The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-01-24
Housewives Complain That
Corporation Does Not Fur
nish Fuel for Cooking
Bills Grow Larger, While Serv-
ice Decreases and People
Burn Candies
Protests Are Treated With Con-
tempt and Suggestions for
Betterment Are Derided

Residents Of the western section OF
the Richmond district are making
preparations for a joint protest against
the inadequate service given them by
the san Francisco gas and electric COM
spsny. They complain that their bills
bErow larger while rne service grows
poorer. The service has reached the
sstage where the matter viii be placed
before the respective improvement
clubs and an immediate change de-
manded- So weak IS the pressure that
in many homes and places Of business
candles are burned. Cooking by
means OF gas has become impossible
in many parts Of the district but the
company continues 70 charge as
though ii were pumping a plentiful
supply through the mains
W D. Fenner Of 2O25 Lake street
cited HIS own case yesterday as an
example Of what the residents in the
Richmond district are compelled TO en-
cure Protests lodged with the gas
company have brought no relief.
CONDITION GROWS WORSE
Il own property at 2O25 Lake street
snd have resided there for five years.
said Fenner. During this time the
gas service has decreased until now il
Is impossible TO cook with its aid. Ny
gas bill for December WAS $3.50. We
use electricity for lighting purposes,
and during the interval between and
Q clock every evening the gas oven
can not be used, as the gas will not
stay lit Consequently we are forced TO
do cooking by the aid OF an oil stove.
in addition 10 this. j am compelled TO
pay for what I do not receive. The
condition at present is deplOrable, and
IS becoming worse-lf such is pos
sible. il is a drawback TO the entire
district. as there are many who would
purchase homes in this locality but for
the poor service rendered by the local
gas company.
COOKING Is IMPOSSIBLE
F. / Atkinson. who lives at 203s
Lake street, IS severe in his condem-
nation OF the company. He said yes
Ierday:
After $50 in the afternoon we have
practically no gas at ali. Were il not
Tor the electric lights we would be in
utter darkness. AS for cooking. it IS
impossible. / was one Of those who
were induced by the company TO get
I'D Of our coal ranges and install gas
ranges. There is no pressure. and the
quality OF the gas is miserable. They
try TO force Il into this district from
the PotrerO through small pipes, en-
tirely inadequate to carry a sufficient
amount. Tanks should be installed in
this section and filed during the day
i made that suggestion TO the COM
panys officials. but they laughed at
me. Their treatment Of consumers in
this part Of the city is outrageous"
CANDLES USED IN STORE
z. Hesse. whose place of business is
al California street and Twenty second
avenue. was forced last night to light
number Of candles in order to illurni-
nate the interior Of his establishment.
The gas pressure is so low" said
Eesse. that it viii not burn 1t will
give little light and then it viii go
out still our bills keep growing They
90 higher and higher, while we get
poorer and poorer service. The truth
is we really do not get any light at ali
from the gas company. was COM
PEELED to light candles tonight We
think We deserve better treatment than
this We have taken the matter up
with the gas company, but it has done
no good.
PLANT OF HOUSEWIVES
Mrs. c. T. Wells OF 20s Twentieth
avenue voiced the complaint Of the
housewives when she said:
We have no gas from $50 TO 80
clock in the evening, which is exactly
The time when we need il most 1t is
impossible for US 10 do any cooking.
As for light. the quality OF the gas,
when we do have any. is so poor as to
make reading an impossibuity."
p. N. Goldrick Of 202e Lake street
asserted that for three hours every
evening there was not enough gas in
The tubes to light.
Daniel Cullen OF 2030 Lake street
said that he had long since despaired
of using gas for any purpose in his
home.
The matter viii be presented 10 the
Richmond heights Improvement club
and a formal complaint may be placed
before the board Of supervisors