The San Francisco call., 1906-04-13
LOOP QUESTION
DEFERRED AGAIN
HarbOr Board Puts Over for
Another Week Application
to Replace the Turntable
IN FAVOR OF JOINT USE
Spear Presents Amendment
Giving All Lines Equal
Rights on Ferry Tracks

The Harbor Commissioners yesterday
postponed action for another week on
the resolution granting to the United
Railroads license to replace the turn
table at the ferry building with a loop.
AT the meeting were C. H. Spear, presi-
dent of the board. and his fellow COM
missioners, Henry j. Crocker and John
d. Mackenzie.
The city of San Francisco was repre-
sented by Mayor Schmitz. Engineer
Woodward and City Attorney Burke.
sented by l.. M King and the Municipal
League by E. p. Troy. Interests of the
United Railroads were guarded by Vice
President Thornwell Mutually, Chief At
torney TREY L. Ford and Manager
George F. Chapman. James B. Steeson
and Engineer H. E. Holmes spoke for
the California-st street road. The pro-
posed conduit electric system to be es-
tablished by Claus Spreckels, Rudolph
Spreekels, James D. Phelan and others
was represented by James NJ. Bowie.
w. H. Davis, the boards attorney; Lot
D. Norton, engineer, and Richard j.
Welch, Wharfinger of the Harbor Com
missioners, also attended the session.
A. NJ. Johnson and e. P. Troy fled
with the board a written protest
against granting further terminal priv
ileges to the United Railroads.
j. M. Bowie asked the commissioners
to postpone action for one week. He
said that owing to the absence of
Ian lie was not ready to submit the
plans of the Spreckels electric railroad.
Mayor Schmitz remarked that he was
present to protect the rights of the
Geary-street railroad.
In order to bring the question direct
ly before the board Commissioner
Crocker called up his resolution grant
ing the license to put in loop to the
United Railroads.
MAPS ARE INSPECTED.
A general discussion of the proposi
tion then ensued Maps and plans were
inspected The Mayor insisted that the
proposed loop would only afford
clear space of twelve feet between the
Sacramento street line and the Market
street system at the curve near East
street.
There was general talk about the ne
cessity of exercising power granted by
the Legislature for acquiring for public
use the point at the intersection of
Market, East and Sacramento street, so
that the cars of the Sacramento street
line would not cross the sidewalk on
the north side of Market street The
Mayor and Mr.. Mutually expressed the
belief that steps might be taken at
once to acquire the property.
In answer to a direct question by
the Mayor Mr.. Mutually said the United
Railroads proposed to continue the use
of the cable system on Market street.
The Mayor said he regretted to hear
that such was the decision of the COM
pany He had hoped that the conduit
electric plan, would be installed The
Mayor in substance declared: I'VE are
going down to the ferry with the
Geary street railroad. That Is settled.
Now / am willing that action shall be
postponed for one week in order that
plans in detail may be submitted. The
plans should show the switches on
Market street by which the California
street and Geary street lines may reach
the terminal at the ferry building. 1t
is a physical impossibility under the
plans now shown by the commission for
lines other than those owned by the
United Railroads to reach the loop
Great danger will be caused by the
limited space between the tracks OF the
Market street system and the Sacra-
mento street tracks.
James B. Stetson contended that the
California street cars had clear right
to come to the ferry over the Sutter
street line Mr.. Stetson placed in the
hands of Mr.. Foy, secretary of the COM
mission, the following resolution:
Resolved, That the CaIifornia-street Railroad
Company is hereby granted the right to con-
struct their tracks in front OF the ferry build
ing as shown by their plans now on nle
CONSIDERS OTHER ROADS.
President Spear introduced the fol-
lowing amendment to Commissioner
Crocker,s original resolution granting
the license to the United Railroads:
Provided that the said licensee. its success
sors and assigns. shall permit all other street
railways to use such portions OF its tracks ana
roadbed and appurtenances thereto as are or
may be upon land or premises under the Juris-
diction and control of the State Board OF Har-
Dor Commissioners; said use to be equal TO
that enjoyed by the,said icensee its successors
and assigns provided, however, that every
street railway so using said tracks. ETC.. shall
pay to said licensee ita pro rata share Of the
use and It's pro rata share OF the interest upon
the cost OF construction Of such tracks. road
bed and appurtenances-
The foregoing resolution was dis
cussed in free and easy style. Mr.. Null
lally told the Mayor that the United
Railroads could not accept 1t.
I'VE will be compelled to withdraw
our application" said Mr.. Mutually.
.I take 1t that the United Railroads
made am application that ought to be
granted for the benefit Of the travelling
public" said Commissioner Crocker. TT
seems now that the troubles of the
company are beginning"
'It seems to me that the amendment
is absolutely correct" said Mr.. Bowie.
IT am against that amendment" Com
missioner Mackenzie remarked. Il will
ask that the matter be lai dover one
week." Crocker said THE Spreckels
people request a continuance and the
Mayor asks for one week.
The president of the board then de-
clared postponement of the question
until next Thursday at 1880 p. m.
CONTRACT FOR WHARF.
The Commissioners awarded to Gray
Bros, the lowest bidders, the contract
for building section IL of the seawall.
This firm agrees to do the work and
furnish 10000 tons of rock for s10S. 500.
Bids as follows for the construction
of a new wharf at Lombard street were
received:
Thompson Bridge Company s137. 900
Hyde, Hodges & Co.. ................... 139, 900
Healy-Tibbitts Company 129, SEQ
Pacific Construction Company 131. 600
Atlantic, Gulf and Pacific Company. 133. 600
Cotton Bros 15S,OGO
The Commissioners in exchange of
views noted that the figures were high,
but the recent advance In the1price of
lumber was taken into consideration.