The San Francisco call., 1906-09-21
HARTMAN SPRINGS
A LITTLE JOKER.
Southern Pacific Suit for
North Beach Land is Re
garded With Suspicion
COVETS SPUR TRACK


In q condemnation proceeding fled
by the Southern Pacific Company's at
torneys yesterday, those who are care
fully watching the maneuvers OF the
Hartman people at North Beach dis
cern an attempt OF the railroad COM
pany TO further insure itself against
all competition in the handling of the
Government business that is originat-
ing at the Preside and will develop
later when the transport docks are
constructed near the reservation.
The Supervisors street committee de-
cided yesterday to recommend the pas
sage to print next Monday OF the or
dinance designed TO regulate the lay
ing and maintenance of spur tracks
Before action is taken by the board
however, the City Attorney is to rem
der an opinion as TO whether the board
can compel the joint user OF a spur
track by all transcontinental railroad
companies in cases where the spur
track crosses private property. The
committee has no doubt that such a
condition can be imposed where the
track runs on the public street, but de-
sires q legal opinion as to the control of
the track on private property.
Jere Burke of the Southern Pacific
Company did not put in an appearance
70 oppose the passage OF the amend
ment, nor did he present his objections
IN writing. and the committee got tired
waiting for him. The committee will
visit the localities where It is desired
70 lay spur tracks. including one ap-
piled for by the Bemis Bag Company al
the northeast corner of Green and San
some streets and by the California Can
neries Company at Taylor and Bay
streets.
In the morning the Southern Pacific
representatives had publicly announced
that the railroad had no objection to
the proposed spur track being used
by rival companies and was not trying
10 monopolize the Government bust
ness by any unfair means, but in the
afternoon, after the Supervisors had
decided to recommend the adoption OF
the spur track ordinance, which has
received the Endorsement OF all the
local commercial bodies. a suit was
fled by the Southern Pacific Company
against A Sbarboro. P. c. Rossi. A J..
Merle and others 20 condemn part Of
q tract OF land facing on Jones street
and lying between North Point and
Beach streets.
This strip TO which the Southern
Pacific Company seeks title is about
275 feet deep.
On its face the suit appears to be
OF an ordinary character, but to one
who is thoroughly acdhainted with the
situation at North Beach the proceed
ing OF the company is nothing more
than an attempt 10 make the proposed
ordinance Of the Supervisors inef-
fective in so far as privileges TO other
roads are concerned.
In granting TO the Southern Pacific
Company its franchise for spur track
along Jones, Beach, North Point and
other streets the Supervisors propose
that other roads shall have the use Of
. Il
tatives, after weeks of opposition to
the proposed ordinance, have apparent
" bowed to the will of the authori-
ties: but in the meantime they have
found a way OF holding the franchise
practically as an exclusive one by hav-
ing a portion OF their tracks run
through private property, over which
the Supervisors have no Jurisdiction
The Southern Pacific. when the spur is
built cannot refuse the Santa Fe the
use Of the tracks along the city's
streets, but II can refuse TO permit a
rival company 10 operate cars over
rails that are laid on private prop
erty, and without the use Of the latter
it viii be impossible for the Santa Fe
or any other road to transfer cars
from the belt road to the Government
docks at North Beach or to the Pc
sidio reservation. to which the South
ern Pacific spur will extend
It is strongly suspected that the
condemnation proceedings brought yes
terday by the Southern Pacific Com
pany are to insure a private monopoly
70 the spur track.
The Ocean Shore Railway Company's
officials agreed to give the city a right
OF way TO build temporary sewer at
the foot Of Kansas street and the
finance committee will be asked to
provide the necessary funds The same
officials promised to put Army street
near Missouri. IN good condition as the
result Of a complaint filed by property
owners that the street is Impassable.
To the finance committee was re-
ferred the recommendations of the
Board Of Works that Dupont street be
widened and a winding road be con-
structed TO tap Mob Hill in the block
bounded by Dupont. Stockton, Pine
and California streets at eost of
*1,150.00o and that $500. 900 of mu-
nicipal bonds be sold TO pay for needed
street Improvements.