The San Francisco call., 1896-03-15
A BLANKET INJUNCTION,
Electric Light Poles May Be
Erected in ALI Parts of
the City.
A Corporation That Received More
Than the Municipal Authorities
Desired.

The Superintendent of Streets is won
dering just how he is going to prevent the
| indiscriminate placing of electric wire
poles throughout the City, in view OF re-
cent restraining order granted by Judge
| Seawell, and is also little at a loss to un-
derstand how such an order slipped
through without his being apprised of the
| matter by the City and County Attorney.
| Some time ago an electric light. and
power company began erecting poles in
| front of the Blythe property on Market
street and was ordered to cease by Chief
| Deputy Donovan. The company at once
went into court and procured a restraining
order, pending suit for a permanent in
| junction against the Superintendent, which
the Street Department. supposed related
only to the poles in question.
Yesterday the company began putting
up poles in front of the Parrott building,
and when warned to stop the employees
coolly informed the Street Department
Deputy that the courts had ordered the
Street Superintendent to stop hindering
them.
Chief Deputy Donovan at once hurried
to the City Hall and inspected the order in
the County Clerks Office. To his astonish-
ment he found that the restraining order
was of the blanket kind, and virtually
throws the door open for the company to
erect as many poles and in as many locali-
ties as it pleases while the case is pending.
Judge SeaWelps order reads as follows:
Upon reading the complaint, duly filed and
verified by the plaintiff in the aboye-entitled
proceeding, and it appearing therefrom that
1t is proper case for an injunction, and that
sufficient grounds exist therefor, and
the necessary and proper undertaking
having been given upon motion of coun-
sci for plaintiff, it is ordered that the de-
fendants in said proceeding show cause, if any
they have before this court, in department No.
l. at its courtroom in the new City Hall in the
CITY and County of San Francisco, on the 9th
day OF March, 1896, at 10 O'Clock A. NJ. why a
prayed for in said complaints and it is further
orde red in the meantime and until the foregO-
ing order to show cause Is heard and deter
mined that the departments, their officers,
deputies agents, employees, servants and
attorneys be restrained and enjoined from
interfering WITH. obstrueting or prohibiting
this plaintiff, its servants, officers and en-
ployes from erecting its posts and making the
necessary connections with its supply wires
and furnishing electric lights to the citizens
and inhabitants of the City and County OF
San Francisco, and especially from preventing
and hindering from making connections with
its electric supply wires as aforesaid on said
Market street in the said City and County OF
San Francisco in the block bounded by Geary,
Kearny, Grant avenue and Market street.
1t is further ordered that copy of this order
to show cause and restraining order and of the
said complaint be served on the defendants al
least three days before the time herein fixed
for hearing. J. N. sEAWELL, Judge.
Judge Seawell will probably be asked al
once to mo dify the order.