Re: A few maps might be helpful
Author: synonymouse
Date: 01-05-2019 - 10:56
Cala Foods previously.
One tidbit I did learn from this investigation(and which I suspected)is that they did change the direction of Sacramento & Clay Sts. from uphill on Clay to downhill. One suggested reason was to get riders up the steep Sacramento St. hill to the hotels. And apparently the Sacramento St. cable lost a lot of business with the opening of the Bay Bridge and the decline of the ferries.
Interesting to note that as late as 1940 if you were, say, at Leavenworth and Pine Sts. you would have seen cable car tracks proceeding north on Pine, California, Sacramento, Clay, Washington, and Jackson Sts. We lost a lot.
I would think that when they changed the direction of Sacramento and Clay they laid in the special work to put the Sacramento St. cars into service.
Apparently in 1954 it was seriously considered to combine the California St. line with the Hyde St. line. Not a bad idea in retrospect and would have likely been the cheapest option. But my guess is that DPW was resolutely opposed to saving the Washington & Jackson Sts. line.
Perhaps nowadays the mentality of SF officialdom is a little bit different - the question in my mind is whether the Fillmore St. area wants more tourists.