The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-04-19
All Unused Tracks to
Be Torn UP.
TRANSFER SYSTEM CUT
DISCRIMINATION SHOWN AT
CERTAIN PERIODS.
Southern Pacific Also Shows a Disre-
gard of Promises Contained in
an Ordinance Granting
Franchise.
Oakland Office San Francisco Call,
nuN I2rnn.7...n,. s nril Is

9OS Broadway, April is.
More than twice sixty days have passed
since the street railroad syndicate prom
ised to take up many sections or aDan-
doned track in this city, but SO far noth-
ing has been done and the Council has
IN a resolution passed last night, thrown
out a general hint that other franchises
may be forfeited if faith be not kept.
All Of last year the syndicate was max
ing itself as agreeable as possible 10 the
citizens OF Oakland. Having acquired all
the railroad systems with the exception of
those owned by the Southern Pacific II
started IN to put them in such condition
as 10 make their management more econ
omfcal and the service more regular. Inc
Justice OF this position was so generally
Acknowledged that their managers were
granted all they asked. Last November
the syndicate made an agreement with
the City Council which is duly set forth
in an ordinance whereby the syndicate, in
consideration Of being allowed 70 abandon
certain tracks, promised to take up the
tracks within sixty days and place the
street in tlrst-clasS CONDITION. ms mas
not been done.
Tracks which are nothing but nuisances
now exist on Eleventh street, from Wash
fngton TO jefferson; on Jefferson street,
from Sixth to Eleventh; on Sixth street,
from Jefferson to Washington; on twelfth
street from Wood TO Pine; and on Pine
street, from Eighth to Twelfth, and from
Seventh to Atlantic. After the sixty days
were passed fifteen days were granted
and still nothing has been done, so the
matter has been referred to the City At
tOrney. The resolution passed last night
contains this significant hint: That II
the work is not done it is the sense OF this
Council that their franchises to operate
street railroads in other portions OF said
streets be declared forfeited
Another resolution before the City
Council relates to the action of the syn
dictate in curtailing It's transfer system
during certain hours on Sundays. 1t has
always been possible to come from any
part OF Oakland and go to Blair's Park
for a nickel, and this is not by any means
the longest ride that can be obtained for
that sum in this city. Nhen the syndl-
cate first acquired the street railroads
II was more than generous. 1t did what
practical men considered an absurdity by
making II possible to ride from the eX-
IRENE western end of Alameda 10 the eX-
IRENE north end Of Berkeley for nickel,
q distance of about fourteen miles. This
liberality is strong contrast to the sys-
TEN now in vogue in regard to the Pied
mont line, and as these changes affect
church hours in the middle OF the day
II is considered TO be a great hardship.
The matter has been referred TO the city
Attorney TO see II it be legal 10 charge
one fare for a certain journey during one
part Of the day and double that fare for
the same journey some other portion of
the day. This matter has aroused much
public interest, as 1t affects thousands Of
people.
Another disregard Of an ordinance is
that of the Southern Pacific Company in
connection with the new curve from Har-
risOn street to Webster. When this fran
Chise was granted the railroad company,
nearly a year ago, 1t was acknowledged
by the company that the curve running
across two sidewalks at right angles TO
each other was a very dangerous piece of
track. Before the franchise was granted
the railroad company assured the Council
that it had bought the whole block and
that II would promise to make park of
that portion Of the block not used by the
track and keep all Instructions from it
so that foot passengers could see the train
approaching at least one block from either
direction. This condition was inserted in
franchise. To-day the lot is piled many
feet high with lumber and no attempt
has been made to keep the terms upon
which the privilege is granted. Some time
ago one man was killed at this very spot
and residents in the neighborhood are
daily expecting similar tragedies.