I can only think of Ralston as a long cherished and lamented friend. But so far as business went, our acquaintance began and ended under an unlucky star. CHAPTER XIX. TWO MEN BLOCK PLAN TO RUN NEW MONTGOMERY STREET TO THE BAY; ONE ASKS COIN, OTHER PREFERS FIGHT. _Promoters Appeal to Legislature and Do Not Neglect Precaution of First “Seeing” Vote Brokers._ When Ralston and I opened New Montgomery street we never doubted that its manifest importance would compel an immediate and voluntary extension to the natural terminus of the waterfront and prove the logical outlet for congested trade. That this would have been the case had the majority of property owners been able to follow our example, I have no reasonable doubt. But just as in the case of “Montgomery Street Straight,” special interests and selfish considerations stood in the way. Less than half a dozen property owners, to their irreparable disadvantage, blocked “Montgomery Straight”--a project that would have changed the whole course of the city’s progress and development. Just two property owners prevented the immediate extension of New Montgomery street to the bay, and again the failure was the city’s heavy loss. These two men were Milton S. Latham and John Parrott. Latham owned a stately home and large grounds on Folsom street, directly in the line of the new thoroughfare. It was a matter of no small personal pride, and doubtless he was attached to the locality. He asked such a fabulous price for the right-of-way, which of course would have destroyed the home value of the property, that even Ralston and myself, who were accustomed to brush any minor obstacles out of our way without counting costs, stood aghast. John Parrott, on the other hand, wouldn’t trade at all. His business hours were then strictly limited from 9 to half-past 10, and every time we managed to secure an interview, all the satisfaction we could get out of him was a promise to fight us every inch of the way. Outside of these two, we had a clear field. We secured contracts on a great number of properties along the line of the proposed thoroughfare. All the large owners concerned favored it with enthusiasm. Still we were absolutely blocked. Under these conditions, nothing remained but an appeal to the Legislature to appoint a commission, empowered to open New Montgomery street for its full length and assess benefits and damages as provided by the general laws then in force. And while about it, we did not stop there. We worked out a grand, comprehensive scheme of improvement, embracing the immense territory to the south.