The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1906-11-19

car comes along to take them on their
way. Usually they are compelled to
wait for several cars to pass. Persons
intending to catch a boat or train are
thereby put to the risk of losing their
trip owing TO the fantastic regard for
time table which seems never to be
invoked save under the most annoying
conditions.
West-bound passengers on the SUIT
ter-street line lose their rights at Fill
more street. where the Sutter-street
cars have a way of changing their
minds about their destination and GO
ing back to the ferry, though the goal
was but four blocks distant.
MARKET STREET MIDDLE
ON Market street, where several lines
gather toward the ferries, there is usu-
ally middle of cars and routes with
out any regard for time or trouble.
Two or three Castro-street cars will
pass in quick succession then for a
long space there will not be one on
that line; twin McAllister-street We
hicles will trail in needless proximity.
and the man for whom neither would
stop must wait fifteen minutes for an
other car with a yellow sign.
Turk and Eddy street cars bound
to the ferry, after making up for mean
ingless lost time by refusing passen-
gers, will haughtily drop their pas
sengers at Turk and Market streets.
leaving the people to take a car which
comes after. but which proves to be
equally evasive of the responsibilities
of transportation.
1t appears that scarcely car passes
over the lines of the United Railroads
that is not loaded to the scuppers and
gunwales, the decks awash with strug-
Cling humanity trying to keep afoot
in the rolling of the tram, dangling
in contortions from the straps while a
lecting fares and transfers when the
passengers exert themselves to pay
On the platform of cars and on the
steps cling passengers.
On McAllister street, last week, a
man standing on the steps was brushed
from his place by a passenger clinging
in like fashion to a passing car. and
falling to the ground was crushed to
death by the car on which he had rid
den. He was a cement worker, return
ing to his home in West Berkeley. He
left wife and two children
TOE AND FINGER HOLD
At Van Ness avenue and Fillmore
street are the places where women and
children board the cars, going either
way, on an evening, after days shop
ping. Owing to the fact that there is
a croSstown line on Fillmore street
and that the avenue is usually con-
gested with teams and automobiles, all
cars stop at those streets and the pros
pective passengers struggle on, hand
over hand, women crowding between
men. men swinging on to the guards
or aligning themselves on the ledge
at the end of the car, toe and finger
hold.
At Market and xearny streets the
mass of waiting patrons is as great
An outbound car, teeming with the load
it acquired at the ferry. jerks to a
stop Then there is a rush, fight, q
serum" with bruised shins and dam
aged headgear as a result The tabled
fifteen men on a dead mans chest
We're never more crowded in all the
broad imagination of Robert Louis
Stevenson, than are fifteen men and
more who every night try to crowd
on the steps of the United Railroads
cars in spaces where five might ride
in comfort and where none can ride
in safety.
After the rush Of the supper hour
is over night comes with the most
awkward Inconvenience of all. In day
light it is possible for a person to
tell some yards away if the approach
ing car is the one they wish 10 take
At night on Market street it is inn
possible to distinguish the routes until
the car is abreast of one. BY putting
on colored lights, such as the Oakland
| Traction Consolidated has equipped its