The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-10-01

arms, to each, of which would be fas
tened ~ arc light These columns, or
suppor ould be placed 145 feet apart
in til cen er of the street, between the
car tracks, where there is very little We
hicle travel, ample space existing on the
outer portions of the street. At the base
of each column there: would be a small
platform five feet square, raised five
inches above the level of the street. This
refuge, for pedestrians crossing" The
vast number of vehicles and street cars
which now use Market street make it
very difficult at all times for persons on
foot to cross from one curb to the other.
The width of the thoroughfare is so great
that it takes considerable agility to dodge
bitumen is down on the entire street, the
crush of travel will be redoubled and the
difficulties and dangers to pedestrians
proportionately increased. What, them
could be nicer than a refuge station at
the base of an iron column every 145 feet?
The slightly raised platform would pre-
vent vehicles from crossing 1t. Persons
could stand there in security and wait
their chance to continue across the street
or board cars when they chose to do so.
1.-THE two arc lights at the top of each
column, on the smaller arms, would be
furnished by the street car company and
kept burning all night free of charge to
the city. This would, in fact, represent
the price of the concession. The extra
expense to the company would not be ex-
cessive. inasmuch as It would have its
own electric plant, while San Francisco
would secure one of the most attractive
boulevards in the world. Just imagine
the grand effect that would be produced
by the two continuous lines of electric
arc lamps cleaning the whole length of
the street. Night would be transformed
into day. Market street would become
an avenue more popular in the evening
than it IS now in the day time. AS a
promenade 1t would be without a peer
In the country. Carriages would throng
upon ii. Last, but not least, business in
the stores would be increased so per cent,
and ali at no cost to the taxpayers. 1
believe that the Market Street Company
would consent TO the scheme for the sake
of getting their expensive cables re-
moved and the more economical trolley
system substituted. The citizens would
gain by the change as much, or more,
than the company. Why not suggest the
plan? Personally, l am in favor of bury
ing electric wires in most cases, but here
is one where the city would be really
improved in appearance by putting wires
up. There would be but two wires, and
the ornamental iron columns would ada
to the beauty of the bituminized street
rather than detract from 1t. Here is a
sketch, of the iron supports as would
have them made"
would you seek to bury all other wires
along the street," was asked.
Yes, but not immediately It costs
money to bury telephone and telegraph
wires electric light wires and the like.
In fact, the expense is very heavy. l
would, therefore. give the various COM
panies little time in which to effect the
change, say five years, oblging them to
do a part of the work each year. In the
outlying districts, where there are not SO
many wires as in the downtown districts,
they could all be ordered underground
within year. But it is best to give more
time In the business sections. The city
does not want to be unreasonable. AS
far as Market street is concerned. l would
favor placing wires in two conduits, one
along the outer edge of each sidewalk:
The conduits could be easily reached
without tearing up the street. There Is
plenty of space along the edge of the
/ walks for such conduits.
lone more point With the wires buried
along both sides of Market street and
| only the tall, ornamental iron columns In
| the center the entire appearance of the
| street will not only be transformed but
| the dangers arising from fires will be
| of wires makes it hard to use any appa-
| ratus at fires especially ladders. Wher
| the wires are once buried they will require
| but little attention, lasting in their inSu-
lated coverings for years.
| ''You can present this plan for fmprov-
| ing Market street with my expressed
| Judgment that 1t ought to be tried. will
| guarantee that the result would be salts
| factory.
Mr.. Hewitt's project, at once expressed
approval of IT.
sis now trying to get the city to light Mer-
| ket street with. uniform electric lamps
pense. The city would get more out OF
the trolley franchise thus granted thar
| ont of most other franchises. The cost OF
| lighting Market street with arc lights
would be So cents per lamp per night Il
| done on the basis of existing CONTRACTS
/ That would mean several thousand dol
| lars per month. My idea is that the. Mar
| ket Street Company Will have to chang
| TO a trolley before long. and this plaI
| would suit both sides and be a lasting
| benefit TO the city,