The San Francisco call., 1905-01-31
ELECTRIC LINE
NOW ASSURED
Board Grants a Permit for
Reconstruction of CalifOr-
mia Street Steam Road
CONDITION rs IMPOSED
United Railroads Will Put
Up Iron Poles Part of Way,
but Balks at Flat Rails
CONDITION rs IMPOSED

The Board of Supervisors yesterday
passed to print a resolution granting
permission to the United Railroads to
operate by electricity that portion of
the California street extension system
from Parker avenue to First avenue.
This action will enable the corporation
to convert the entire steam road into
an electric line, as its franchise for the
rest of the road already gives 1t the
necessary authority. The resolution
was introduced by the Street Commit
tee, which imposed a condition that in
the reconstruction iron poles shall be
used instead of wooden poles along
California street from Parker avenue
to Eighth avenue.
Attorney TREY 4. Ford said the cor
poration desired to convert the steam
road to an electric line, which would
involve great expense, but the addi-
tional cost of iron poles did not war
rant their erection owing to the fact
that much of the territory to be
tapped" is sparsely settled and the
streets are unpaved. He said:
1.-The franchise for the larger portion
of the road will expire in six years.
We want to give -ou fine electric sys-
tenn, that will result in the district be-
ing settled. While we think the Street
Committee has imposed a burden by
requiring us to buy iron poles, we ac-
cept the burden cheerfully. We have
spent more than $4,000, 900 in permanent
improvements already, and will spend
more"
Ford argued that the grooved rail
should not be insisted upon.
o. L. Scott said the property owners
had signed to bituminize California
street from First to Eighth avenues,
and that the grooved rails should be
used on those blocks. Scott said that
some people had expressed surprise at
his intention to appear before the board
in opposition to the United Railroads,
which might hurt him in his business
for doing so.
Ford resented this imputation. saying
that the assertion was not worthy of
notice. Ford said the company would
keep pace with the improvements made
by property owners.
A representative of the Point Lobos
Improvement Club urged that the per-
NIT for the system be granted. Prop
erty owners filed petitions both for and
against the granting of the privilege.
Chairman Connor of the Street COM
mittee explained that the company had
agreed to replace the wooden poles from
First to Eighth avenues with iron poles.
The committee, however, did not deem
it advisable to compei the laying of
grooved rails at this time.
Lunstedt asked whether the company
would agree to. put down the fat rails
from Parker to Eighth avenues IN view
of its proposed bituminizing, and Ford
replied in the negative. Connor objected
to imposing any new condition which
might cause the corporation to abandon
the project.
When the resolution had been passed
to print Ford extended an invitation to
the Supervisors to acquaint themselves
with the conditions as they exist and
to make suggestions for improvements.
Boxton wanted to know whether any
thing could be done to relieve the con-
gested traffic on the Market street cars
in the evening. Ford assured the board
that arrangements were being made
whereby no delay would be experienced
in moving the cars at the ferry depot,
and that everybody would then be able
to ride inside the cars.