The San Francisco call., 1906-08-28
THOUSANDS TRAMP
TO THEIR WORK.
Inadequate Car Service
Causes Wage Farmers
Much Inconvenience

Footsore and weary, $4,000 San Fran
ciscans trudged across the hills last
night after a tedious. irksome day
among the lime dust and sand Of the
ruins. The Inconvenience of a car
less city was strongly brought home
to the wage earners, many of whom
were compelled TO make the pilgrima ge
from the Western Addition and the
Mission to the business center.
The morning walk was undertaken
with a good will. The crowd moved
rapidly and cheerfully to the downtown
Offices. but when the return journey
was begun there was more or less
grumbling, some caustic comments on
the carmen and Calhoun and not q little
torrid language on the conditions that
have made the situation possible.
The two car lines, the California and
Geary street. were unable to carry the
traffic. Thousands of people who want
ed TO ride were compelled to walt for
al hour and often longer before they
could find even standing room on the
few cars in operation The California
Company tried to improve its service
by utilizing some of the dummies OF
the Union-street road. For time the
expedient helped a little. but late in the
afternoon the cable stopped and fol
half an hour the traffic was suspended
The Geary-street road put on all Its
rolling stock. even dragging from the
scrap iron pile antiquated cars thai
have been out of date for decade. The
crowd did not mind that, however, and
lost no time in leaping upon them
Four tons of human flesh proved toe
much for the weakened sxles, and eight
of the "old timers" were retired from
service. This left the Geary street
with only twenty cars.
The California-street road has. nine
cars in commission, but expects to have
more by the end of the week, when Il
will resume q night service. the last
/ car leaving Market street at 1880 a. m
4 AT present the service stops at O'Clock
because the company has been unable
to provide lanterns. 1t expects TO have
them by Monday.
! Up to the present there has been nc
violence. Neither the police nor the
! hospitals have been called upon to take
| part in the struggle
The carmen promise that they viii
( take no hand in any attacks that may
! be made upon the property of the com
pany and will not be responsible fol
1 the acts of the lawless element.
UNION WOULD PROTECT CARS.
More than 100 carmen stood about
! the corner of Fillmore and Turk street:
all day, but nothing OF moment oc
Cured. The company made no effor
/ TO take cars out and the small squad
OF police at hand had nothing to do
Secretary ]. II. Bowling OF the Car
mems Union had advised the picket:
stationed there to protect any ca
which the company might desire Il
send out If the United Railroad:
would permit, it was the intention o.
the union to send five uniformed mer
with every car for the purpose of pro
tecting il from any violence which
might be directed against it, This or
der was given by the union officials
in keeping with their policy to have
/ the strike conducted along peaceful
4 lines.
Should the company refuse to &C
cept the protection which the GARNER
wish to give, the union would not theI
I feel responsible for any damage which
might be inflicted by hotheaded sym
/ pathizers with the strikers.
In the light of President Calhoun
statement that the strikers are NJ
longer employees of mine" il is doubt
1 full If their services will be accepted
If offered.