The San Francisco call., 1907-06-02


Indictment of Patrick Calhoun had
been expected since Ruefs confession,
the officers OF the United Railways In
vestment company in this city still en-
tertained a hope that the resourceful
and wealthy streetcar magnate, taking
advantage OF a sentiment that seemed
10 exist in San Francisco against the
strikers and the labor element. might
Yet by hook or crook be able to stave
on action by the grand jury. Conse-
ouenuy the announcement that Cal
houn, TREY L. Ford, Mutually and Alb
bott had been indicted was disap-
pointment and had the effect Of. fur
1her depressing the price of the stock
Of the inves tment company.
Strangely enough the officials seemed
10 care less for Calhoun's awkward
predicament not TO say disgrace, and
prospect Of punishment than they dill
for the future Of the investment com
pany. When The Calls correspondent
suggested TO one Of the officials that
the conviction Of President Calhoun
might be followed by proceedings 70
invalidate the overhead trolley permit,
IF not the original franchise itself, the
official recalled the fact that although
Jake" Sharp had been convicted OF
bribery in securing the franchise for
York city, ii did not affect the opera
tion Of the Broadway line itself. The
cars are still running" said he
In this connection il is interesting
10 review the trial and conviction of
Jacob Sharp. 1t was the confession
OF one Of the ring leaders that brought
about confessions from other alder
men that they had received sums vary
ing from $4,000 to- -s22, 900 to vote for
the franchise. the total sum paid out
being $45O.0O0.
EARLY LIFE OF CRATER
Jacob Sharp was born in Montgomery
county, New York He was the son of
shoe maker who was accustomed to
beat his boy because he was averse
TO learning the cobbler's trade firing
OF this i'll treatment young Sharp ran
away from home. But for this action
lie might yet be pegging away at his
cobbler's bench in that little country
town, but, once having decided to run
away the accomplishment was not dis-
ncGlC The Hudson and Erie canal
skirted the town and he readily found
passage on a canal boat TO Troy, on
the Hudson, where he obtained en-
p-oyment as cook on a timber craft
bound for New York Sharp was
then about y years old. Arriv-
lng IN New York he found en-
pioyment as a logger or longshoreman n
Tor timber craft There were no steam
tugs IL those days and the logs were
roNed ashore, where they were fshed
oGt pt the -ater by the longshoremen.
L-tue By little Sharp improved his
condition and eventually formed q
partnership ia the timber transporta-
ton business and dock building. His
partner was local politician of some
note and from him young Sharp i'm
blbed his first ideas of politics and
nlpulatiOn Otrcontracts
TRIES To GET FRANCHISE
Having been favored with some
profitable contracts by the city off,
cials having charge of wharves and
docks Sharp began to think of street
railroad franchises. While others less
. ambitious. or less audacious had been
content to ask for franchises on cross
streets or side streets, Sharp boldly
asked for one to build a line on Broad
way, which he believed was to become
the main thOroughfare of the city. It
required no great amount of shrewd-
ness to foresee this, for it had already
become one Of the principal retail
streets, but there were some who con
tended that Fifth avenue. being wider.
would. outstrip Broadway. and become
the main artery of the city Now that
Broadway has become the chief busi-
ness street of New York in every sense
Of the word, being to New York what
Market street is TO San Francisco, 1t
is curious that residents and store
keepers along the street were strongly
opposed TO having il ~disfigured" by a
car line. A. 7. Stewart. the merchant
prince, was one of those who was
strenuously opposed to the Broadway
franchise. A half century later he has
been succeeded in business by John
Wanamaker, whose huge department
store stands on the selfsame spot
SUBWAY TO WANAMAKERs
But there is now a network of car
lines around the place and by exerting
his powerful influence with the subway
directors WanaEnaker has q station
leading directly into his basement His
advertisements teen with announce
rnents Of car lines leading to the big
store. But the merchants along Broad
way, in the old days, considered the
car tracks unsighly. And indeed the
little old fashioned horse cars on other
streets. bobtailed, weather beaten and
dilapidated, drawn by worn out horses
or tiny mules, were unsightly, to be
y sharp and his associates, beginning
in 1852, never ceased in their untiring
efforts to secure the Broadway fran
chfse until II was granted in 1884. 80
years later. His first application, made
Sn 1852, was granted by the aldermen,
but was vetoed by the mayor. A year
or two afterward the aldermen were
again induced 10 pass the franchise
end Sharp and A T. Stewart engaged
IN a lively race to the mayors house.
and thence TO a house where he was
spending the evening. Sharp wanted to
get the franchise signed at once. Stew
art wanted It killed. The two met on
the stone steps and engaged in a tus-
sic 10 see which would enter the door
first. Sharp being physically the su-
rerior managed to secure the first audi
ence with the mayor. but Stewart in
duced that official to Kill the fran
chise.
SHARP AT LEGISLATURE
Not daunted by two successive de-
seats Sharp's next trial was at Albany,
IL - r.rr h.nd