The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-05-09
WAN IS WIRES
PUT UNDERGROUND
Mayor Phelan Will Call a
Meeting to Consider
the Matter.
Electric Companies Asked to Aid
in Beautilying the
Streets.
The Pac fc Telephone Company Is
Warned That It Is Breaking
the Ordinances.

Mayor Phelan will make an effort on
Thursday next to bring about an under
standing with the large electric com panies
of this City regarding the method OF con-
Quoting electricity through the streets.
He mailed the following communication
to the San Francisco Gas aud Electric
Company, Peoples Mutual Telephone
Company, Mutual Electric Light Com
pany, Superintendent HeWett OF the
Police Fire Alarm and Telegraph, Super
intendent of Streets, mem bers OF Street
Committee of the Board OF SUI ervlsors,
Market-street Railroad Company, Spr ing
Valley Water Company and the Auxill-
airy Fire Alarm:
MAYORS OFFICE
SAN FRANCISCO, Cal, May 8. 1877
Genten have called conference at the
rooms oil the Street Com mittee of the Board of
Supervisors, City Hal, next thursday, May
ID, AT p. NJ, in order to arrive at some under
standing between the companies WHEREBY the
appearance OF the City Will be improved III the
matter OF laying conduits IN the tnickly set
tied portions of the City Tor the purpose OF
carrying wires and the Abandonment OF poles
and overhead wires as now maintained you
will oblige me by sending representative to
such conference, and cooperating with the
City in carrying out the programme OF munich
I pal progress in these directions, SO that we
may take our place among the cities OF the
country.
The maintenance OF poles and wires you
will agree with me, Is disagreement OF the
S reefs and an impeachment 10 firemen in the
discharge of their duties; on the other hano
we have no disposition 10 embarrass the COM
panies in their desire 10 give us perfect tele-
phonic and telegre phic service. Good results
can be obtained only by the fullest Cooper
alton between the companies and the CITY,
and l will rely upon your co-opera ton as cit-
ZAns as well as in your corporate capacity as
JAMES d. PHELAN. Mayor.
At the same time he mailed the follow
ing letter to John |. Sabn, president of
the Pacific Telephone and Telegraph Com
pany:
Dear Sir: Property-owners in the Western
Addition have made formal complaint to this
office that you are erecting poles in front or
their property without permits. l desire TO
call your immediate attention to the fran
chise under which you are operating. viz,
Order No 21S6 of the Board of Supervisors,
and TO section therein.
After quoting the franchise the letter
resumes:
/ also call your attention to resolution of
the Board of Supervisors, approved February
IL, 1884, and numbered l6 S2S. new series,
and still in force, which compels all telephone
| and telegraph companies TO apply for per-
mission 10 erect pc eS and in each case to
specify the location OF each pole before the
work is begun. As you are acting without
permit l notify you TO proceed no Iurlner
until such permit be granted by the Board of
| Supervisors.
| In This connection invite you or your rep
| resentstlve TO meet me at the rooms of the
Street Committee of the Board of Supervisors,
| City Hall, next Thursday, May ID. al o'clock
P. NJ. have invited the representatives OF all
the companies mai tanning poles in this
City, so that an understanding may by ar
| rived at with respect TO the future policy of
| the companies. The telephone company, l
am aware, has laid conduils in the principal
| streets, policy which should be followed by
| telegraph and other companies using wires
| This work should be done before the streets
| are permanently paved.
! The maintenance OF poles and exposed wires
| is not only a Disagreement of the City but a
serious impeachment to firemen in their work ;
| and nc great city in the country tolerates the
| maintenance Of such nuisance in its thickly
| settled sections except San Francisco. The
| City will rely upon your full cooperation,
which, we trust will be given. Very truly
yours, JAMEsD. PHELAN, Mayor.