The San Francisco call., 1899-05-07
MONOPOLY EXTENSION.

franchises that suggests the unsuitable appetite OF some
OF our expiring Boards OF Supervisors. The pretext
has adopted is plausible and its proposed methods
astute
There is doubt that street railway facilities in
the northeastern part OF San Francisco-that is SO
much OF the city as lies east OF Kearny street and
south OF California street-should be increased and
improved. This TACT has been used by the Market
Street Railway Company in order, with the apparent
good will OF property-owners to secure monopoly
for its service and TO prevent ali possible competition
within the limits mentioned. And this IS only part OF
larger scheme to acquire and keep secure and
exclusive grip upon the entire peninsula.
This company owns what there is left OF several
franchises exclusive OF those II is operating. Some
OF these unused franchises are in condition to be
forfeited. The company proposes, however, be
fore any legal action for that purpose takes place,
revive them, and by the acquisition OF two new fran
chises, and OF certain exclusive privileges which
it attempts legally to distinguish from franchises TO
perfect the network in which it expects to immesh
all the passenger traffic that connects with North
eastern San Francisco
The plan, which is we'll on the way to consummaton,
has not yet been fully explained But as revealed by
the documents to which have had access although
complicated, it may be rendered Ineligible
On March g. 1900, the company petitioned the
Board OF Supervisors for a new franchise for con
Meeting line Of street railroads with its Geary-sreet
track at Grant and It's line Sansome street.
between Bush and Jackson streets. The route pro-
posed was along Grant avenue to Bush street and
down Bush street to Sansome street. The petition
was supported by the Endorsement OF the North Cen
tral Improvement Association. 1t was accompanied
by the draft OF an order which in order to harmonic
the new with the pre-existng franchises. fixed its
duration thirty-one years, six years more than
the charter allows and provided for an undesig-
mated percentage OF receipts be paid to the mun-
paty after the lapse OF FIVE years. that the work OF
construction should be commenced within one year
and completed within three years, and that the mo-
tive power to be employed should be electricity cables
or any other means allowed by law Upon this appli-
cation a favorable report made April p. 1900
and resolution prepared under the act OF March 13
1897, which invited competitive proposals for Monday
May Is, or week from tomorrow. This resolution
was referred to the Committee on Streets
A simultaneous petition from the Market Street
Railway Company was also filed with the board which
reced the existence OF franchise on Taylor street
between Market and Geary streets and OF the Post
street line, and applied for franchise or connect
irg link between Geary and Post streets This appl-
cation took the same course as the other and reso-
luton in conformity with the accompanying orde
was framed, which also calls for competitive proposals.
under the act OF 1907, Monday. May ;, and has
also been referred to the Street Committee Under
the circumstances there can be no actual competi-
ton, and the suggestion is merely perfunctory
The third part OF the scheme IS an order granting
permission to the company to operate by electricity
lines to which it now holds the franchises, partly
worked and partly unused if not abandoned and COW
erng the following route: On Sixth street from
Brannan to Market street; across Market street to
Taylor street; along Taylor street to Geary street
point in the description the initial point OF the new
franchise already mentioned But the description is
by means exhausted. 1t begins anew and includes
Montgomery street, from Market street to Jackson
street; separate connections with Sansome street,
through Washington and Jackson streets; and San
some street, between Jackson and Market streets
Here another rest is made, and the description is re-
sumed at the intersection OF Fourth and Market
whence it is continued along Post street to
Leavenworth street: thence on LeavenUorth street
and across McAllster street to City Hall avenue
and thence by way Of Grove street Polk street and
Tenth street to final termination at Brannan street
which is Also as has been seen, the point OF com
nencement. This order is based on the doubtful
theory that the motive power to be employed on
street railways IS not integral part OF the original
franchise, but. under the act OF 1907 privilege
that, although conflicting can be tackled on This
question has been referred to the City and County
Attorney, who is expected in the language OF Lord
Nelson ito do his duty
The fourth and completing part OF the plan is an
order, somewhat similar to the last which permits
the use Of electricity a portion OF the route
extended Geary to Kearny instead OF
Grant avenue where the description for an instant
halts.. It commences again on Montgomery street,
following the same lines as before around by Jack
son and Washington streets to the intersection OF
and ,he n e7dc In +1,i
order is provided that the application OF electricity
shall be perfected within six months 1t is in the
hands OF the Street Committee
Z All these parts constitute stupendous whole
which not only invests the Market Street Railway
Company with the most extensive and connected
rights. but already shown absolutely excludes the
chance OF successful competition and gives the sole
control OF passenger facilities in large and mpor
tant business part OF San Francisco to the existing
monopoly. The single block franchise on Taylor
street between Geary and Post, the use Of Geary
existing franchise will