The San Francisco call., 1909-09-28

4
rid Of the influence of the
u United Railroads. But few
people know what a coed street rail-
way system is. don't see any evidence
in san Francisco of even the beginning
OF good street railway transportation
system. The Key Route service across
the bay is one Of the best in the world;
but the United Railroads system in San
Francisco is a poorly managed system
and shows that there is incompetence
at the head of ii. 1t is a curious fact
that il is operated by the same cap
itaI that controls the system in Pitts
burg, which is the worst in the country.
They 90 not seem TO understand what
good transportation is. though they do
understand how 10 hold up the people.
I do not understand why there is not
public movement in this city, apart
from all questions of politics and graft,
for good street railway system"
Thus spoke Prof. Charles Zueblin,
formerly professor of sociology at the
University of Chicago. an authority on
American municipal affairs and the au-
thor Of two works on that subject.
American Municipal Progress" and a
Decade of Civic Development
Discusses Local Conditions
Professor Zueblin, who now lives in
Boston. has been lecturing in the west
and departs today for Portland, Ore.
At the St Francis hotel last night he
gave an extended interview TO The
Call touching particularly on his i'm
pressions OF san Francisco municipal
conditions and discussing also his in
,eresting and novel views on the mar
risge relation and the status Of woman
during the period of child rearing.
But il was 10 the San Francisco
transportation system and the Hetch
Hetchy water problem that Professor
ZuebIin devoted himselg most earnest
~ during the Interview
a city hould own all of its public
utilities he declared we can not
have well governed cities while there
are franchises granted.
Here you want water supply" he
said. for reasons of health, and
municipality owned transportation sys-
TEN for moral ressons-so that there
Will be no more temptation for corpor-
ations illegally to secure franchises. In
all this Hetch Hetchy water contro-
versy you seem to be overlooking
vital questionable lake which the city
would build in the Hetch Hetchy val
ley would be thing OF beauty That
point should be urged.
DepIores Water System
IT is a great calamity that you did
not have z good water system at the
time OF the disaster"
After expressing his drastic views on
the United Railroads, Professor Zueb-
lin discussed the Geary street railroad
as . municipality owned line, showing
himself to be extremely familiar with
all the aspects Of the case.
One OF the chief values it would be
70 the city to operate that line, he
said, is that il could be used as a club
over the United aRilroads. Ideally you
should not have the Geary street line
operated as municipal road while the
Sutter street line. paralleling it, is pri-
vately controlled. The best way TO do
would be to get all the lines for the
city, but that can not be done.
what I don't understand is the
ability of the United Railroads TO hold
the Sutter street company tracks in
Market street to the ferry as sepa-
rate road. The Sutter street line be-
longs 10 the United Railroads and thai
should be all there was to the ques-
tion. / don't see how a technicality
such as has been raised should hold
Something should be done. When the
Geary street line is in operation it
should have feeders crossing the city
from north to south so that a system
could be built up
San Franciscos only handicap has
been poor transportation facilities. 1t
has been choked by poor service. Your
ferry system is wonderful thing
bringing. as it does. boats from all df-
reotions into one depet; but it is absurd
10 have a poor railroad depot of in |
another corner Of the city,
Views on Marriage
Some years ago Professor zueblin.
then at the University of Chicago. |
started considerable controversy by |
his views on marriage. He eIucidated
those views last evening. He said. |
briefly. that he believed that the mar
rage state could be elevated by the
economic independence of woman. sex
-..-.~&s<r ~ children frnnraevd /-,-o.-
tunities for young people to meet and
become acquainted an dthe public is
suance of the marriage license six
months before marriage. teh latter pre-
ca utson TO insure better acquaintance
between the betrothed couple, /