The San Francisco call., 1906-08-28

In replying 10 you, 1t Is but fair to
say that our men are paid the highest
wages of any streetcar men in any i'm
portant city in the world. The hours
by the representatives of the men
themselves and are such as usually OBJ
tain in streetcar service throughout the
entire country. The transportation
business differs materially from that
of all others, because of number OF
hours cars must run and the difference
In the volume of travel at different
hours, which render the hours men,
| toned in the contract well-nigh as
favorable TO the men as any that can
be worked out.
Il beg further to say that, regarding
the increased cost of living of which
you speak, am very glad for the city's
reputation at large to be able to sub
nit to you the results of the Iabors of
high authority of unquestioned abil-
ity, whose services we engaged upon
receipt of the unions demands for de-
termining as accurately as possible
what increases. If any, existed IN the
cost Of living The result of his ex
animation shows that the increase in
the cost of living in this city has been
exaggerated in some of the reports
which have been circulated.
SECURING NEW CARS.
Within the year the prices of some
leading articles have advanced, and
some have fallen. With the exception
of rents there is not a difference of
more than per cent In the cost of
living this August over August a year
ago. Rents. however, have materially
advanced The advance in rents must
be temporary, as the building of new
houses will inevitably meet the de-
mand.
'It is further to be said that the com
pany has spared no labor or money in
placing new cars in operation to take
the place of those incapacitated. The
least possible time in which
the largest car manufacturers
will agree to construc. car
bodies is five months; it requires
about one month for shipment and an
other month in assembling car bodies,
trucks, air brakes and motors. a total
of seven months from the date of order
to the time of placing cars in service.
This company, however, through ex-
traordinary efforts, the courtesy of the
Chicago City Railway Company and my
promptness in ordering cars within
three days after the fire, has within
four months placed twenty large new
electric cars in operation, has thirty
additional ones now in the city being
equipped from day to day, also twelve
additional ones now en- route from St.
Louis and an order placed for $50 more,
100 of which are to be in operation by
January next.
IMPROVING THE SERVICE.
THE company has done and will con-
tinue to do all In its power to improve
the service as rapidly as possible. until
it is as fine as that of any in the
world.
while the United Railroads regrets
that the Carmen's Union, by break
ing it's contract and ordering this un-
fortunate strike in the manner which
it did, has placed itself in such a situa-
tion that this company cannot deal
with it. the board of directors re-
quests me to assure you that both it
and the officials entertain only senti-
ments of friendship for the former en-
ployes of this company.
WOULD MODIFY CONTRACT.
The company recognizes that its
former employees have been misled and
miss guided into their hasfv and In