The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-08-04
HOW TO GET A FRANCHISE,
Methods of the Markets Street
Company to Secure Point
LoboS Avenue.
PARK COMMISSIONERS ASSENT.
A Fifty-Year Lease Of a Valuable
Thoroughfare Given Without
Recompense.

On the morning of July the people of
the Richmond District were astonished to
see force of nearly 100 men tearing up
Point Lobos avenue between Twelfth and
Thirteenth avenues. Inquiry developed
the fact that the Market-street Cable Com
pany was preparing to build an electric
line from First avenue out Point Lobos
road to the ocean. Just why they should
have commenced work at Twelfth avenue
no one was able to learn then or since,
though the theory has been advanced that
the railroad people hoped to get under
good Roadway before their purpose was
fully understood.
On the morning following the advent of
these hundred workmen THE CALL gave
notice that the Southern Pacific had no
rights Cd Point Lobos avenue. because the
conditions of the franchise granted them
June 3, 1892, had not been complied with,
consequently they were trespassers of the
most violent order. 1t was another Church.
street steal pure and simple and that was
all there was to it. That very same day
the gang of 100 men was reduced to less
than fifty, though the biggest surprise of
all was to follow On the third morning
there were lust enough men at work to
load and unload some four or FIVE carts.
These men were busy covering up the
work of the two previous days, and when
night came Point Lobos road, between
Twelfth and Thirteenth avenues, was as
smooth and as level as any part of the
great ocean thoroughfare.
THE Calls expose of the Southern Pa
ciic's scheme thwarted 1t for the moment,
though the company Immediately pro-
ceeded to place itself on the right side of
the legal fence. 1t applied to the Park
Commissioners for new franchise on
Point Lobos avenue. and got it. In order
to get clearer appreciation of the tactics
pursued by the corporation and its appar-
ent "pulP' and its ability to get any
thing it wants it is necessary to delve
little in ancient history.
In 1877 the City purchased from the San
Francisco and Point Lobos Road Company
the thoroughfare known as Point Lobos
avenue. One year later it was committed
to the charge of the Park Commissioners.
The Ocean Beach Railway Company held
franchise over the road at the time,
though it was allowed to lapse. In 1892
this company, which was later absorbed
by the Market-street corporation, secured
another franchise along the same terri
tory. 1t agreed to spend $4,000 during
the first twelve months, and to complete
the entire road within three years. 1t COM
plleQ Win none OF the conditions, Tor three
years and thirty-hve days elapsed before a
jot of work was done on the road.
The railroad people realized that the
franchise was worthless in part, if not in
whole, for in February last they asked the
Board of Supervisors for an extension of
twelve months, which was readily granted,
Extensions are common things nowadays,
but it is little out of the order of things
to grant this courtesy on franchise that
had been forfeited months before.
The Market-street Company never
thought it necessary to secure the consent
of the Park Commissioners to build the
electric line on Point Lobos avenue,
though this was one of the conditions of
the forfeited franchise.
1t was not until THE CALL exposed the
lawless work attempted by this company
that the Commissioners thought it worth
their while to look into the matter. They
found that the franchise, according to Mr..
Lynch, did not expire until September
next, and that while they had not given
their consent to the construction Of the
road they were perfectly willing to do so.
The Park Commissioners did not at that