The San Francisco call., 1907-03-26
URGES SUPERVISORS TO
REVOKE TROLLEY PERMIT
Attorney Asserts Privilege
Was Not Granted
Legally

z. H. Wakeman, an attorney, filed
with the Board of Supervisors yester-
dav petition demanding that action
he taken to cause the immediate re-
moval of the overhead trolley main
tanned by the United Railroads aions
Market, Castro, Valencia, Halgnr'
Hayes, McAllister, Ninth, Post, Polk.
I.arkfn and Sutter streets, by virtue of
an ordinance passed by the board last
May.
Wakeman asks that the ordinance be
revoked because the blanket privilege
purported TO be granted thereby was
not nassed in accordance with the char
ter provisions governing the award OF
franchises, and that the corporation De
prevented from collecting any money
for transportation along the streets
where the trolley lines are operated.
The petition which was referred to the
street committee, says in part:
The ordinance as adopted granting the United
Railroads permit to convert It's caple llnef
into trolley systems was advertised TOT nse Gays
only and failed to specify any or rae u1d ~ y
granted did it require OF the opiteo @ hal
roads the payment Of percentage ca f, 1rS Ans
to eiapse specified in the charter. TO wit: tnt
periods OF twenty days for the printing OF tne
the ordinance could not have been finally passed
nor said franchise granted before Octoper l.
1906 instead Of June H. 1905 which would %
il unlawful for Board of Supervisors to grant
franchise for the construction. extension ano
operation of any street railroad wlthln ninet
days next preceding the date of general cleo
tiou, and such an election was held last NO
SYSTEM is A MENACE
That nevertheless the United Railroads has II
structed overhead trolley system 6y srn,, wniet
its cars are being operated along the streets
menace TO human life and public and danger
Gus nuisance; that the said trolley is CONSTANT,
breaking and falling to the ground, tieing up ths
street ears for hours at a time, mountaineering
the travelling public and threatening. their livei
and making tbe streets named unsafe and dan
gerous for use to the public.
BIDS FOR FRANCHISE
The board received a bid from the
United Railroads for the sale of fran
chise for an electric cross-town road
to run from Scott and Page streets
along certain streets to the Mission dis
trict The company simply agree to
comply with the conditions imposed
by the charter, including the payment
of a percentage of the gross receipts OF
the road to the city.
e. P. Tray filed the following protest
against the grant of the franchise: !.
protest against the award Of the franchis.
for street railway running from scofs pa.nn[ sne
avenue, for which bids are to be opened Marcf
20. and I demand that all action on his mattel
be rescinded and annulled
This franchise is of no value TO any one excep
the United Railroads. You have not providef
conditions IN 1t that VIII adequately compensate
the city for the privilege The total cost OF th'
roadbed and track, cars ana carparn for tnl'
line win not exceed $780,
As this is to be crosstown line, IT wouif
undoubtedly earn much as the Fillmore-stree
line During the recent arbitration proceedings
the United Railroads acknowledged that the FIJI
morestreet line carried 1873 passengers per cal
mile of whom 1876 paid a cash fare of cents
s75 cents per car nile The ,ss Least t, namss
this proposed franchise covers would be 1910
This would bring daily receipts nsr Of ssDs2S. q q
onerstjon would not exceed $55, ,576, the annua
Tt Of this lire should not be less than "a s1S7
pronertv ~ fhfs citv valued at $6 433, 900 and
making a gift of 1t to the United Railroads tt
bolster up it's tottering. fictitious capitalization
On GaIlagher's motion the bid and
the protest were referred to the utili-
ties committee.