The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-07-22
MR.. DoHRMANN's POSITION.

The Merchants Association has shown
itself to be one of the most public-spirited
and useful organizations ever formed to
better the political and physical condition
of a city. It's president, +. w. Dohrmann,
has won the admiration and respect OF all
the better elements of this community Tor
the spirit and intelligence with which he
has directed the affairs of the association.
For these reasons it is an unpleasant task
to disagree with him on any policy which
his conscience and intelligence may lead
him to adopt in carrying out the good
work that he has so ably prosecuted. But
disagreements even among the best citl-
Zens are inevitable, and it is in falr ana
dignified discussion of them that fuller
understanding and final agreement may
be secured.
Reference is had to the communication
from Mr.. Dohrmann IN yesterdays CALL
explaining the reasons why the Merchants
Association supports the Southern Paclhc
Company in its occupation OF the ocean
boulevard with its spur track to the park.
In brief, he says that the street sweeplngs
are greatly needed to fertilize the park, that
the railroad company hauls them to the
park over the spur track at charge OF 50
a carload (Which the company asserts is
less than cost, that attempts to have them
transported by the cable and electric lines
failed, and would be expensive if success
full, and that there is no other use to which
the sweepings can be put.
1t is not necessary to deny any of these
premises, for they have no real bearing
upon the subject. We cannot in reason
separate this act on the part of the South
ern Pacific and its manifest great desire to
retain the spur track from its long history
of trickery, deception, bribery and forcible
and other illegal ways of securing and re-
tanning rights of way. We know the long
and hard fight that it has made to monopo-
lie street transportation and shut out
competition to the park and beach. And
We know that the value OF this spur track
< franchise is very great; that it was tenn
porary and was secured without any con-
sideration, and that the company is retain
ing it in violation of its agreement with
the City. The question is one not alone of a
doubtful temporary public convenience,
but of permitting greedy and utterly I'M
scrupulous company to violate its contracts,
increase the strength of its monopoly and
destroy the only ocean drive that the
people of the City can command. If the
park can be fortified only at the cost of
these considerations, it will be a most ex-
pensive and disastrous improvement.
As merchant Mr.. Dohrmann is likely
aware of the tyranny which the Southern
Pacific has practiced upon the merchants
of the City ever since the completion of
Its road. He must know how for many
years they have been ridden, bullied and
threatened, how determinations have
been practiced among them by the rail
road, how competition has been kept at
bay, and how hard struggle the City has
had in staggering to its present prosperity
under the CALLING burdens which the rail-
road imposed. He must be familiar with
the long series of scandals which have
grown out of all the operations Of the rail-
road in its contact with the law and its
functionaries. And he might remember
that, whatever may be the company's pro-
testations of virtue in the present case, not
a single other act of its long history can be
found to possess that quality.
Is it possible that the sweepings cannot
be transported to the park over the cable
anu eleCIrlC lines, OF IIlaJ IHey CHI Ue put
to no use other than the fertilization of the
park? These lines, running to all parts of
the City, seem to offer an ideal opportun-
ity, and to be far more convenient than
the present plan of carting the detritus to
the railroad depot and sending it by cir
cuitous route, miles out of the way, to its
destination. Street-car trucks are not ex-
pensive, few would be required, aban-
doned ones unfit for other service might be
found in numbers, and the cheapest ofcars
might be constructed for them to carry.
1t would seem that the sweepings could
be put to many uses in town. AS a fer
tilizer for private gardens and for nurseries,
and vegetable and florists gardens, there
ought to be a good demand for them.
We trust that Mr.. Dohrmann will SER
iously consider the whole case in the
larger form in which we have placed it,
and that thereby he may come to place his
own opinions in harmony with those of a
very large majority of our people.