The San Francisco call., 1909-02-18
TUNNEL PROJECT
GATHERS SUPPORT
Considerable Progress Made in
Preparing Plan for Final
Consideration

The identity of the eastern capitalists
backing the scheme to build another
street railway line to Market street
over Stockton by tunneling the hill
between Sutter and Sacramento street
was not disclosed at yesterdays hear
ing of the supervisors public utilities
committee. but considerable progress
was made in putting the project into
shape for consideration.
George Skaller, who appeared for the
men projecting the road said it was
not fair at this time to make them
show their hand. IF the railway pro
posed should recommend itself as a
needed improvement and the franchise
be advertised, the bidders would have
to put up their certified checks and
demonstrate to the board their financial
responsibility" he said.
Attorney Curtis Hillyer for the pro-
jectors agreed to the suggestions that
the municipality should have the right
to use the tracks itself or to designate
another road to be given the privilege.
He also agreed to the company grading
as well as paving the right of way,
and made various concessions which
the United Railroads have always in
sisted were impossible surrenders in It's
negotiations relative to new franchise
grants.
Engineer A B. Southland for the pro-
posed road saw no difficulty in pro-
viding the suggested stairways and
landings at Bush. Pine and California
streets. II. F. Law warned that it
would be better not to load the fran
chise with too many. restrictions and
requirements.
The extension of the proposed fran
chise route out via Montgomery ave-
nue., Green and Bay streets to the
Preside and North beach, made by At
torney w. w. Sanderson for the North
Beach Improvement club, was recog
nized as desirable, making the road a
property which began somewhere and
ended somewhere
The supervisors, while well disposed
toward the proposal: took it under ad
visement and await the applicants put
ting into form some of yesterday
suggestions before reporting back to
the board.
Attorney W. /. Brobeck secured a
recommendation that the Crocker es-
tate company should be granted 1C
d
track in Mission street near Amazon
the proposed development line in the
Amazon tract with the system of the
United Railroads.
Merchants IndOrse Tunnel
The Downtown association at Its
meeting at the St Francis hotel yes
terday approved of the granting of a
street railway franchise on Stockton
NJ
tunnel to the bay. Nearly every mer-
chant present advocated the granting
~ this privilege in the belief that II
would materially increase business In
the newly rebuilt shopping district.
F. w. Dohrmann of the Nathan
Dohrmann company said that the new
road would undoubtedly open UP q
new field for the retail merchants OF
this city. That section known as
North beach is without a direct line
into the city's center at the present
time. He strongly urged the Down
town association to put its stamp ot
approval on the plan. The resolution
was as follows:
Resolved. that the Downtown asso-
citation favors the granting of street
railway franchise in Stockton street
from Market street to the bay under
the proper organizations and safe.
guards of the public rights"
George Uhl, election commissioner
spoke on behalf OF the Improvement OF
the streets in the business section
He offered plan suggested by Com
missioner Day of the board of public
works that the merchants purchase q
series of Slz per cent bonds, the pro.
ceeds of which could be devoted to the
repaving and repairing of streets. He
congratulated the Downtown associa.
tion on it's excellent work and empha-
sized the Importance of getting actor
on this matter Immediately
City Attorney Percy V. Long an6
Thomas Z. Haven made brief talk.
on the needs of the merchants. A. G
Mccarthy presided and the followfns
members attended:
James Woods John A. Hammersmith