The San Francisco call., 1906-03-25

stacles that have been created as against
possible competition, so members OF the
Sutter Street Improvement Club and the
Pacific avenue property owners say
The views of some citizens who ex-
pressed opinions yesterday about the
proposed competing street railway system
are published herewith:
Oscar F. Sites. manager of the Palace
Hardware Company on Market street.
said last evening: "Claus Spreckels de-
serves the gratitude of the people of San
Francisco 1t now looks as if, through
his public spirited offer. the danger of
having Market street disfgured is les
sened. San Francisco deserves the best
that can be devised in the matter of street
railway lines. The underground conduit
system is none too good. In fact, any
other system is not good enough for this
city.
II have read concerning the conduit
railways In New York and Washington
and know something about them from
personal observation. Men who are COM
petent to judge regarding the merits of
the conduit roads and who have no in
terest other than the public good to sub
serve declare that the conduit is effl-
cient. If that is true in Eastern cities,
where snow and ice are to be considered
In several months annually, how much
tenn be in San Francisco, where there Is
no cold weather?
MANY business men with whom I have
conversed think as do that it would be
misfortune to inflict general overhead
trolley system on San Francisco.
"As l understand the charter of San
Francisco, ii Is therein provided that the
Supervisors cannot. under the legal pro-
visions, grant privileges to erect poles or
wires in the city streets for the transmits
sion of electric power or for lighting. ex-
ment OF a percentage OF the gross re-
ceipts The trainers Of the charter COW
cred the ground and understood the pos
sibilities. The charter provisions certain
ly have present significance.
THE greatest benefit that could be con-
ferred upon San Francisco at this time
Is the one that Claus Spreckels has in
mind, namely, the building of the best
street railway in our streets that can be
provided. He will have no lack of back
ing Of popular sentiment when an appli-
cation for a franchise for a competing
street road system comes before the Board
of Supervisors. Claus Spreckels points
out the proper thing to do in this emer-
gency and leads In his usual mastery
fashion. The thoroughness that has
characterized his methods in whatever he
mas Undertaken LedcQeS ali san FRANCIS
cans what to expect from him now.
.'I hear that many men of capital are
willing to enlist in the work that he has
Indicated and 1t is good for the city that
this spirit should exist among its men OF
enterprise and money. The opposition to
the overhead trolley lines proposed for
Market street, Sutter street and for other
is general. This is a COM
mercial city, but it is also picturesque and
susceptible of being made rarely attract
i've to visitors. 1t would be folly to per-
NIT the streets to be dishgured with the
overhead trolley wires when there is
better system than the trolley system.
and that is the underground conduit"
SUPERVISORS GIVE VIEWS.
Supervisor l.. A. Rea, chairman of the
street committee of the Board of super
visors, made this statement regarding
the offer of Claus Spreckels to build an
conduit railway system:
Il am heartily in accord with Mr..
5preckels in his effort to improve the
railway conditions In San Francisco.