The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-06-24
G[ARY STREET
BOND ISSUE IS
UP TO VOTERS
Proposition Indorsed by All
Civic and Commercial Or
ganizations of City
Profitable Investment and a
Steady Revenue Promised
by Municipal Project

The voters of San Francisco will be
given an opportunity today to take the
first step looking to the construction
and operation of the Geary street rail-
road by the city: The campaign has
been waged with an unusual intensity
and wound up last night with a trip
throughout the city by a flying squad
ron. Two automobile parties toured
the streets, stopping wherever a crowd
had collected to present the merits of
the project. In one machine were John
W. Sweeney, Arthur Berendt and
Charles Sweigert. The other was cap
tanned by Walter Macarthur.
The issue has been sharply drawn.
The opposition has been led by a coterie
much like that which fought the Hetch
Hetchy bonds. At the forefront of the
opposition have been the forces of the
United Railroads. They have made no
effort to conceal their antagonism and
have openly fought the proposal They
have prepared and distributed circulars
and have inspired a deluge of false lit
erature.
Supporters of Plan
The supporters of the Geary street
bond issue include the members of the
! city government. vast number of civic
an Improvement organizations, the
labor council and several political clubs.
Endorsements have come from associa-
tions representing upward of so, 600
voters.
Mayor Taylor has expressed himself
in very positive terms in favor of the
project. After careful investigation
of the entire subject the Mission pro
motion association has gone on record
for the bonds. From labor circles have
come man yof the strongest champions
of the proposal. Walter Macarthur, An
drew Gallagher and John sweeney have
given largely of their time to spread
the doctrine
AS placed before the people. the con
struction and equipment of the the
line will entail an expenditure of
s1,950,000. 1t will give complete rail-
I
of the present line. but extending from
Market and Geary streets straight to
the ocean. Provision will then be made
for connection with the park and an ex-
tension to the ferry.
Sentiment Well Known
The sentiment of the public on this
question is not an unknown factor.
Twice before has the issue been pre-
sented and twice before have the peo-
pie, by large majorities, favored the
plan. The charter requires a two thirds
vote. In the past this has been lacking
by narrow margins.
Since 1908, when the question was
last submitted, many things have oc
CURED to alter public sentiment. The
people have been able to observe mod
ern traction methods in their most
hideous form; they have seen capitali
zation multiplied and watered to un
seemly proportions; they have seen
franchises bought by bribery; they
have seen their rights ignored, and
have been forced to endure a makeshift
service. With all of this has come a
knowledge of the true value of a fran
chise
Geary street is considered second
only to Market street in value. 1t
affords the shortest. quickest and most
direct service between the objective
points of travel. 1t is the best route
|
and park.
The Geary street project differs from
all other issues. 1t is the only one
promising a return. To begin with.
it will always be worth more than the
investment. With the money voted and
the line built, the city could at anv
time sell the line at far more than cost.
1t is bound to be a profitable invest
ment even if the city should decide.
for some unforeseen cause. not to OPP
crate it, Under full operation it prom
ises to pay for itself and to become a
source of revenue to the city.
Benefit to City
In submitting the question to the
public the city authorities were guided
by the light of the experience of other
communities. Private ownership in
New York, in its scramble for monu-
mental profits, has wrecked the most
promising business enterprise the
world has known. As result New
York must wait for years to regain
what it has squandered. Tt was
through a desire to save Geary street
for the people, to keep it as a safe
guard. that the supervisors placed the
question before the public.
| A municipal line on Geary street. it is
freely admitted, will act for all time as
an incentive to better service by the
private corporations. The road, as
planned by the municipality, is to be
lconducted primarily for the conven-
ience of the people. 1t is to be con-
duit system with cars of the latest