Note 32 — Chapter III · The San Francisco Ruef Ruled.
Reading edition
Several questions were presented. The following is the vote as given in the Merchants’ Association Review, the organization’s official publication, for February, 1906:
“TOTAL VOTE OF MEMBERS, 364.
“1—Do you favor Mr. Parsons’s view of a uniform system of overhead trolley lines throughout the entire city, including a central line of ornamental trolley poles, with lights furnished by the Railroad company between the tracks on Market Street, and a trolley line with ornamental poles and lights furnished by the Railroad upon Sutter Street?
“Votes received—Yes, 121; No, 204.
“2—Do you favor an overhead trolley system throughout the city except on Market Street?
“Votes received—Yes, 67; No, 212.
“3—Do you favor an underground conduit system for Market Street and for the streets with cable lines leading into Market Street in the central downtown district and in the adjacent residence district, the remainder of the system to be overhead trolley?
“Votes received—Yes, 198; No, 84.
“4—Irrespective of what shall be done on any other streets, which system do you favor for Sutter Street: (a) an underground conduit, or (b) an overhead trolley line if equipped with ornamental poles and lights furnished free by the Railroad company, or (c) an improved cable system?
Underground ConduitTrolleyCable
“First Choice217935
“Second Choice428362
“Third Choice71494
“5—Do you favor changing the cable lines on Nob Hill to electric lines by tunneling the hill and constructing a winding driveway with parks on California Street, as proposed in Mr. Parsons’s report?
“Votes received—Yes, 158; No, 140.”
This vote was taken after an extended debate at a banquet given by the Association in which Patrick Calhoun, president of the United Railroads, argued for the trolley system, and Frank J. Sullivan, president of the Sutter Street Improvement Club, spoke for the conduit.