The San Francisco call., 1903-09-05
WANT LONG LIFE
FOR FRANCHISES
Railroad People Refuse
Offer Of Alameda
Trustees.
Board Of Trade Prepares to
Enjoin the Municipal
Legislators.

ALAMEDA. Sept 4.-General Manager
Julius Kruttschnitt Of the Southern Pa
cifc refused this afternoon 10 recede from
the demand made 10 the City Trustees
last night that II his company was TO
be granted the two local franchises
the one for the north side line be for
forty-f1ve years and the one for the south
side line be for thirty-three years. the
Unexpired terms OF the corporate life OF
The roads. -Four OF the City Trustees
President J. +. Forderer, William NJ.
Bowers, 3. z. Combs and c. H. Ham
mond-went 70 San Francisco and con-
ferred with the railroad manager and At
torneys :. Z. Foulds and Frank Shay
OF the law department OF the corporation.
Alameds's representatives tried TO in
duce Manager Kruttschnitt 10 accept the
franchises for twenty-five year terms, in
forming the Southern Pacific official that
the people Of this city were strongly op-
posed 70 the giving Of franchises that
would bind the municipality for nearly
half q century Manager Kruttschnitt
explained that II was not the policy Of
the board Of directors Of the Southern
Pecihc 10 accept any franchises for less
than fifty years; that such is the life OF
the franchises controlled by the company
In nearly every State in which il ope-
rates. and that the management did not
wish TO establish precedent Of accept
ing franchises for shorter terms. He said
II was the aim Of the Southern Pacific
directorate 10 put the lives Of the com
psny's franchises on a more uniform ba-
sis. For these reasons he reafhrmed his
declaration that he could not and would
not accept the local franchises for a
shorter period than his corporation has
asked for.
After considerable discussion Manager
Kruttschnftt consented to have ii stipu-
lated in the franchise FOR the south side
line that no overland freight trains shall
be operated on that road. He would not
agree, however, TO having such a clause
embodied in the franchise for the north
side line. Manager kruttschnitt asserted
that his company intended to run freight
trains on the south side road through
the city. as is being done now. He stated
that a survey for a cutoff from the South
Pacific line to the Niles line into Oak
land had been made from San Lorenzo
TO Fitchburg and that the sink route
and High-street trestle might be aban-
doned. According to Manager Krutt-
sChnitt. the cost Of the proposed cutoff
was estimated at SIS 600. while IL was fig
ured that 10 rebuild the long trestle across
an arm OF san Leandro Bay east Of High
street would necessitate an outlay Of
Ss5.000
Nothing more viii be done by the City
Trustees with regard 10 the franchises
until the ordinances granting them TO the
Southern Pacific come up for second read
ing at the meeting Of the municipal leg
islatOrs Tuesday night in the meantime
the Board Of Trade is moving to have
the City Trustees enjoined from giving
the franchises and demanding that be-
fore such action is taken the matter
be submitted 10 the voters TO pass upon
At a special election. City Attorney NJ.
". Simpson has advised the City Trus-
tees that there is no power vested in
them 10 enact such a law as the so-called
referendum ordinance now on the city 5
statutes and that the City Trustees have
no power 10 delegate 10 others the du-
ties they themselves are elected and en-
powered by law 10 discharge Simpson
holds that there is no law that author
izes the calling Of special elections to OBJ
tain the popular viii on any question.