The San Francisco call., 1896-05-31
Citizens Indignant at the Latest
Movement of the Rail.
road.
MERCHANTS ARE PROTESTING
Serious Injury to the Town Predicted
by Residents and Business
Men.

klameds is much exercised over the pro-
posed placing OF gates on the local trains
in that suburb, and decided action is being
urged on the Town Trustees by indiSna Mt
citizens, who claim that the company has
no right to use the Objectionable barriers.
William Hammond, one of the Town
Trustees, has no use for gates on trains
and he is confident that his colleagues on
the board are of the same mind as he.
"Will any official action be taken to pre-
vent the proposed course of the railroad 2"
he was asked.
"Most decidedly action will be taken,
and that promptly, too, as soon as we are
certain that the company contemplates
such q move," he replied, and then con-
tinued:
"a motion will be made that the City
Attorney look into the matter and ascer-
tain if the company has the right to keep
people from riding free on their trains in
Alameda. If they have the right we can,
of course, do nothing legally to prevent
their carrying out the plan, but think in
that case there will be some JOINT public
action taken by the people to protest
against the measure.
"If. however, the company should be
found to be acting in violation of the
| spared to make them conform strictly to
the law. 1 believe that when the fran
/ chise was granted it was agreed that for
so many years-1 don't remember exactly
| how many-they were to carry the people
of Alameda from one place to another free
of charge.
81 sincerely hope that they will not at
1 tempt to charge our residents fare. For
| them to do so would be to show base in
gratitude, for the citizens of Alameda,
right straight through, from the Trustees
| to the hum blest private resident have
been very favorably and generously in
clined toward the big corporations.
During the great strike of two years
ago, for instance, We stood by the railroad
| and gave them every possible assistance,
| moral and physical We even went so far
as to appoint special policeman, who was
paid by the city, to protect the railroad
| property.
| see gates put on the trains here. Th re is
| no doubt in my mind but that it wound be
serious detriment to the merchants of
| Park street and others in this part OF Ala
media"
B. L. Fisher OF Combs & Fisher, butchers
| and grocers, was inclined to view the
situation as one likely to stimulate Ala
| SO as to retain their trade as against Oak
| land.
1.-THE way look at it Is this" explained
| Mr.. Fisher. "These people in Oakland are
| offering inducements TO our residents tc
go over there. They are even going to tbs
extent of offering to pay their carfare, and
| if they put gates on our trains it may wake
up our people and show them the neces-
| sity of doing something to guard against
| the evil effect of such action.
1.-The use of gates would certainly be in.
furious to US, ii we did not do something
to induce people to come to this part o
| town to do their shopping. We should
! either provide. free buses for them or ar
range to pay their carfare."
One of the members of the real estate
firm of II. P. Moreal & Co. did not seem
to think it feasible that the Southern Pa
cific would dare to adopt measure which
was certain to be detrimental 10 the inter
ests of Alameda.
This news struck so suddenly" be
said, ..we hardly know what to say about
it or lust how it will affect things. o.
course it will be detrimental, and particu-
larry to this end of Alameda, but to what
extent il is difficult to say. If gates are
! nut on the cars and fare charged for rid
ing from one point in Alameda to another
it will have direct tendency to kill ths
retail trade that is now growing up or
Park street and this section. 1t Will GER
tainly drive the bulk OF the Alameda west
end trade to Oakland if the people have L
pay carfare."
a. w. Mitchell, proprietor of the Park
street Cash store, dealer in groceries. saw
the partial depopulation OF Alameda as tn,
re ult of the proposed innovation.
"I think it will drive people away from
the town of Alameda" he said in tones o
mingled protest and sorrow. .'Peopl,
come TO town in a large measure owint