The San Francisco call., 1897-05-18
TO SHUT OFF THE GAS,
The Supervisors Will Be Asked
to Substitute Arc
Lights.
A Supe' fully Which Has Become a
Burden On the Business
Men.

Strenuous efforts will be made by the
retail storekeepers over,'Jhe greater portion
OF the business center of the City to have
the Supervisors substitute arc lights for
the street lamps now in use all over the
City.
During the past six months the retail
storekeepers on the principal streets of
the CITY contributed out of their pockets
direct for display of electric-lights over
the center OF the streets.
The result of this experiment has proven
satisfactory 10 the merchants, as il
brought trade during the evenings where
as when the sire cts were in a condition oi
semi-d arkness, with a biurring gasjet
Pickering on the street crossing, people
hesitated to go shopping, save on the
more frequented thoroughfares, such as
Market and kearny streets.
Polk street being the pioneer in this
progressive movement, encouraged others
to follow, and all claim that business was
vastly i'm proved by the innovation.
The expense OF this additional light was
borne by the storekeepers direct, except
on Third street, where the landlords went
in the pool. This aid was the idea o1
Bernard Katschinski of the Phiadel phia
shoestore, who argued that what bene-
property-owners. His reasoning was that
property without producing an income
was useless to its owner, and ii the busl-
ness on street improved the property
was worth so much more to its owner.
And now comes q united front urgin g
the substitution of electric lights on all
the business streets in the principal part
OF the City, and the same time the shutting g
of OF the street gas lamps on such streets
NAV be lighted bV Plecfr:city
l.. V. Merle, president OF the Sixth
street improvement Club, is an enthusi-
ast on this subject and he will, with the
members of his club, urge such move
before the Supervisors before the next ap-
preparations are made for street lights.
John T. Sullivan, president of the Fourth
street improvement Club, will cooperate
in this movement
MJohn Hayden, the pioneer OF the arc
light movement on Ninth street, signifies
his Intention 10 join any movement lead
ing to the substitution of electric ligh IS
for gas lamps ali over the City.
b. hatschlnskl, president of the Third
street Club, Will call meeting of his club
IN he near future for an expression of
opinion from the mem bers as a BODY. His
own position on this subject is fully ex-
pressed In few words. He said:
Let US turn on the light all over the
entire City. 1t will be cheaper in the eno
than the present system of gaslight, and
besides it will make San Francisco pro-
gressive and business-iike. Gas for street
light is just as obsolete now as were oil
lamps fifty years ago.
Tine San Francisco people are liberal to
fault. Just look at tire Balboa boule-
ward; over $4,000 subscribed in few
months. Again, The people want anothe
big park and a geological collection
thrown in. What we want is Board OF
Supervisors to work in harmony with the
people. GIVE them good streets and
plenty OF light and in a few years the peo-
pie will be astonished a. themselves for re.
naming so long behind the age.'
The Polk-street clubs contract for
electric lights for six months has expired.
and no steps have been taken to renew it,
as the merchants are hopeful thatb The
lst of July the street will be lighted al
the expense of The taxpayers.
A similar opinion is entertained by
other clubs whose street-light contracts
are about TO ex pire.
A determined movement will be made
to have the Supervisors take action or
this matter mex. month.