The San Francisco call., 1905-08-18
OBJECTION
TO NEW PLANS
Supervisors Say That Result
Would Be to Delay Compile
tion of Geary-Street Road

Supervisor d'Ancona, acting for the
Public Utilities and Finance commit
tees. yesterday sent a communication
to George B.. Keane, the Mayors secre-
tary. in response to the invitation ex-
tended to attend the meeting this
morning in the Mayors Office to con-
slider modified plans for the Geary-
street railroad to built by the city.
The communication follows:
Acknowledging receipt of your letter Of the
14th inst, requesting our attendance at
meeting to be held in the office of the Mayor
on Friday, the 18th inst, at which the MEM
bers of the committee on Finance and Public
Utilities of the Board OF Supervisors, the
Board of Public Works and the City Engineer
to be present For the consideration Of the
necessary arrangements for the Immediate con-
struction and operation Of the municipal rail-
road on Geary street. We would say that at
the time the budget under consideration
the members Of the Finance Committee gave
the most serious and earnest attention to all
matters relating to the actual construction Of
the c:eary-street road and the procedures nee
essary that the construction under municipal
ownership might conform to the requirements
Of the law. The members Of this committee
studied carefully the reports OF the former
City Engineer, c. E. Grunsky, and questioned
the well-known engineer, Mr. Slut. in refer
ence TO all details OF construction and opera
tion This investigation showed that the
present roadbed is In good condition. The
rails are similar to those on Turk street upon
na which dST now run tne % heaN cars OF the Turk
the fact that in the exercise Of reasonable
economy the present rails should be continued
for four or five years and could then be re-
placed by grooved rail OF a pattern which
has been devised especially for roads on which
the motive power is changed from cable to
electricity. This rail is of a most superior
design and has been generally used in Eastern
cities where cable lines changed to elec-
trio, and is OF such depth that II can be
placed upon the present ties
II the opinions of Mr.. Grunsky and Mr. Slut
are Of any value the Finance Committee Is
justified in believing that hrst-class road
can be constructed IL the plans heretofore
adopted be carried into execution, and this be-
lief will not be changed until the opinions OF
Mr. Grunsky and Mr.. Slut are controverted by
engineers of equal prominence and ability
The Finance Committee. in recommending
the appropriations for the Geary-street road
and the Board of Supervisors in adopting the
plans relating thereto, have taken the greatest
pains to make every step in accordance with
the requirements of the law. We therefore
deem it the duty of the executive and admin
istrative departments of the city government
to carry into effect the resolutions OF the Board
of Supervisors. calling for the immediate con-
struction of the road in accordance with plans
duly approved. and consider that such
meetings the one proposed for the 18th inst
will lead only to this. that at the end OF the
fiscal year the construction of the municIpal
railroad on Geary street will be no farther AL
vanced than il is to-day.