The San Francisco call., 1896-06-04
The New Franchise of the Geary.
Street Road Will Be
Opposed.
MONEY FOR ELECTRIC LIGHTS.
Stanyan and Oak Streets, Near Golden
Gate Park, Shou Be Re.
paired at 0uce.

The San Francisco Associated Improve
ment Clubs met in the B mai B 'rith build
ing last evening, and considered a number
OF matters of the utmost importance to the
tax paving citizens of this City. James
D. Phelan assumed the chair, and in
few fitting remarks outlined the objects
and policy of the orga nization.
There were present delegates from
twenty local improvement clubs, and the
first business OF the meeting was to admit
to me mbership the Ocean View organiza.
ton.
The following committees were then ap-
pointed by the chair:
Street railways-Dr. Thomas E. Shumate of
Western Addition Association; S. j. Dwyer,
New Potrero; Charles w. Cusnman, Sunset !;
George Magoonis, Richmond District; F. Z.
Mackney, West OF Castro.
Streets and parks-G: S. Centree. Folsom No.
l; W. NJ. Metzner, Mission Union; Luke
Battles, Point Lobos; W W Rednau, Market
street; John Rafferty,, Folsom No. 4.
Law Legislation and public action-F. W.
Defense Union; Leon Samues, Folsom No. 8;
George A. Ranken, Ashbury Heights; DR..
Salfeld, Panhandle.
Public uti!ities-F. G. Hewston, Southside;
Folsom No. /; J, J. Barrett, Sunnyside; Joseph
Sheerer, Sanchez street.
Pu DllC WOrkb, Du1lQlDgS ana lnStltutlODS-
DR.. T. A. RottanZi Southside; John H. Grady,
Mission High School; Charles Ellis, Park Hill;
F. w. McEwen, Folsom No. 2; A. G. Lille,
Holly Park.
Under the head of new business number
of resolutions were introduced. The first
was presented by the delegates from the
Richmond District Improvement Associ-
alton.
1t was protest against the rattler test
ordinance and was referred to the commit
tee on streets and parks. A resolution by
the PARK Hill Improvement Club asking
for an appropriation OF 5000 for the i'm
provement of Buena Vista Park was re-
ferred 10 The same committee. a resolu-
tion regarding the Mission park met like
fate.
When it came to the matter of opposing
the granting of new franchise to the
Geary-street, Park and Ocean Bairoad the
club was unit. The following resolution
was read and referred to the committee on
street railroads, with instruc tions that the
com mittee appear before the Board of
Supervisors to-day and plead against the
granting OF the new franchise:
To the Board Of Supervisors of the Caty and
County Of San Francisco = GENTLEMEN: Your
petitioners, owning property and valuable in
terests in the district lying north of Golden
Park and Ocean Railway Company, owing a
franchise for the construction and operation
OF q street RAILROAD, 10 VIII.
Commencing at the west line of Market
street at its intersection with Geary thence
along Geary street and Point Lobos avenue
westerly to Fifth avenue, thence along Fifth
avenue to Golden Gate Park
Did, in the month of May last, present pc
tition in which they respectfully ask your
honorable board. to extend the lterm of
ating to wit, order 1869 of 1878; line extended
by order 1918 OF 1879; line extended by order
229O of 1890, from November 6, 1903, when
issBg i5s Bgfesen' franchise expires to November O.
We call the attention of your honorable
board to the fact that the said franchise still has
seven clear years of life before it, that it is be-
ing operated under extremely favorable condi-
tions, no portion of their gross receipts being
paid into the treasury OF the City and County.
We note that all franchises granted since 1889
have been condition that per cent OF the
gross receipts be paid INTO the. City treasury.
Also, that II recent law passed by the State
Legislature requires all franchises to be sold
to the highest bidder. We note the sale of
franchise along Clement street and Point
Lobos avenue, which was thus disposed of for
the sum of 5000, which was duly paid into
the City treasury.
Your honorable board is fully aware that the
transfer system now in operation in this City
is causing very general uneasiness and alarm
in the minds OF the citizens OF this City. We
learn continually OF these privileges being cur
tailed and vexatious conditions being at
tached thereto, SO that it is expected within a
short time that these privileges will DE stopped
altogether.
Your petitioners live SO far from the business
portion of the City that the street railroads
are almost necessary condition of our exist
ence. Thus. by adverse action they can almost
cause the ruin of the large property interes IS
which are at stake and destroy their taxable
values, which would cripple the resources of
our City government
We therefore pray you to put these large cor
poration interests on their good behavior for
the next seven years. The City authorities
would then have perfect right to offer th is
franchise to the highest bidder, subject to a
share in the gross receipts and under such con-
ditions that the rights granted TO the citizen
by an "act OF the Legislature fixing rates o.
fare" approved January /, 1878, was subjec i
to no uncertain meaning. !
Section 1 reads as follows: