The San Francisco call., 1904-04-30
HEAR PETITION
FOR FRANCHISE
Supervisors Insist on Widen
ing Sixteenth Street Be-
fore Granting the Privilege
COMPANIES AREWILLING
Santa Fe and Western Pa
cific Are Interested in the
Proposed Improvement

The Supervisors Street Committee
yesterday had under consideration the
proposed ordinance granting the Santa
Fe Railway system a franchise to con-
struct railroad along Indiana,
Seventh. Sixteenth, Mariposa and
other designated streets. Although no
action was taken by the committee on
the franchise. the result OF the discus
sion was that immediate steps Will be
taken for the widening OF Sixteenth
street for its entire length. The Board
OF Public Works had. on the advice of
the City Engineer, recommended that
the franchise be not granted unless the
company agrees 10 widen Sixteenth
street. This was deemed necessary,
because the Western Pacific Railway
Company has also made application for
a franchise for almost the entire
length Of Sixteenth street to the water
front.
Captain A. H. Payson, vice president
Of the Santa Fe system, stated that his
company was willing TO share the
track privileges with the Western Com
pany when the time arrives. In urging
the committee to recommend the fran
chise Payson said:
TRACK FACILITIES.
The service that the public will re-
ceive from the Southern Pacific, West
ern Pacific and Santa Fe companies
will enable a number of manufacturing
interests to do business in San Fran
cisco instead Of going to Point Rich
mond, where the track facilities are
much better than in this city. We are
willing to have a provision in the fran
chise that will require us to do business
during the nighttime, should the rail-
road be nuisance during the day"
The Real Estate and Development
Company, represented by H. Whitley,
favored the granting Of the franchise,
and property owners who are protest.
ing against the privilege were repre-
sented by D. S. O'Brien. O'Brien asked
Payson if his company would be will
ing to bear one-half the expense Of
widening Sixteenth street Captain
PaysOn answered in the negative, say
ing the Western Pacific Company has
asked for two tracks for about eighteen
blocks on Sixteenth street, and he
would only pay one-quarter of the ex-
pense for five blocks.
Payson said he would agree to pave
between the rails with basalt blocks
should the franchise be granted A
representative Of the Draymen's Asso-
citation said his organization wanted
the cars operated at night, in order not
TO impede teaming traffic.
To JOIN IN MOVEMENT.
At this point it was agreed that the
Santa Fe and Western Pacific COM
panies. the Real Estate and Develop
ment Company and all other interested
parties viii hold a conference to con-
slider steps TO widen Sixteenth street,
the Real Estate Company agreeing to
join in the movement.
Action on the franchise was post
poned until the Santa Fe Company re-
ports to the committee the result of
its conference with the Southern Pacific
Company regarding the construction
Of bridge over Mariposa street at
Pennsylvania avenue. Both companies
viii use the bridge and the Santa Fe
viii share a portion Of the expense of
its construction.
Action was also postponed on the
application of the Southern Pacific
Company for permission to build
twenty-seven spur tracks in connec-
tion with its bay shore line 1t is de-
sired to operate a yard in the vicinity
Of the boundary line of San Mateo and
San Francisco counties for the purpose
Of distributing freight. Jere T. Burke
appeared on behalf of the company and
agreed to pilot the Supervisors over the
ground where it is proposed to con-
struct terminal tracks.
REGULATES BLASTING.
The committee reported in favor of
the ordinance to regulate blasting
operations by requiring that a permit
shall first be obtained for the purpose
from the Board of Supervisors. An
identical ordinance was once passed
and vetoed by the Mayor and the new
bill viii in all likelihood meet the same
fate. Should it become a law it will
allow the Supervisors to refuse a per-
NIT to Gray Bros. to blast on Thirtieth
street.
The committee recommended the
amendment Of an ordinance regulating
exploding Of blasts. because the City
Attorney had advised that the section
authorizing the Board of Works to as
sess damages caused by the operations
IS unconstitutional and void. The sec
ton viii be eliminated from the ordi-
nance
The Standard Oil Company was
granted a permit to lay an additional
pipe line in Sixteenth street.
The petition of the Outdoor League
to cause the removal of unused tele-
graph and telephone poles was referred
to the Finance Committee.
The resolution granting II. c.
Holmes a permit TO explode blasts at
Green ard SAnsorne streets was resub-
rnitted to the committee to give prop
erty owners in the vicinity a hearing
on the matter.
The committee reported in favor Of
allowing the Knights Templar TO put
up electric wires in front of Union
Square. but the petitioners must get
permission 10 do so from the Park Com
missioners.
MASONIC RELIEF BOARD
LOSES ITS SECRETARY