The San Francisco call., 1896-11-25
"THE HUMP" MUST Go.
Work OF the Polk-street Improvement
Club-Some Peculiar Features
About Electric Lights.


About Electric Lights.
At the meeting of the Polk-street I'm
provement Club last evening the execu-
tive committee presented report show
ing that the Sutter-street line has already
made a concession in the matter of trans
fers at the request of the club. Transfers
are now issued at Sacramento street
which enables passengers to leave the cars
at that point, do business on Polk street
and then use their transfers on Sutter
street. The report also announced that
the Californla-street line will also make
some arrangement in the matter of trans
fers.
This committee also announced that the
special committee had presented a Pc
tition to the Supervisors asking for the
removal of "the hump" on Polk street,
and that the matter had been referred to
the City Engineer.
The club decided to join the Association
of improvement Clubs, and the following
were named as delegates: l.. III. Kohn,
n. Bibo. w. P. Humphreys, James Dem
man and William Freese.
Mr.. Bradbury stated in relation to the
hump that Warren 81 Malley had stated
that they would remove it for $2500 cash,
and II an assessment district was created.
as they own 200 feet frontage on the
hump, they would bid $4,000 to remove it,
they paying their share of the assessment.
Mr. Denman said that if the City Eugi-
neer gave an honest estimate of the cost
OF the work no assessment district could
be formed. The law, he said, requires
that the estimate must be not less than so
per cent of the value of the property, and
that in this case the estimate would be
fixed as it had been Eeore at about $40
600. He thought there was joker in the
scheme for an assessment district and
warned the club to act with care.
After a discussion, in which several
mem bers took part, it was stated that it is
the intention of the club TO have the street
cut through and take some other measure
in regard to the change of grade of inter-
mediate streets.
A statement was made that Mr. Morrow,
president of the Sutter-street Railroad
Company, had stated that as soon as the
street is opened the Polk-street line will
be extended to the beach.
Mr.. Denman urged the club to use it's
influence, in conjunction with other i'm
provement clubs. to have the Legislature
change the law so as to enable grades to
be changed. Such a change, he said
would be worth millions of dollars TO the
City.
President Kohn said that the club will
rush the removal of the hump, and will
look after grades later on.
Mr.. Levin OF the special committee on
electric lights, reported that the Mutual
Company would furnish lights for 81 rs
for which the club is now paying So, and
urged the club to enter into a contract
with that company to take effect at the
termination of the present six months
contract. a motion to that effect was
carried.
During discussion on lights it was de-
veloped that the Edison Light Company
does not reduce its rates, but on yearly
contracts makes a rebate of 10 per cent
when the bills amount TO $50 week; that
trolling interest in the Western Electric
Light Company and in the Har5or Light
Company; that these two companies act
INDEPENDENTLY, but when the Mutual
enters into competition with the Edison
this company draws out and allows one of
the two other panles to enter into COM
petition and furnish lights as low as 81 So