The San Francisco call., 1913-08-24

power plants.
These and many other acts of hu
manity and good citizenship were done
by the United Railroads at the very
time when 1t was taxed to the utmost
In protecting It's own property and
striving to restore transportation.
The day after the fire few
cars were started In outlying districts.
where no particular harm lad been
DONE couple of days later cars were
started along Fillmore street. and then
at once appeared the hand of the
business enemy raised IN obstruction
at the very time when the United Rail
roads was striving to restore trans
portation. Enemies on the light and
power committee Of the committee of
fifty raised the point that Il was dan
gerous to have the electric current on
In that region. 1t was some time, be-
fore this objection was overcome, to
be followed quickly by another even
more remarkable. As soon as cars be-
gan to run the company gave notice
that for the present no fares would
be collected; that passengers would be
carried free. It was then objected that.
by so doing. tho cars would become so
overcrowded that travel would be un-
endurable and unsatisfactory To over
come this the company responded by
agreeing to accept fares but announced
that all proceeds from fares would be
turned over to the relief committee
which was done for a long period the
company retaining no compensation for
itself
Since April. 1905. the United Rail-
roads has placed In commission $50
new cars OF large size and latest type,
which contribute to swiftness of travel.
Among them are nearly 100 of the
latest pay-as-you-enter cars. When
these were first adopted the usual enc
mics of the company made the usual
outcry. This time they claimed that
the sole object was to garner some
more nickels. The fact of the matter is
that even the most captious are now
forced to admit that these cars give
more room inside of them, are more
quickly loaded and discharged. move
more rapidly and save the passengers
the annoyance of having the conductor
crowd back and forth among them and
Of being called upon more than once
for fare.
The company has rebuilt the North
Beach power house and has added to IL
two 5000 kilowatt Curtis turbines and
1000 kilowatt phase changing ma
chine and a so ton Morgan crane. It
has rebuilt and added large units to the
Turk and Fillmore street, the Bryant
avenue. the Geneva avenue and the
Millbrae substations and the Washing
ton and Mason streets cable power
house, and has made important addi-
tions and improvements at the Pacific
avenue cable power house and the
Geneva avenue shops.
What 1t has accomplished has been
accomplished in the face of some of the
bitterest attacks ever experienced by
such a public service corporation The
United Railroads was hardly formed
when 1t began to feel the attacks of
rival interests. Then came the months
of warfare upon the company by bust
ness enemies, which lasted for several
years, ending in another victory for the
United Railroads.
During all these periods Of strife tbs
company kept steadily on along its
path of progress and betterment- The
requirement of new rails. new overhead
equipment. new cars, did not end with
the replacement of those destroyed in
1906. It keeps steadily on and will
continue to do SO, the unswerving pot
icy OF the company being to meet and
to anticipate the growth of the city.
To the company this growth must
largely look. for the better the trans
portation service the faster tho growth
of business and the faster the de-
velopment of residential districts, both
nearby and outlying. New avenues of
traffic must be opened up for rapid
transit rolling stock must be kept up
to the minute of development The
routing OF cars, the determination of
headways. the expedition Of traffic. the
lengthening- of hours OF operation, are
but some OF the great problems to be
studied deeply and determined to ad-
vantage. The relations between the
city and the company are reciprocal
AS one prospers, so does the other.
The kicker we have always with us
but fair consideration, by those ac-
quainted with actual facts and con-
ditions. In every case demonstrates
that the United Railroads has done and
Is doing magnificent work in the de-
velopment of San Francisco. 1t is quite
evident that the vast majority of critics
of the United Railroads is composed
of people who are ignorant of the sit
uatiop in all its phases, or those with
selfish. Interior aims, or those who
are Just plain, everyday cranks and
knockers. There are several thousand
vociferous kicks made every year. per-
haps. But 2o0,00o,000 passengers are
carried annually by United Railroads
cars. That sheds some light on the
matter Of kicks.
Briefly summarized, here are a few
things that the United Railroads has
done for San Francisco since it took
active hold here about eight years ago
IT began Immediately to better tha
then archaic transit system.
Like the city. 1t suddenly found itaa,.
crushed to earth in April, 1905. by one
OF the greatest cataclysms in history.
yet within week had resumed service
1t gave freely of food. lodging and
transportation to the sufferers.
1t vastly facilitated the work Of re-
covery from disaster
1t invested many millions Of dollars
In the work of rehabilitation of its own
properties, which carried with 1t ma
terial aid In the rehabilitation of the
city.
II gave employment to thousands of
men, at good wages. for long periods
~ steadily improved Its service. which
resulted In quickening the commerce OF
the city and encouraged building. both