The San Francisco call., 1896-10-25

lanterns from the store windows and avn
ings on each side and overhead the long
line of dazzling arc lights, small boy
carried under the eyes of the people up
and down that thoroughfare, from Suffer
street to Pacific avenue.
The celebration of the first electric-light
illumination of Polk street last evening
was wide-open success. 1t illustrated in
a remarkable manner what united effort
and intelligently directed enterprise may
do. 1t demonstrated that while Market
street may be the main artery of the City
there are others-or at least there is an
other.
From the hour the electric current was
turned on until nearly midnight last
night Polk street, within the limits named,
throbbed with life and excitement.
The red glare OF Greek fire painted the
outlines of buildings and lit the sky for
the length of the thoroughfare, while
music and fireworks ran riot up and down.
The celebration marks the realization
OF dream of the Polk-street Improve
ment Club, organized less than two
months ago.. Arc lights have been swung,
three in each block. for six blocks, from
Sutter to Vallejo street. They put a new
face on the street at night.
The mem bers of the club, merchants
and property-owners pay for the improve
ments by asses sment.
While the nurlvburly was going on out
side the club held meeting at Lodge
Hall on Polk street, corner of Sacramento,
addressed 10y DR.. Williams of the Board of
Health, Benjamin Fehnemann, Nathan
Bibb, President Kohn and +. w. Dohr-
mann. The speeches were all congratu-
latory and touched upon the general and
great benefits to be accomplished by i'm
provement clubs.
The political candidates did not lose the
opportunity and were present at the meet
ing, while their bell-wagons added TO the
clamor in the street. The Letter-carriers
band took a prominent part in the demon
stration, and every shopkeeper felt it a
duty to burn more or less gunpowder.
Colonel Will Z. Fisher bought great
strings of firecrackers, which he burned
from the top of the telegraph-pole at the
corner OF Sutter and Polk streets. He
sent small boy to the. crossbars where
the strings were fastened.
The lower end being lighted, the ex-
element spread about the community un-
til the street was blocked and traffic sus-
pended. In the midst of it a policeman
rushed in and demanded to know of Mr..
Fisher who was responsible for the hub
bub. Mr.. Fisher did not know. "Well,
do you know if he got permit to use the
telegraph pole in this way?"
Indeed do not" said Mr.. Fisher, dis
interestedly.
"Then I'll have to stop this" cried the
policeman, with growing excitement.
Every well" said Fisher, "thats the
thing to do. Stop it,
The policeman looked UP.
By this time the crackers were swapping
half way up the pole toward the cross
bars, far out of reach. The policeman
glanced upward and then made his way
through the crowd, which was now laugh
ing at his discontinue.
The celebration was organized and thus
successfully carried through by the sub
committee of the club on electric light
two men. Valentine Schmidt and John o.
Quinn. They were, of course, cordially
assisted by the officers and every member.
The officers are: L. I'll. Kohn, president;
Nathaniel .Bibo, first vice-president; John
E. Quinn, second vice-president; Major
Robert Moss, secretary; G. ID. Roberts,
treasurer.
The reception committee at the lodge
hall was composed OF John O'Dea, Alex