Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-05-01
CITY NOW |LLUM|NED
Street Lights Burned for the
First Time
IN SAN FRANCISCO AREA
Restoration of Lighting Awakened
Public Spirit.
STREET CAR SERVICE EXTENDED
Campers in Parks and Squares Now
Well Supplied With Bedding
Food Question Worrying.
STREET CAR SERVICE EXTENDED

SAN FRANCISCO, May 1.-For the first
time since the earthquake and fire laid this
city in ruins street lights last night gleam-
ed through the black mantle which had en-
veloped the city after nightfall since the
day of the disaster For nearly two weeks
everybody stayed in doors after dark and
nearly all San Francisco went to bed at
sunset.
Cleaning of arc lights in the Potrero dis
trict last night was seen from all over the
city and did more to make people hope
ful, to restore confidence and good feeling
than anything since the earthquake. Next
to the resumption of street ear service the
restoration of electric lighting is one of the
most important indications that the city Is
rapidly returning to normal conditions.
The street lights burning last night in the
POtrero district, in the southern part OF
the city, were operated by the electric light
ing company's Potrero plant which was
practically unintured by the earthquake
and was not In the fire zone. General Man
ager Napthaly of the San Francisco Gas
and Electric Company has announced that
there will be several hundred arc lights in
operation throughout the unburned sections
OF the city tonight
Besides the three light routes for which
permission was granted several days ago,
1t is intended to install lights along the
hauled into the city. The company claims
that it has enough power in the Potrero
plant to illuminate the entire unburned
sections. The question of restoring the cleo
trio lights will be taken up tomorrow or
the next day and lights will be turned on
as fast as the necessary permit can be Sc
cured.
The Street Car Service
The street car service is being extended
as fast as large gangs of men can clear the
streets of debris and replace the twisted
and warped rails. The United railroads
operated cars last night until 10 o'clock.
Seven o. clock was the hour set for the ces-
sation of street car traffic until permission
was granted TO resume 1t, but late yester
day afternoon the railroad company was
advised that it would be permitted to run
cars until 10 O'Clock at night, 1t having
been demonstrated that there was no more
danger at night than in the day time.
The cars so far operated have been in
adequate for the heavy traffic, and owners
of almost every kind of vehicle are carry
ing large numbers of people at the rate of
Is to so cents each to and from the ferry.
Last night was the warmest since the
thousands of people have been compelled
to camp in the open air.
In nearly all the parks and squares the
homeless are now well provided with warm
bedding and are comfortably housed in
tents This problem has been practically
solved by the arrival of tents and blankets,
but the food question is causing the au-
thoritieS much worry
A Donation of $4,000.
The 10th Regiment of Pennsylvania Vol
unteers. which was camped in this city at
the time of the Spanish war. has sent a
donation of $4,000 to the relief committee.
In a note the officers told how well they
were treated by the people of San Fran
cisco during their sojourn here and said
that as a token of appreciation they made
up this handsome purse to help out the big
hearted people of this city
To Build New City Hall.
San Francisco is to build new city hall
at once, a temporary structure but one
which will do away with the necessity of
paying the high rent rates which the owners
OF property available for municipal use are
inclined to charge.