The San Francisco call., 1909-04-10
STEALTHY WORK
TO GAIN RICH
CONCESSIONS
United Railroads Would Shut
Out City and Other
Competitors
Redding sounds" Supervisors
in Interest of the Pro-
posed Grab

sng achievement OF the company. 1t
was expressly stipulated that the line
would be sold and rot operated by the
city before the agreement could be
made. Under the terms of the third
proposal, no concern could afford 10
bEy the line. The United Railroads
alone could make the purchase under
the terms named Not only. therefore.
would il have obtained the Sutter per
NIT. but il would have annexed the
Geary line at the same time.
Redding stated repeatedly to the
members of the board that under no
circumstances would the United Rail
in any way allowed the city 10 operate
a line Of its own. He said that his
people doubted whether the city had
the legal right under the charter to
( operate q road. He added that the es
Enlistment of municipal lire would
greatly depreciate the value Of the Sc
curities of the United Railroads, and
for that reason the company would op-
pose It
In short the company made it plain
that It demanded the franchises on it's
own terms
Bugs in Franchise
The conference with Redding on the
Devisadero cross town line was held
yesterday and again great obstacles
were encountered The matter is now
before the public utilities committee
and great pressure is being brought to
bear 20 force the supervisors to grant
the franchise. bugs and all"
That the terms Of the franchise are
alive with bugs its most ardent pro-
ponents do not deny. The line. as
sketched. runs from Page and Scott
streets along Scott street, Duboce ave-
nue.. Noe street. Sixteenth street,
Church street, Eighteenth street, Va
lencia street. and Twentieth street 10
Potrero avenue. The United Railroads
has refused to bid in its own name and
has offered TO take the permit in the
name of George B. wilcutt, the COM
pany's secretary.
Under the law limiting certain
streets to two companies. another line
would be barred from the two blocks
IN Valencia street between Eighteenth
and Twentieth. This would render g
rival line in Valencia street impossible
and another thoroughfare would be
bottled, as is the case in lower Market
street
A condition by which a municipal
road may be operated over the tracks
has been inserted, but nulIifyine
clause has been tackled on. This clause
limits the right OF the municipal line
10 use the tracks 10 the single purpose
Of securing equal terminal facilities
q condition practically impossible.
Terms Are Too Broad
The terms Of the franchise are So
broad in its grants of branches. side
tracks, turnouts, switches, curves
crossings. depot and terminal track.
and facilities over and under tn,
street" that the company would be abl.
70 20 ahead with scant restriction
throughout the entire neighborhooC
travelled by the projected line.
The motive power of the line is t.
he electricity, "or such other motiv,
power as science has now or may here
after discover or the laws sanction.
Under this condition the compan.
would have z freedom which no othe
city is willing to grant.
The matter at issue over the Stock
ton street franchise is the use Of tn
tracks by municipal line. The cit,
authorities and the men prompting tn
line have not yet been able to reacl
an agreement.
The United Railroads is pressing it
demands upon the board of supervisor
with increased vigor. The work is no
being done In the open. and It is sal
that it is the corporations intention
when il finds the time ripe. to en-
desvor TO rush its proposals throuel
the board.
HONORS FOR MURDERED