The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-06-17
MONOPOLY DEFEATED.

THE Examiner Journal or the Journal Examiner
trust has long since destroyed competition in
the wide domain OF brag Its monopoly OF this
particular commodity will not be disputed by any
newspaper in the United States. Mayor Phelan
might possibly be considered rival but for the fact
that he IS obviously part of the trust.
The Call, therefore, merely admits modest thrill
OF selicomplacency when its local columns yesterday
proved that by the action OF the Street Committee OF
the Board OF Supervisors, which it is presumed will
be ratified on Monday next the great highway rob
berry projected by the Market Street Railway Com
pany on March O. I8oo had been defeated. This la
test enterprise OF the Huntington monopoly has been
extensively discussed in these columns Now with
one or two trng variations it has been restricted to
the supply OF facilities demanded by the northeastern
part of the city to which opposition has been in
terposed The Merchants Association cO-operated in
securing the essential extension OF street railway &C
commodations without yielding an unnecessary scn-
tla OF municipal rights in advance OF the practical
operation OF the new charter.
The Market Street Railway Company already had
disused franchise on Taylor street. between Market
and Geary streets. which, to avoid legal compca-
tons or any concession that might affect other fran
Cses in similar position, has been regranted The new
franchise on Taylor street for the one block between
Ceary and Post streets which The Call recommended.
az the extreme northern end of the city the existing
franchise on Sansome street has been extended to the
bay With these additional connections strictly linn
tied in duration by the franchises to which they are
attached and with the privilege OF using electricity
over the entire Post street system and its auxaries.
the Market Street Railway Company has been
clothed with all the facilities that it needs for egiti-
mate purposes. The Geary street franchise will not
he renewed the use OF the trolley system on that
street tolerated.; the strategic line Grant avenue
and Bush street has been killed, and the main parts
OF Sansome and Battery streets will still be available
for the heavy drayng required by the wholesale bust
ness in that vicinity.
The plan to withdraw the Market street system from
local assessment by extending one OF its lines into
San Mateo County. which was exposed by The Call
last February. has been frustrated The extension on
Railroad stops twenty feet short of the di-
viding line between San Francisco and San Mateo
County The situation at that point is that the rattes
have been off the Market street tail and the strag-
Cling end remains, which may be used for squrmng
purposes, but otherwise is probably unavailable
The Call hopes that everybody is now satisfied The
northeastern property owners are accommodated The
Merchants Association has proved its common sense
and its influence. The street railway monopoly has
discovered that it is omnipotent and that it takes
at least seven Supervisors to consummate a steal
The community has reassered its power and demon
strated that public opinion, deliberately formed and
inexorably applied is still controlling in American
cities. Truth and justice have been indicated and
apparently one battle royal is over.
There are other things left that demand unrelaxine
vigilance and determination Politics must be
cleansed and party methods substantially purified by
decent and progressive citizens, who possess Ameri
can conceptions and capable of administering
purgative medicines without receiving their prescrp-
tons from cranks or sentmentalists. The immediate
future will be decidedly interesting
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General Luna seems to be passing through an in