The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-03-29
STREET. RAILWAYS
ALL FORTHCOMING,
ONE WANTS TO USE ELECTRICITY
ANOTHER WANTS MORE
TIME.
ANOTHER A NEW FRANCHISE.
ALL OF THEM WILL HAVE TO WAIT
UNTIL THE STREET COMMITTEE
THINKS ABOUT IT.

Street railway matters almost entirely
monopolized the time of the Street Com
mittee all day yesterday. Supervisor
Hughes presided during the morning ses-
sion and Chairman Spreckels during the
afternoon.
The Preside and Ferries Railway was
up for hearing on their petition for the
right to use electricity as motor on Wash
ington and Jackson streets to the relief of
the horses at present employed.
The Sutro Railway Company was present
in the person of Colonel Little, asking for
an extension of time in which to complete
the road.
The San Francisco and San Mateo Rail-
way was present through it's attorney and
secretary in behalf of its petition for a
very considerable extension in it's franchise.
None of these requests were granted. In
the discussion of two of them there was
quite spicy colloquy between members of
the board and the representatives of the
roads. Superintendent of Streets Ash
worth, who sits through the meetings of
the Street Committee as a matter of con-
venient reference and by way of gathering
important information for use in his Off
cial business, served as an embarrassing
obstacle to the San Francisco and San
Mateo.
Supervisor Hughes asked the attorney
for statement as to the status of the road
as operated now, and the attorney called
upon the secretary to answer. Mr.. Hughes
said that it had been found almost impos-
sible to get the company to do any repair
ing on the streets along its line. Mr.. Ash
worth cited number of instances where
the company had been notified to make re-
pairs, but had not only wholly neglected to
comply but had been rather curt in the
language used in replying thereto-that is,
the superintendent had.
The superintendent was present and
called for bill of particulars and it was
given, and the petitioners began to look
very uncomfortable. The secretary, how
ever said that the road being in the hands
of q receiver, was virtually being operated
under the eye of the court. 1t had been
very unfortunate and was now poor, but
that was no reason why it should be always
unfortunate and always poor. 1t was the
people to be benefited by the extension
that were asking for it rather than the COM
pany or the receiver.
Upon motion of Mr.. Hughes, the petition
was held over for two weeks, in which time
the question of whether the road should
not first be improved in its present limits
| rather than extended beyond them will be
| considered.
The petition on the part of the Sutro
| TOdu, MulCu was uCd1Q III Vic
| was also taken under advisement. There
were several protests against granting the
| extension of time. One of them, signed by
Ralph Wetherbee, was very abusive OF the
| Mayor, charging him with insincerity,
| his grounds for opposition being the en-
| croachment OF the Sutro road upon the
Knights of Pythiass burying ground in
| the City Cemetery. Another protest,
signed by William McDermott, complained
| that the material used in the building of
the road was not purchased in California.
Colonel Little said that the objection
probably grew out of the fact that 60
pound rails were being used and these
| could not be rolled in this State.
| Supervisor BENJAMIN declared that the
Market-street Railway Company was using
| 70-pound rails, and they were rolled here.
| Colonel Little replied that 60-pound 7
rails could not be rolled here. Supervisor
| Hughes said this was true; that T rails
of above a pounds could not be rolled
| here, "but," he added, tthe T rail is out of
| date and they should not be used.''
| Supervisor Morgenstern said that law
| should be enacted forbidding the use of the
r rail. He said it had been objected to
repeatedly. Supervisor Benjamin wanted
to know if the dynamos were to be bought
| in this city.
Colonel Little said it had not been de-
| terMined where they would be purchased,
| from the East. Supervisor Hughes sug-
gested that this matter, together with the
| invasion of the cemetery, be investigated,
and that, therefore, no decision be given
as yet. Colonel Little said that investiga-
ton was invited, as they had nothing to
conceal.
George A. Newhall was the advocate of
| the Presidio and Ferries Railroad in their
petition for the right to use electricity as q
motive power. 1t was the desire of the
road to dispense with horses on Washing
ton and Jackson streets, connecting with
the cable track at Montgomery avenue.
Mr.. Newhall explained that the company
intended to adopt electricity for the entire
line when the methods made it possible to
climb the hills by its means This matter
also was held over for one week.
The matter of paving with bituminous
rock Market street, between Valencia and
Castro, was referred to the Superintendent
of Streets.