The morning call., 1894-05-08
AFTER THE ROAD.
One Way of Enlarging the
Cable Combine.
Railroad Attorneys Engaged i'm Big
Damage Suit Against the
California. Street Road.

''It looks as il the Southern Pacific
Company means to wage bitter warfare
against the California-street Cable Rail-
way Company and SO endeayor to get it
into the cable road com bine."
The significant expression came from an
attorney who has been watching street
railway affairs attentively, and it was
based upon a suit filed in the Superior
Court against the California-street con-
Germ.
Negotiations having in view ccnsolida-
ton of the California and Hyde street
railway system with the big combination
were begun by the Market-street COM
pany. The rivals remained rivals without
coming closer together, and, as no sign OF
either weakening or accepting the terms
offered was given by the California-street
people, a different method was resorted to.
The powerful combine first showed its
hand in the fight for supremacy by threat
ening to remove the steamcars at Central
avenue, and by SO doing shut off the cable
company from travel to Golden Gate Park.
This matter, however, was arranged salts
factorily, because both companies received
a benefit from allowing the old system to
remain, but this was no evidence OF amlc-
able relations.
The next indication of feeling toward
the coveyed system is believed to be given
in the lawsuit for damages recently filed
against the company. The sum of $50. 900
is asked for injuries sustained in col
lision on the Hyde-street line. and the one
suspicious circumstance about it is that
w. Ii. L. Barnes and John w. Bourdette
are attorneys for the claimants. Ii is well
known that they are and have been South
ern Pacific railroad attorneys. Barnes has
many time champiOned the corporations
cause and been more or less intimately
associated with the railroad magnates.
Bourdette is not his partner. but he was
in the railroad employ at Fourth and
Townsend streets until lately. Together
they appear at counsel for plaintiffs in a
damage suit against the California-street
company, and it is remarkable position
for them to be in.
Formerly they were invarie bly, on the
other side, defending the corporations
against such claims. The fact of their
sudden change is generally believed to be
a matter of design, which would imply
that the Southern Pacific has an interest
in the proceedings against the cable-road
company.
On December 25, 1898. a cable-car on
Hyde street colllded with vehicle at the
corner of Francisco street. G. Z. Learer,
Patrick j. Smith and II. j. Smith were In
the wagon and received severe injuries.
Learer wants $4,000 damages, Patrick
Smith $4,000. and Fl. j. Smith S5O00
They selected Barnes and Bourdette to take
charge of their case and determined legal
contest is expected.
Secretary Stetson of the California.
street Railway Company says that the
case is Det strong one against his people.
But" said he, "Pm surprised to see these
attorneys in it. That. however. is a
matter we have not noticed very seriously,
though l suppose 1t is worth looking into
There NAV be something in that; l dom
know" He was studiouSly reticent upon
the subject, and noncommittal in reply to
questions. And yet is was apparent he
knew what the appearance of railroad
attorneys against them meant-a deter.
mination to make things so unpleasant fol
the company that it would sooner or latel
come into the street-railroad combine