The San Francisco call., 1895-10-13
TO LIGHT MARKET STREET
Plea OF the Merchants AS
ISOLATION Before the
Supervisors.
FACTS AND FIGURES GIVEN.
The Matter Presented In Such q
Way as to Show an Actual
Saving In Cost.

In response to the invitation OF the
Board of Supervisors Secretary Freud, on
behalf OF the Merchants Association, ap-
peared before the Committee on Street
Lights yesterday morning to advocate the
| adoption by the Board of Supervisors of
the proposition OF adequately lighting
Market street with electric lights. He
called attention to the big petition signed
by over 1000 property-owners and mer-
chants upon Market street and presented
to the board about month ago. He also
read the resolutions unanimously adopted
by the board of directors of the Merchants
Association on September in favor of this
progressive step.
The question was discussed in two parts.
First, the adyisability and desirability of
having Market street adequately illum-
mated at night, and secondly, the ex-
pense. He urged there could be no ques-
ton as to the policy of having this main
artery OF the City properly lighted up. At
present to the visitors to the City, it pre-
sents dismal appearance at night from
the ferries to Mon tgomery street. From
that point up to Valencia street after the
shops have extinguished their lights it is
by no means attractive. There is no City
in the world of equal population with San
Francisco whose main thoroughfare is so
poorly Illuminated. Even as compared
with other cities of the State, such as Los
Angeles, San Jose, Oakland and Sacra-
mento, it is a fact that San Francisco is
much behind the times In this respect.
Among the leading cities of California it
may be said that with the exception of
Vallejo, San Francisco is the worst lighted
up City. Therefore the spirit of progress
that is now awakening in this City de-
mands better illumination of this main
thoroughfare.
Mr.. Freud then took up the matter of
cost.
Regarding the expense of carrying out this
project, the Merchants Association has been
in communication with Clerk Russell of the
Board OF Supervisors, and he has kindly fur
n1shed the data upon which my argument is
| based. From his figures it appears that the
present cost Of lighting the City's streets ex-
ceeds 100000 year, or about $1,000 per
night OF this amount over 100000 is ex-
pended for gas lamps and the balance for cleo
trio lights in the outlying districts of the City.
The contract of the City with the gas and cleo
! trio light companies will not expire until
August l, 1896. The contract price for each
! gas lamp is IL cents per night and for each
electric light is 55 cents per night. There are
now seventy-slx gas lamps on Market street,
| from the ferry to Valencia street, at cost of
| u cents each, giving total OF So IL per night
| for these gas lamps. In order to properly and
thoroughly light up this thoroughfare it will
require fifty-six electric lights suspended along
the center of the street at the crossings, which,
at the cost of 90 cents per night, will amount
to $50 so per night. No additional poles will
| be required. Therefore it will cost the City
only $21 90 more to light Market street ade-
quately with electric lights.
| 1t certainly is worth this difference, but it
will not be necessary to add any cost, for it is
| fact that there are number of localities where
both gas and electricity are now used, and it
will be easy matter for the Board of Super
yisors to dispense with these gas lamps. The
| contract with the gas company is for not less
| than 800 lamps. They are now charging the
City for $500 gas lamps. Therefore if this
| board will cut off only 400 gas lamps it would