The San Francisco call., 1909-06-29
STRINGHAM BID
FOR STOCKTON
ST. ROAD wins
Supervisors Grant Franchise
for Construction of Under
ground Railway
Board Hears Plan for Public
Meeting TO Discuss Civic
Center Proposition

The Stockton street railway franchise
was sold by the board of supervisors
yesterday to Frank d. stringham and
associates. who announced a determina-
zion TO organize a company and proceed
with the constructio nof a line involv-
ing a tunnel in Stockton street between
Sutter and Sacramento streets and ex-
tentions 10 the water front and to the
Preside.
Promoter Herman Skaller upon the
passage 10 print Of the two bills ac-
cepting the Stringham bid and granting
the franchise announced that A J.
Loweuberg. president Of the City and
County bank. would be the head of the
new company and Lowenberg later
stated several local bankers would be
associated with him. They are to form
$l,000,00O corporation. No transfer
> arrangements, he said, or, for that mat
rter. construction arrangements had
neen entered into, but the formation Of
the company would now be expedited
j. J.. Goldsmith, his assistant cashier;
George Skaller. who has managed the
negotiations with the board, and the
law firm Of Hillyer, Stringham &
. Brien, he announced, would be in the
company.
Plight OVER FRANCHISE
The franchise was not granted by the
board yesterday without a struggle
Supervisors Johnston and Murphy of
The public utilities committee desired
three supulations from the company
before making the grant-that it would
agree not 10 install an elevated road
nor hold the city liable in a purchase
OF the road for other than construction
damage costs. and that it would waive
the payment of the IS per cent mini
mum Of ali construction charges during
the life Of the franchises should the
city purchase after Is years. substitut
ing instead that the court should fix
the present actual physical value of the
plant
The. board passed to print the meas
ures, only Johnston. Jennings, Murphy
and Connolly standing out for the ex-
action Of the three stipulations
The tracks Of the United Railroads
connecting the Post street line with
that Of Market street were ordered re-
moved by or before July s.
DISCUSS CIVIC CENTER
The civic center and city hall matter
came up in the board yesterday upon
BancrOft's suggestion that a public
neeting be held to discuss the plans
for the structure. Murdock moved as q
substitute that the board should con-
slider the advisability Of submitting the
. civic center proposition 10 the people
gain.
Referring 10 morning newspapers
campaign against the project he said:
1.-The gross Misrepresentation as to
. the cost Of the proposed center by
public journal misled many people into
NO manipulation Of the figures could 8
greater cost to the tax payer than
cents per year be anticipated, but the
voters were informed it might be 20
cents.
The project had the backing of the
majority voting and the opposition of
only a small minority of the electorate
and should be submitted to the people
at some future time"
Murdock's suggestion was approved.
At the recommendation Of District
. Attorney Langdon the board passed
20 print an ordinance terminal
ing the present bill Of ap-
pointment Of the special agents" De-
q tective William Burns and his assist
ants. on December 81 Of this year,
which viii permit Of the expenditure
OF the $4,000 appropriation voted for
the maintenance Of the special service
during the first six months of the en-
suing fiscal year.
The San Francisco gas and electric
company was awarded the contract to
. light the city's streets and buildings
during the ensuing fiscal year.
The Spring Valley water company's
e COMMUNICATION TO the effect that it
could not indulge in any capital ex-
penditure" to furnish citizens with
water was referred TO the water COM
mittee.
The board awarded to the Gamewell
company the contract to furnish so
alarm boxes for $3.50; extended to
the national education association a
cordial invitation to convene next year
sin san Francisco; referred the petit
tion Of John Campbell for the closing
Of the saloons about the entrances to
Golden Gate park to the police com
naissioners for action: accepted the
national irrigation congress- invita-
ton to. attend its annual session in
Spokane August 9-I4; appointed c. i.
Corey to make an exhaustive examina-
fion OF the Pacific telephone company's
plant and finances as a basis for fixing
rates next February, and postponed
action one week on the resolution re-
ouesting the city attorney to advise
the board what steps to take to compel
the Spring Valley company TO furnish