The San Francisco call., 1905-05-07

operate the crosstown line, X we OBJ
tain the consent of the Supervisors. as
an overhead trolley line; and to leave
the question of the method of opera
ton on Sutter street, whether overhead
trolley or cable, till the public has
more fully expressed its wishes respect
ing these two methods Of operation.
We take pleasure in saying that
whatever conclusion is reached, new
tracks and new cars will be furnished,
that the work will be well and thor
oughly done and that we are most de-
sirous that It be promptly done.
We send copy of this letter to Mr..
r. Spreckels. Yours very truly,
ARTHUR HOLLAND.
THE CLUBS REPLY.
The United Railroads, Arthur Hol-
land, President
Gentlemen: Replying to your favor
of the I'd inst, We desire to correct the
numerous errors made in the attempt
to define the attitude of this club in
the matter of the conversion of your
Sutter-street system on Sutter, Polk,
Post, Larkin and Ninth streets and Pa
cific avenue into a conduit system.
The position assumed by your COM
pany in our numerous discussions has
not been that you could not" but that
you would not reconstruct the cable
road into q conduit electric system, al
though this club offered to employ the
best electrical engineers in the United
States and prove to you that such a
system would be economical and sue
cessful in It's operation on these streets
and would more than amply repay for
the outlay.
In considering this matter we have
always treated the Sutter street system
in its entirety. recognizing that the in
terests of the people along the entire
line are one, and at no time have we
expressed willingness to treat 1T sec
tionally, although you have always en-
deavored to do so.
You are Iaboring under a misappre-
hension in assuming that this club has
at any time consented to eliminate the
consideration of a conduit system We
have always asserted and still main
tain, in the face Of your opposition,
the feasibility and the advisability of
a conduit system, and still insist that
there are no physical difficulties along
the line of the system that cannot be
6d8tiy ONCICOlHC.
WANT A MODERN ROAD.
At no time have we expressed a
preference for cable on any part Of
the Sutter street system. but we have
always contended for a modern con-
duit road over the entire line. and we
cannot understand why you should
ask that the choice be made only be-
tween >the cable and the overhead
trolley. Between the dangerous and
obsolete trolley and the cable as the
only choice offered. we have expressed
q preference for the latter, provided 1t
is modern in construction and equip
ment, but we still insist that the i'm
portance Of the Sutter street system
justifies the construction of the most
| modern systematic conduit electric
road.
Referring to your petitions. we beg
to say they gave the people only a
choice between a continuation OF the
present dilapidated and inadequate
system and the overhead trolley, and
did NOT give the signers an opportunity
| to express their opinion on the conduit
electric system. Many persons signed
these petitions not knowing that they
were being circulated by your agents
nor realizing that these. your own petit
tions. were demanding Of yourselves
!l(the United Railroads) the installation
of IN overhead trolley on the entire