The herald., 1897-05-01
Scare Over Alameda st.
Double Track
THE POLICE CALLED OUT
THE YORK AFTERWARD AZ
LOWED TO PROCEED
An Electric Road Crossing at First
Street the Cause Of the
Trouble

COuSlOeTdDle eNCltemeuV was CAUSED
about the city hall yesterday afternoon
between 3 and o'clock by report that
the Southern Pacific Railroad company
was starting to double-track Alameda
street by putting in double track cross
ings at First and Alameda Streets where
the electric road crosses the railroad.
Ex-Mayor Workman and ex-Councilman
Nj. T. Collins brought the news. and as
soon as they ascertained that no permit
for tearing up the street had been issued
by Mr.. Drain. they promptly reported
the matter to Mayor Snyder. His honor.
without losing any time, telephoned
Chief Glass to stop the work, and that
official with three policemen started for
the scene Of trouble, where they were
Joined by the mayor. A number of men
were found at work, but they stopped
al once on the orders of the chief, and
leaving two officers in charge to see that
the orders were obeyed, Mr.. Glass re-
turned to police headquarters, while the
mayor went back to the city hall. Dur
ing his absence General Manager F. w.
Wood of the Consolidated Railroad COM
pany had been notified, and he was on
hand to have the matter Strengthened
out.
A conference was held in the city at
tcrney's office, as a result Of which an
agreement was reached by which the po-
licemen were withdrawn and the work
allowed to proceed. Mr.. Wood stated
that when it was decided to change the
cid cable crossings at First and Alameda
streets, as they were not satisfactory for
electric traffic. he had asked Superin-
tendent Muir of the Southern Pacific if
his company intended to double-track
Alameda street in the near future, for
the reason that if they did he would
like to put in both of his crossings at
once, as he could do it much cheaper
ard more satisfactorily. Mr.. Muir had
told him that such was their intention;
that they intended to put down a dou-
BILE track very soon; that they would
apply to the city council for franchise.
and if this could not be had they would
proceed under their charter and pay the
damages, but that they must have the
double track. Mr. Wood stated that he
then went to work to get his own line
in shape. and had been proceeding since
Tuesday, when he was surprised to hear
that his men had been stopped.
Superintendent Muir was also called
up, and that gentleman assured both the
mayor and the city attorney that there
was no disposition to take any unfair
advantage of the city The matter has
been in the courts since 1893, and it would
be brought to focus very
soon, either by moving for the dissolu-
tion Of the injunction or by some other
means. On his assurance that no steps
would be taken without due notice on
the part of the railroad company and
en- the statement of Mr.. Wood, the work
ir progress was allowed to proceed.
The work which is being done by the
company and which caused
the alarm is the putting in of switches at
either end of the crossing, by which the
trains will be shifted upon the new
crossing while the old one is being re-
placed. The work is being done in a very
substantial manner and the fact that it |
is but comparatively short distance
down to Fourth street on the south and |
street on the north, where |
the company already has double tracks.
led to the belief that the company was |
by subterfuge to get !
around the injunction and lay it's tracks !
This suspicion was increased by the fact |
that the electric railroad has it's tracks |
torn up for a distance of hundred feet |
or more on First street. 1t was charged |
that this was done for the purpose OF
attention from the work OF
the railroad, but the electric people say
It. is necessary to straighten out kinks"
n their lines
In the latter part of 1893 the Southern
Pacific attempted to get franchise from
The city council for a double track on
Alameda street, from Fourth street
north to Commercial claiming that it
vas necessity by reason of the increas-
ng traffic. The property owners on Ala
media street, as well as residents of
Boyle Heights, made vigorous fight,
md succeeded in knocking out the fran
,kise. The Boyle Heights people in
sisted that by double-tracking the street
I would be like putting a Chinese wall
between that section and the business
,art of the city, while property owners
IN Alameda street contended that if Il
vas allowed it would virtually confiscate
he street for the use of the railroad
'OlHPoHys AIA-uldyOA w VI hAAdu c1uQ tA-
M. T. Collins were the lead
RS, and the fight was very hotly con-
ested. Finally, on the night of Nov.
/, 1898, the railroad company attempted
o steal a march and get down the track
,efore they could be stopped Every
hing was got in readiness and large
orce of men put at work, but they
we're discovered in time and stopped by
IN Injunction That portion of the street
orn up was restored to its previous con-
iition and the matter has since been
leeping. The people interested, how.
ver, have been very much awake, and
he throwing of shovelful of dirt by the
abroad company in the disputed terri
ory has been the signal for an alarm
which has only subsided when it was
hown there was no danger. The Incl
lent yesterday shows that the people
10 not intend to be caught mapping.
1t may be noted in this connection that
N Third and Alameda streets the
fraction company has double crossing
imilar to the one which the Consolidated
Electric is now laying.
>>-
Similarity Of Names
For several days past Associated Press
ispatches from San Francisco have con-
aimed accounts Of the escapades of a