The San Francisco call., 1898-04-05
MAY TAKE GATES OFF THE TRAINS Proposed Move of the =. Railroad to Hold Travel. Broadway Lines Are Not Paying Operating :: Expenses. . Opposition on Eighth Street to Be Fought at Any
 Cost ;.&. e.. ~ NEW SYSTEM ON TRIAL. 
 Free Travel on Seventh Street Is the Next Move on the Programme.
Opposition on Eighth Street to Be Fought at Any
 Cost.
~ NEW SYSTEM ON TRIAL
Free Travel on Seventh Street Is the Next Move on the
 Programme.
Oakland Office of San Francisco Call,
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 The startling information leaked out to- day that the railroad company may take the gates off the local trains If the fight for street traffic patronage between the Realty Syndicate and Southern Pacific 'becomes more bitter.
 The system of transfers between the Broadway lines, owned by the Southern Pacific. and the steam trains on Seventh street commenced to-day. This move will be watched with great interest. as it has been forced on the company owing to the fact that they have no cross-town road to which to transfer, except the steam road. It is well known that since the %GuttIng off of transfers with the lines of the Realty Syndicate the business of the San Pablo cable road has fallen off con siderably, as passengers naturally patro- niZe lines that transfer them all over town.
 The Southern Pacific has now begun is suing transfers from the steam trains to tie streetcars as well as the other way, and the company expects thereby to get back much, if not all, of its lost traffic ;.' It was stated to-day by one in the en- . trial, the new transfer arrangement does not come up to expectations the Seventh * street local will be again turned into a .free line and the gates will be taken off. ,, :%The syndicate is just now connecting the East Oakland road with the Eighth street line to West Oakland. This will provide an electric road clear across town and paralleling the steam road at only a distance of one block. Passengers com ing from Berkeley, Alameda, Fruitvale and any part of Oakland can be trans ferred to the through Eghth-street line either way for one fare, and even with transfers to the steam lines the railroad is at big disadvantage, for the trains only run every thirty minutes and every hour after D. m., while the electric cars keep up ten-minute travel.
 There will be considerable opposition to any attempt to restore free travel on the Seventh-street line, although there has always been desire on the part of many that the gates be removed. The Eighth street line is now the best-paying of all the roads in the city, and free travel of Seventh street would naturally draw off portion of the patronage.
 Some time ago the syndicate held an option on the Broadway lines. but did not take it up, and it is believed that, should the competition continue as un- eific will be glad to dispose of its two lines and go out of the street railroad business altogether in this city. The sworn statements of the company and the arguments of E. Black Ryan, for the past four years before the Board of EQualiza- tion show that the lines have never made a cent.
 The question of the Southern Pacific street railroads in this city will doubtless " be brought to the attention of c. P. Huntington. When he was out here last he gave an interview outlining a man. trains and streetcars, but so far nothing - has developed. The Realty Syndicate, headed by F. M. Smith the borax ma {: nipulator, is undoubtedly the strongest competitor the Southern Pacific Company has. ever encountered in Alameda County.