The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-01-11

Hint for the National Treasury.
The Secretary of War yesterday, in answer
to resolution of the Senate calling for infor-
nation relating to the expediency of reserving
the island of Yerba Buena, or Goat Island, for
military purposes, and also relating to the
effects, if any, upon tho harbor of San Fran
cisco, in approaching said island from the
mainland with railroad structures submits a
report from two boards of army engineers on
the subject. The Secretary says that these
reports substantially agree that certain por-
tions of the island may be surrendered
for commercial purposes without materially
impairing the power of the seacoast defences
projected for the island, and in this opinion
he concurs. He thinks that no damage will
result to San Francisco harbor in bridging the
bay from the mainland, east side, to Goat
Island, provided the structure is upon piles or
piers of minimum dimensions, placed in the
direction Of the currents
The Pacific Coast Board of Engineers, how
ever, say that the whole Of Yerba Buena, or
Goat Island, should be retained by the gov
eminent for the defence of the harbor and city
of San Francisco, and that the effect of ap-
preaching the island by bridge of piles, or
by causeway, would work serious damage to
San Francisco harbor; that surrender of any
part of the island would interfere with the de-
fence of the city, in resulting Sin COM
mercial town in the middle of the bay, which,
in time Of war, might easily be set on fire, and
thhtis necessitate the abandonment Of the
Notifications on the top Of the island, and
lead to the capture of the city of San Fran
cisco. They therefore strongly oppose the
proposed REIMBURSEMENT
This Commercial town in the middle of
the bay is really the main question. Let us
briefly explain it. The city of San Francisco
lies on and between the bay Of the same name
and the Pacific Ocean, and on the south side
of the outlet to the ocean known as the Golden
Gate. The bay extends south of the city some
forty miles, and varies from five to twenty
miles in width Another large bay, San Pablo,
connects on the north with the Golden Gate
at San Francisco, and into this northern bay
the two great rivers of California-the Sacra-
mento and San Joaquin are discharged All
these bays and rivers, therefore, are tribu-
tary to San Francisco. But here is the
misfortune. The city, lying between the bay
and the sea (some five miles only from the
latter), is cut off from the main land east and
north. The Central Pacific Railway terminus
is at Oakland, some five miles, more or less,
across the water from San Francisco. From
Oakland the road carries its passengers and
freight across to San Francisco in ferryboats.
But between these two points, in the middle of
the bay lies or, rather, rises, lengthwise in
the stream, this island Of Yerba Buena Good
Herb), or Goat Island, beautiful but timber
less mountain, as are all the mountains around
San Francisco. This island embraces a super
fetal area of several thousand acres, with suf-
fcient space Of low ground on its TANKS for the
whole commerce of San Francisco.
. Now, here we get the key to this 'rrepressi-
BILE conflict for this island. In truth, it is
hardly needed for the defence of San Fran
cisco, as the lofty island rock of Alcatraz and
the walls of the Golden Gate below afford such
advantages Of defensive strength as no other
city in the world possesses. But here is the
point: Should the Central Pacific Railway get
possession Of Goat Island its purpose is to build
a bridge or causeway across the water toit from
Oakland, and to make the island the receiving
and discharging depot of all its traffic. Trains
from New York, for instance will go directly
through by the Union and Central Pacific
roads to Goat Island, and from Goat Island
their goods will be shipped to the interior
towns or for ports along the Pacific coast or
for the Sandwich Islands, China, Japan,
or Australia. The return trade by the railway
will, in like manner, be delivered at Goat
Island, and thus, within ten years, the Central
Pacific Railway Company may get within their
hands the bulk of the trade Of San Francisco,
if they are given o foothold on this Goat
Island. The foothold which the company
contemplate would be bargain, we dare say,
ct one hundred millions Of dollars; and yet
they expect to get it as free gift from the
government.
What, then, is to be the action of Congress
upon this subject? Congress has been giving
away the public domain with lavish hand to
railways in every direction; but there should
be some limit to this business. If the govern
ment has no use for Goat Island why not sell
it to the highest bidder for cash, after duly
advertising the proposed sale? If parties are
to be found who, if put to the test, are ready
to give twenty, fifty, seventy-fve or q hundred
millions for this property, in cash or good
securities, why not save this money to the
Treasury, for the general relief of the people?
Why not add so much to the redemption of
the public debt? We hope that this view of
the case will not be overlooked in the dis
cussion of the subject in Congress. II there
were sufficient depth of water at Oakland
for ships of heavy draught there would be no
conflict for Goat Island, and Oakland would |