The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-05-16
STREETS TO Be LIGHTED,
Gas and Electric People Ignore
the Order of the Super
ViSOrS.
THE COMPANIES DEF1AN
While There Is Money in the Fund
They VIII Stand by Their
Contracts.

when supervisor ldylOr dI tHc iaSI
meeting of the Board of supervisors made
his doleful speech, in which he stated that
the citizens of San Francisco would have
to wander in darkness for the next SIX
weeks; that the gas and electrie-light COM
panies would have to put out their street
lights for that period of time, and that the
$4,000 in the street-light fund would have
to be used for other purposes, he evidently
did not foresee he would be baked in his
purpose.
Neither did the other Supervisors, who,
in a half-hearted manner, voted "aye" to
the resolution to shut off the street lights.
There was some surprise among the
members of that body last night when they
saw that their order had been totally disre-
garded by the light-furnishing companies.
and that every gas and electric street light
in the city was burning as brightly as ever;
for last night was to begin the period of SIX
weeks of darkness.
''No, we do not intend to obey the order
of tina Supervisors and shut off our lights, "
said J. T. Green, secretary and manager OF
the Edison Light and Power Company.
"Under our contract with the City we must
furnish light until August 1, 1896. Our
attorney, E. J. McCutchen, has examined
the document and tells US to go on supply
ing street light the same as ever as long as
there is any money in the street-light
fund. That order is simply absurd. The
Supervisors say the action was taken be.
cause of the general shortage, but there is
no shortage in this particular fund, and
they cannot transfer any of this money to
any other fund until after the next tax
levy. We will continue to supply electric
light to our 500 arc street lamps, and we
will get paid when our money is due.
''There is one matter that we feel little
uncertain about, and that is the payment
for the 1900 incandescent lamps that we are
furnishing to the Free Library, Receiving
Hospital. Law Library, Tax Collector,
House of Correction, Assessor, Auditor,
County Clerk, Board of Education, Super
visors' Office, Treasurer office, District At
torney and the City Hall Commissioners
office.
Payment for these comes out of the
general fund, which is exhausted, or nearly
so. Under the law we can refuse to con-
tinue these lights, as there is no money in
the fund, but we do not wish to be too Sc
we're. We will trust to the City to save US
from loss. For May and June of last year
we were out $1,000 on these lights as the
Supervisors were unable to provide out of
this years taxes for last years debts.
"But with the street lights it is different.
1t means loss to us on our contracts. We
are under contract to use certain amount
of coal, and if we don't use it we will have
to pay for it just the same. To obey this
order we would have to dispense with the
services of about fifteen electricians who
receive 81 so a day, and who would seek
other employment if we threw them out
of work. Otherwise we would have to keep
them, because we cannot fill their places
at moments notice. Then we would
have to keep their horses and carts at $25 a
month for each team"
A meeting of the directors of the San
Francisco Gas Light Company was held
yesterday and they determined to keep
the lights going in spite of the Supervis-
ors' order. To be sure of their position the
matter has been referred to the company's
lawyers. ]. B. Crockett, the president,
said:
cit would be very expensive to this
company to be obliged to shut off our
street lamps. In the first place it would
throw out of employment seventy lamp
lighters who receive $40 month. For six
weeks of darkness we could not afford to
bring in our lamps, and in that time hun
dreds of panes of glass would be broken by
the small boys and hoodlums Wewould
have to take off all the burners and plug
o the pipes 10 prevent persons from Hghtlng
the lamps. This is done every time the
lights are ordered to be shut off, and in one
district last month over forty lamps were
lighted.
"We have already lost all we care to.
In 1898 we lost $1,000, and in 1894 $4,000 in
furnishing lights to public buildings, there
being no money 1.-THE general fund for the
payment of the debts.
eve refused to go into the contractors
combine recently, believing that it would
: do no good.".
While the Pacific Gas Improvement
Company is not interested in the recent
order, having no street lights, there is 6
matter that may cause the Supervisors
some annoyance before long in which thi.
company is interested. G. o. G. Miller
the treasurer, said: eve furnish so Del
cent of the gaslight in the new City Hall
lails and Fire Department, and the pay fol
this gas comes out of the general fund
which is now exhausted, or nearly so. Oul
contract with the Supervisors differs from
those OF the other companies. When il
was drawn up insisted upon clause be-
ing inserted permitting US to shut off oul
lamps in these places whenever the fund
was exhausted, or nearly so. Such is the
condition of that fund at the present time
and we would be glad if the Supervisor.
would tell us to put out these lamps. A.
1T will fha