The morning call., 1892-11-02
AN INTERESTING MATTER.


The following article will doubtless prove
interesting to those Of our citizens who were
never very familiar with the grasping pro-
eliyities of Stanford and Huntington, or
have come to San Francisco since the strug-
gle described took place. 1t is copied from
the EreRiRg Bulletin:
THE VANISHED ISLAND CITY.
I. 4. Huntington, in letter TO the Super
vlsors. tells them how much the city lost by OBJ
Jeetlng TO the grant OF Goat Island TO his CON-
pany. The island in question contains lat
acres. There is mud fiat lying north of II
which contains several hundred acres This
nat was granted by the State TO a speculative
railroad company known as the Terminal or
Flint Railroad. The property was subsequently
acquired by the present railroad company. II
was the Intention OF the latter to level the isl
ana and spread 1t over the fat. The calculation
was that this would give tract of 100 acres in
me middle OF the bay, with water front several
miles IN length.
ana his partners they would have terminal ad-
Nahtages o. such an exclusive nature that no
other railroad could poss IDLY compete with them
but lhey had grander project on hand than that
hey expected 10 build up an island city OF their
OVID IN the middle OF the bay at which shin
ana car could be brought together This Island
city would have an area large enough 10 do all
the wholesale business OF San Francisco II
was 10 De built I'D at The expense Of this civ and
Oakland' but especially OF the former low
much We have lost by preventing Mr Hunting
ION from founding commercial city of his own
ured out.
The chances are that Huntington is presumlng
aitosether 100 much on the eredulity OF our peo-
PIE IL was shown by experts at the lime that
The filling in OF so large portion OF the bay as
proposed would, by lessening the tidal area, so
increase the scour along our water front as TO
render anchorage very insecure. When the rail-
road OF these parties first reached this bay they
set TO work TO reduce II to their private posses.
sion, II possible. They wanted eight miles Of
our water 'front.' They are always, by the way
wanting something that belongs 10 the public
Nhen IL was shown that this was preposterous
they agreed 10 compromise on sixty acres of
lahd IN Mission Bay-a pr1ncely gift. which they
nave never utilized. Then they took the first
step 10 secure title 10 the entire water front of
the city OF Oakland Soon afteTwaId Governor
stanford was moved 10 say that san Francisco
was ION The wrong side OF the bay"
10 show how strong the faith 10 that prop osI.
ton was in them, they Immediately proceeded
10 gobole the Oakland water 'front.' with what re-
suits the revelations Ia q suit at law now pend
lbg can easily be measured But the darling
project was the island commercial city in the
middle OF TIE bay, growing at he expense OF ex-
lslng oiies, all their own. This bold aud IN
l4uitous aChtihe was Ottedt6u by Inc hImneSS OF
General Grant The corridors OF The Capitol at
Washington swarmcd with railroad agents.
Dick FTanchot. a former member OF Congress
from New York, kept opeu-house uptown. The
Dill had passed the House aud WAS pending in
tie Senate. But all OF sudden the railroad
lobby vanished into hin air Not one OF them
on certain morning could be found. They had
folded their tents Ike the Arab and silently
stolen sway.
THIS occurred The day after c. p Huntington
had an interview with President Grant The
old soldier had previously been appTlsed of all
tue facts OF the case by a committee OF citizens
OF this city, sent 10 the national capital TO pre-
vent the final passage Of tile bill. Our people are
feeling pretty well over the defeat OF The rival
island city project. II Mr. Huntington had had
his way on that occasion san Francisco would
/ have suffered badly. II could hardly be ex-
! peeted to thrive with IFS foreign commerce AIKEN
! away. But while on Tie subject It may be Just
1 as well 10 state that the mud fat which figured
! so largely IN the scheme does not pay taxes to
county or State ! he eyes OF the Yigliant More
house q The State Board OF Equalization never
! dropped on that suggestive fact.