The San Francisco call., 1898-06-01
AN OPEN LETTER.
From the Agent of the Crocker Es-
 tate Companv

SAN FRANCISCO, May s1, 1sss.-To
 the Editor of the San Francisco Call
 Lear SIT: The statement has gone
 apFoad that the military encampment
 on the ground formerly occupied by
 the' Ray District race track was pro-
 cured through the instrumentality of
 the Market Street Railway Company
 when this was first suggested did not
 thlnk 1t possible that it would be ac-
 cepted by the public mind as sober 1act; but l am confronted to-day with
 the irresistible conviction that an eff Iort IS being made in certain quarters
 10 lnstlll into the minds of the great
 mass of the people of San Francisco the bel1ef that the change of encamp-
 ment from the Presidio to Richmond was due to the secret and skillful ma nlpulatlon of the Market Street Rail- way company; that it was accomplish ca py collision with the military au- thorltles of the country, and that by this change the Market Street Railway Company accomplished the self seeking purpose of locating the military camp where 1t would do that company the most good; and that the military au- thorltleS on their part were vulnerable to th1s sordid consideration. .
 l believe that a simple and truthful statement of this matter will receive at the hands of this community due credit. l therefore beg leave to say. through your courtesy, that Major Rathbone of General Merrfam's staff, on behalf of the commanding officer, visited my office and asked if the ground owned by Mrs. Leland Stan ford and the Crocker Estate Company could be procured for a camp ground. lie stated that the sewerage and water conditions existing at the Presidio were not adequate for r"the accommodations or this large number of men, and that 1t would require considerable time to make them SO, while the Bay District track grounds had both. sewerage and water: that the large body of soldiers could be accommodated there, and that sanitary conditions made 1t judicious to move the camp from the Presidio.
 Animated, I trust, by that impulse of patriotism which is common to every r1ght-minded American citizen, and be- lieving that my principals, who were all absent from the State, would confirm and approve the action, I at once con- sented, and upon presenting the matter to Mrs. Stanford she as readily con- sented on her part. From that consent grew the encampment now known as Camp Richmond. without consultation with any officer or employe of the Mar ket street system, and without any thought or consideration of any benefit 1t might possess to the Market street system.
 The administration of all business en- terprises is necessarily in the direction of increasing their revenues. It is the natural impulse of business to do so; :: but in the instance under consideration a spirit of hostility to the Market Street Railway Company is being engendered by placing it In the unpatriotic light of having sought to gain financial advantage out of the national struggle In which we are engaged. Being fully In possession of all the facts which bear upon this case and knowing that the accusation Is wholly unjust and com pletely untrue. I have felt that 1t was at least incumbent upon me to make this statement to the public. Respect fully. CHARLES p. GREEN, Secretary and Manager Crocker Estate
 Company.