The San Francisco call., 1903-09-11

FRANCHISE SOON
To Be SETTLED
Street Committee Will
Present an Ordinance
for Right of Way.
Southern Pacific Company
Offers Land to Widen
Kentucky Street.

Committee and representatives Of the
corporation. The committee had prepared
an ordinance providing for the grant and
had imposed certain conditions therein to
which the company took exception. These
included the building OF a Viaduct across
Fifth street and the laying out of a street
through the marketplace lots, which the
company is desirous of leasing for its ter
minal.
The company fatty refused to accept
either of the two foregoing conditions,
but as a compromise voluntarily agreed
to donate the necessary land to widen
Kentucky street twenty feet for dis
tance of a mile or more. The committee
did not formally agree to the compromise,
but it is understood that 1T will meet the
company half way and the ordinance pro-
viding for the grant covering the condi-
tions will be presented to the board at
next Mondays meeting, together with
the report of the committee on the SUBJ
ject.
Representing the company were Chief
Counsel Herrir, General Manager
Kruttschnitt, Jere Burke and E. ].
Foulds. Besides the members Of the
Street Committee Supervisors Curtis,
Braunhart and Connor-there were pres
ent Supervisors Laughery and Wilson,,
Commissioner of Works Manson and City
Engineer Grunsky
AGREE ON RENTAL.
Herrin said he considered the rental Of
the marketplace lots fixed at $500 per
month for the first five years as being
high, but he had agreed to the figure
made by the City Engineer.
There is a citizen who does not agree
with you," said Braunhart. He has filed
a communication which 1 would like to
have read
rNK- .-fo al y d
Troy, was read and recited that at the
rate that adjacent property was rented
the marketplace lots should be worth
S27, ,O4S per year. The communication con-
tinues:
These blocks are Of especial value to the
railroad as they run through the center OF
their land and If they secure possession of
from Fourth to Sixth street. about 100 feet
in length; and having water frontage on the
distance.
Kruttschnitt objected to the reserva-
ton of a strip of land sixty feet in width
for an entrance to the marketplaces
claiming that it was new proposition.
1T was understood" said Kruttschnitt
that the Southern Pacific Company
should contribute $4,000 toward building
a bridge across Third street, and we
think that is all we should be required
to do"
OBJECTS TO LEASE.
John Deahl objected to leasing the
marketplace lots to the Southern Pa
cific Company at $500 per month, claim
ing that the property should be rented to
the highest bidder.
Herrin suggested that it would be bet
ter to agree on a valuation Of the lots, so
that the company could purchase them
outright.
neabI advised against Immediate sale
of the land, saying that If the company
could afford to pay $3.50, 900 at the present
time for the lots it could pay that sum
in five or ten years, as the property would
certainly not depreciate in value
Herrin said it was absolutely inconsist-
ent to reserve land for street purposes
property to be rented to the company,
as the city had the power at any time to
open up streets.
This is an important step in connec-
ton with our doing business with San
Francisco said Kruttschnitt, "and we
could not afford to take it with our ten
ure of the terminals as uncertain as the
ordinance would make IT.
Grunsky said he had always pointed to
the value of the marketplace lots and
that right of way through them is es-
sential to protect the citys interest.
I'VE will not accept the franchise with
the stipulation for a street through the
land, said Herrin.
1.-The committee will take this matter
under advisement," said Chairman Cur
tbs.
In view of the fact that we have
promised to spend $4,000 across Third
street we could not agree to build a via
duct across Fifth street. which would
cost probably 5000, ,OOO' said Kruttschnitt
''You have provided for a bridge on Six
teenth street for which we will have but
little use. l think we have been very
generous in this matter and the commit
tee should let up a little on u.s."
VIADUCT A NECESSITY.
1.-The viaduct may become an absolute
necessity in course of time said Grun-