The morning call., 1892-05-29
ALONG SEA And SHORE.
Some Inside Facts About the New
Oakland Steam Ferry.
Two Regattas Fixed for Monday-The Puebla
Cleared Of 0pium-Vacsnt Bsrths
at the Wharves.

BY far the most important issue on the
city front at the present time is the prospect
Of competition in the freight traffic between
this city and Oakland IL the fight is once
successfully started on the freight PROPOSE
ton there will be no difficulty about rival
passenger line.
1t was stated in THE CALL yesterday
morning that Piper. Alden & Co., Captain
Haslett and others were at the head of an
independent movement of this kind. There
Is no question whatever about the DISPOSE
ton of the city merchants to break up the
existing monopoly. and the only question is
"Will it go?" 1t is not denied fer mo-
ment that a competing freight line is a
necessity. AS to whether rival passenger
steamers between San Francisco and Oak
land and Alameda could be made to pay,
opinions differ. But it may be surely
guessed that the present agitation of the
freight competition has come to stay. 1--WE
have thought this matter over" said A, Z.
Pryor of Piper, Alden & Co. to CALL re-
porter yesterday. "As to the fight for the
Oakland water front l am not saying a
word. but / was there at the time. l
watched it and business may come out OF it.
There can be little doubt that a new ferry
line, for freight at all events, will be
started. More than that cannot say"
But Mr.. Pryor's silence was eloquent The
competitive freight steamers may be built
very, very soon. 1t is plainly only Ques-
tion Of supply. The demand exists.
REGATTA DAY.
Tomorrow will be a great regatta day.
The dark and evil day which gave birth to
sectionalism and "the flow of the inland
river" and to the Z" blue aud the gray" have
been so far washed out by tears and the
e ir,a of OF
can claim holiday on mOmentons occa-
sion. Thus it is that two events at least
have been fixed for tomorrow. One Is the
annual regatta of the COrlnthan Yacht
Club The other is the big affair gotten up
by the captains of the British fleet at Port
Costa and Martinez In the Corinthian
contest there are over 80 entries for the
prizes. The steamer Tamalpais has been
chartered to give the honorary members and
friends an opportunity Of witnessing the
race. AS to the Martinez affair it will bring
out a lively contest in the matter of sailing
and rowing The steamer James NJ. DOna-
hue will leave Market-street wharf for
Martinez as early as $3.50 A. NJ. returning at
$50 P. NJ, with every prospect OF big
patronage.
The cotferdam at the new Market-street
slips has been emptied and the first of the
concrete piers is barred. Great difficulty
was experienced in sinking the cotferdam.
but it is anticipated that the other piers
will "come easy" AS barred the new pier
is 12xS at the lower section, tapering up
ward by four squares. The cofferdam will
be lifted on Monday and another pier
sunk within 40 feet of the other.
No more opium has been found on the
Puebla, but the vessel will be watched till
the hour of sailing.
The Oceanic Company's steamer Mari
posa sailed for Honolulu and Australia at .
o'clock yesterday afternoon. Her passen-
ger list was distracted in yesterdays CALL.
The tug Sea King took out large party of
school children for bay trip Yesterday
This morning at 10 o'clock the new scow-
schooner Of Piper, Alden & Co. will start
out on a cruise up San Pablo Bay with a
picnic party OF ABOUT 100, landing at a
point on the Marin County shore
THE STEAMER QUEEN.
The steamer Queen sailed for Alaska yes
terday with all her berthS occupied. and
will call at Port Townsend for supplies AMI
freight.
There has not been a time, within the
memory Of the oldest water-f frontier, when
the wharves have been so deserted as yes
terday. The whole line from Meiggs
wharf to the Mail dock is watched by idle