The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1922-11-18

Here Street Railway That Mich Wages Provides
Pensions and Vacations and 6he.'Al ssniesto People,.

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Did YOU eyer. hear of a-big NUM-
cipal ratlway operating on q five-cent
fare. paying. standard union wages
to all Of it's 100 employees, giving
those employees, generous pension
protection and a, twelve-day vacation
each: YEAR, with pay. providing. the
citizens with prompt and efficient
service and in addition, during not
quite ten:years OF operation, main
tanning its equipment in splendid
conditions, spending over, 81, 500. 900
Of: IT'S income for. expansions and
betterments. to the system, and de-
creasing its bonded indebtedness by
another million? This is a story
worth the telling: It did not happen
in Germany or Scotland or some oth-
err thrifty; land where the people
have always owned their public
utilities. 1t is all: just the order Of
the day in San Francisco, whose
citizens are we'll convinced that a
publicly owned and operated street
railway system is a paying PROPOSE
ton. ,.:s..
How the people Got Their Railway.
Away back in 1895: the progressive
people of San Francisco saw the OPP
portunity for developing a municipal
railway SYSTEM: Archaic. cable cars
operated on on" Of the main streets
Of the city Those who owned the
road refused to- install a better sys-
tenn because 1t would interfere with
big dividends on their investment.
They were not interested I'M service
to the public..: The franchise Of the
Geary Street: line was to expire in
1908. When the company applied
for it's extension. public spirited cit
liens successfully. opposed the re-
newal Of the; franchise, The door was
thus opened, for the development Of
a city-owned street: railway system.
It takes time, to convert cautious
citizens and tor win out III hostile
courts. Despite a vigorous campaign
of education, 1T was not until De-
'cember, 1903, that the means were
provided for. the acquisition of a
municipal car line. A proposed bond
issue of 100000 for the purchase
of the lire was defeated by. the press
agents of the. privately owned rail-
road in a bitter and closely fought
election. In 1905 budget approprja-
ton made for the purchase of the
Geary Street line was used instead
for: the reconstruction of streets and
destroyed by the" great
which occurred in April
Of that year., The following year a
similar budget !. appropriation was
declared invalid by the court. Fir
ally in December, 1909, the people
Of the city alphabetically voiced theic
for "A municipality owned
railway by authorizing q bond issue
of $2,o2o,o00:T The railway corpora
tons; again appealed TO the courts
to block the. project, but the follow
ing year the State Supreme co,'rt
declared the:a bond ;. issue valid in
every respects; ,,..
The Day OF Liberation. < =:
The great day for commencing
operations came in December, 1912.
In a memofable triumphant drive
Mayor James RoIph, IT., piloted the
first municipal car. down Geary
street. From that: aay::to the pres
ent the story ofitle San: Francisco
Municipal railway ts "a. record Of
steady growth, improved facilities,
and increases, in trackage; in cars
and in frequency Of service. : i
When the people Of San Francisco
decide upon some public improve
>ment; railway = extensions are
promptly: built ito further = its sue
cess. The .Panama-Pacifc Inter
Extension is a case In
point. {. Its. location at San Fran
cisco depended largely upon the
ability Of. the city to provide cheap
and efficient TRANSPORTATION for more
than million visitors. The people
did not have to haggle with a PRIV
ate corporation to get the job done
They simply voted a bond issue of
$3,500;00o to care for the extension,
and the lines were promptly laid
Incidentally these: lines brought
such development to the western
section of the .c;tys* that they are
still in operation. Again in 1918 the
city wished to develop a valuable
residence: and business district. cut
of froW, the J. down. town by the
Twin Peaks, In order to reach thl.
section a. tunnel $4,000 feet long
had to-; be dug at an expense 81
+ 100000. San Francisco promptly
voted for it. and, the big project was
completed: i. without delay. The
people are firmly convinced ! Of the
safety and: wisdom OF investing in
tl1eirsown street car system. :: =:
x The San Francisco way -
:1And:now in 1929 it you travel tic