.
Withdrawal of the Midwinter Fair
Excursion Rates and Substitu-
ton of Another Plan.

dav stated that the steamer Newport of
the old Brazilian line had sailed for Colon.
and that the Alliance and the Advance.
both formerly in the same line with the
Newport, would sail for the same port on
June 20 and June 80 respectively. The
information was also given that another
steamer, which would probably take the
place of the Newport, would sail about
July 10.
This indicates" said a member OF the
Traffic Association yesterday, "that the
Panama Company is not only in the fight.
but in it to stay. as all the steamers
named are nOwssailing under the manage
ment of that company. It would seem
from this that tn reported amicaole settle
ment of difficulties between the Pacific
: Mail and the Panama Company was all in
the wind, and that the latter now pro-
poses to establish a competition that the
transcontinental lines will be compelled TO
face"
While the public officials have
blocked. for time at least. the efforts of
The Market-street Railroad people TO string
their trolley wires on kearny street, it
must not De supposed that the latter are
sitting idly by and allowing their oppo-
nents undisputed possession of the field.
4 gentleman who is interested in the
development said that a surprise was in
store for the opponents of the electric
system, which the railroad people would
spring when The proper time arrived.
There seems to be but faint aequaint-
ance with The facts in the case among the
general public regarding the conditions of
the franchise under which the railroad
company proposes to construct its line in
the street mentioned, and following is a
brief summary of the legislation Qnder
which the railroad company is operating,
together with some few matters Of history
leading up to its enactment:
Michael Shelley, who was superinten-
. dent of the North Beach and Mission
road prior to the consolidation, when
msde il a part of the market-Street sys-
TEN, and who was also a stockholder in
the company, was one of the men who
were instrumental in securing the fran
chises for the route and the subsequent
legislation procured for the purpose of
dispeling any doubts as 10 the legality of
these franchises.
"The first franchise which we secured"
said Mr.. Skelley yesterday, allowed us
simply 10 use horses or mules as a motive
power. but il 1889, l believe although l
an n OF positive a To the date we went be-
fore the Supervisors and secured the right
10 substitute electricity or any other power
which might be deemed eXpedient.
shortly after this question was sprung
as to the legality of the Supervisors &C.
ton, and to settle the matter we deter
mined to 90 before the Legislature and
ask that body to confirm the Work done by
the local officials. This we did, and the
desired action was secured at the last ses :
sion.
''At that time we encountered a strong
opposition from the Omnibus people, and
we had reason to believe that the Market
: street folks were also secretly in league
against us. However that may be, if
fI,,v, I'D ofr
sitiOn to become public, and it ultimately
proved a fortunate thing for them,
~ as they acquired the line, as you
know l am Lot interested either
directly or indirectly with that railway 8
affairs now. having disposed of all my
stock at the time Of the consolidation, but
if my opinion is worth anything, l don'I
see how the oppOsitionstO the construction
of a trolley line on Kearny street can do
more than provoke expensive litigation and
put off for time that which is bound to
come"
The original franchise granted the North
Beach and Mission road for it's line along
kearny street was passed in 1879. The
right 10 utilize electricity was incorporated
In the franchise in 1889, and the act passed
by the Legislature and referred to above is
as follows:
SECTION I. In all cases where, prior 10 the
passage OF this act, authority to lay railroad
tracks through streets or public highways O!
any incorporated city. city and county or town
has been obtained for number of years not
exceeding fifty from the Trustees, Council, OF
other body 10 whom was Entrusted the govern
meDt OF the city, city and county. or town, and
permission has been granted by such governing
body 10 propel cars upon such tracks by elee-
trIcitv, such authority and permission shall be
held and deemed as valid ana legal as the same
would have been If. al the time OF the obtaining
thereof, section 4S7 OF the Civil Code had ex-
presSiy declared that permission might be
given 10 propel cars upon such tracks by cleo.
az xufra
ropes running under the streets and propel ed
by stationary steam engines; provided, that all
such permisslOns or franchises heretofore
granted shall be subject 10 The provisions of the
laws of this STATE applicable to street railroads
in general, and subject TO the same regulations
from CITY, city and county, ana town auIhori-
ties as if said franchise were hereafter granted
Sec. g This act shall take effect aud be 10
force from and after its passage.
Reports received at the Southern Pacific
Offices yesterday morning stated that five
inches of snow had fallen in the Siskiyor
Mountains the night preceding, and that il
was still showing heavily in the morning
The Union Pacific lines in the north aD
pear TO have suffered damage to an extent
that 1t Will require months to repair. A
letter from a gentleman in the flooded dis
tricts says that from 175 to 200 miles oil
thatroad have been either flooded or washed
away.
Workmen began tearing up Third stree
from Townsend north yesterday, and the
cars of the Third-Street line are all run or
Fourth street for the present. A turn
table has been erected at Third and Town
send streets for the use of the Potrero cars
The sale OF excursion tickets to the Mid.
winter Fair was discontinued Sunday BY
the Southern Pacific Company. AS sub.
stitute, however, new plan has beer
adopted by which parties Of sixty and ovel
can secure the reduced rates. This charge
made Tor such parties Will be IL cents pei
mile and its application is illustrated by
the following example: II sixty-fiye per
sons wish TO come from San j ose the rat
would be SIS for the carload of sixty, bu
the remaining five passengers would ais
be carried at the same rate per capita. AL
passengers must come 10 San Francisco il
body, but they may return singly at an,
time within ten days. No charge will 3
made for engine service when regula
trains haul the cars, and if a special trai
of five or more cars is employed no charg
will be made in this respect either. But
special train Of less than five cars is Ell
played charge for engine service will b
made in proportion to the distance run.