The San Francisco call., 1909-03-14
GRAB YELLED BY
PUBLIC NECESSITY
United Railroads Plays on Mer-
chants to Secure Some
thing for Nothing
Supervisors Asked to Give the
Company Permanent Exten-
siOns Into Market Street

Another something for nothing" grab
on the part of the United Railroads
was attempted yesterday, this time the
company playing on the necessities of
the upper Market street merchants. The
supervisors were indirectly asked by
the Calhoun management to give the
road permanent extensions of its Eighth
street line into the Market tracks, and
with another curve connection at Mis-
sion and Eighth. The privilege sought
without compensation to the city for
permanent connection. and the excuse
switched down Mission might be
brought back to Market at Eighth in
stead of at Fifth, thus benefting the
merchants of the three blocks in ques-
tion.
The Merchants association was the
intermediary and forwarded the proposi-
tion to- the board with its Endorsement,
as follows:
SUGGESTION FROM MERCHANTS
.The Merchants association respect
fully begs to make the following
| recommendation regarding the opera
ton of the street railroad on Market
street while the tracks are being re-
constructed, so as TO reduce the incon-
venience and loss of business to the
merchants along that street between
Fifth and Twelfth streets while the
work of reconstruction is being done.
we recommend that the railroad
company be required to install curves
at Eighth and Market streets and at
Eighth and Mission streets and turn the
Market and Castro line, the Valencia
line and the Haight street line back
into Market street at Eighth street as
soon as the tracks between Fifth and
Eighth streets are completed. thus CIV
ing direct service from the Mission
district to all of the territory on Mar
ket street between Eighth and Fifth
streets, pending the reconstruction of
the tracks on Market street between
Eighth and Twelfth streets.
I'VE also recommend that these
curves be made permanent. so that they
can be used at any time in case of
emergency, as they would prove of
great advantage to the travelling public
whenever blockade occurs at either
Market street or Mission at any point
between Eighth and Twelfth streets,
as they would allow diversion of cars
from one street to the other to pass
around any blockade which might oc-
cur and thus prevent delays in reach
ing the ferries or their western termi-
nails.
OFFICIALS ARE WILLING
"The same remarks are true as to
blockades between Eighth and Fifth
streets, where there are already con-
Meeting curves.
I'VE have taken this matter mn with
1.-THE officials of the street railwsv COM
pany and they have expressed tbair
willingness to provide such curves. If
desired, and If given permission to in
stall them.
IF the curves are put in they should
be made permanents not for theSrail
roads benefit so much as for the public
in the case Of bloc1ades and process
sions or other occasions, when there is
bound to be an interruption of traffic.
I'VE therefore respectfully ask your
honorable board to request the United
Railroads to install these curves and
turn the Market street cars. as above
suggested, while the work is under
way between Eighth and Twelfth
streets, and that the necessary permits
for such curves be granted. Very re-
spectfully,
The Merchants Association of San
Francisco,
ANDREW NJ. DAVIS, President
| L. NJ. KING, Secretary