The morning call., 1892-06-12
THE WATER FRONT.
HarbOr Improvements Going On
and in Contemplation.
The Issuance Of Bonds for the Ferry Depot
Extending the Belt Road Along
the Seawau.

Extensive improvements have been and
are being made along the water front, and
almost impereeptibly has the seawall been
winding about the bay, until the entire
northern section of the city from Market
street to Powell is bounded by concrete
wall The finishing strokes are now being
put on Sc ction A. The caissOns have all
been sunk and the joints made until section
measures now in length $40 feet. This
takes in the whole front of Market street,
and will form part Of the foundation or the
big depot to be erected at the ferries. 1t is
expected that the contract will be completed
about July 15 The work which is now
being done is the filling in of the space back
of the wall Piers are also in the course OF
construction to strengthen the depot build
ing. Five piers have been completed and
the sixth caisson was sunk on Friday, aud
this is being filled with concrete.
The next large contract TO be let will
probably be for the building OF the depot,
which Will cost something over half mil
lion dollars. The Harbor Commissioners
have not this amount of m Oney at their dis
pOsal, and it Is proposed 10 issue bonds
This question. however. will have to be de-
cided by the people OF the State at the eIec-
tion next November
MATTER OF BONDS.
They win vote 10 amend the constitution
so as TO permit the issuance Of bonds at the
rate of per cent per annum, Tedeemable In
20 years. The State will offer the best kind
of security and the bonds will not be tax
able. Besides the building Itself there are
about 16 valuable water lots, which have
been reclaimed by the building Of the sea-
wall, and the bond will be as good as
Government bond.
In case the amendment be not carried
then the plans of the commission Will be
necessarily changed. Speaking Of this yes
teTday, Commissioner Brown declared HIM
self in favor OF putting up the depot at all
events. 1.-The matter has not been fully
discussed" he said, but l for one would be
in favor Of dlscnntinulnE the seawali and
deyOtiug our funds to the. immediate con-
structiOn of the depot. In putting up the
building my idea IS TO have 1t built In two
sections. In fact, It Will have TO be done IN
that manner, as otherwise il would COM
pletely upset the traffic and travel by the
ferries. The contract viii be let for tile en-
tire structure, of course. When the north
ern section is finished the termlnl OF the
street-car lines can be moved back to where
they were before the work on section a,
and the ferry people can be accommodated
without any trouble"
Work on section B of the seawall run
ming west from Powell street is progressing
favOrably under contractor Green, and Is
Delnb pusueu as IdplulY rs pOsSlOies
NEARLY FINISHED.
Only 100 feet Of he wall yet remains TO
be completed, and this will be considerably
easier than the foregoing work. When the
section is finished there will he a number Of
changes. The houses now on Mciggs wharf
will have to be moved. The barge Office, the
Merchants Exchange reporters quarters
and the police station win be removed TO
the western extremity Of the seawall. To
the east Of Powell street wharf is to be
run out TO the pier headline about COO feet.
The belt railroad will be extended 10
Meigg's wharf, and a spur from it will run
out on the new wharf.
The repairs on La Rue's Wharf we're
completed Friday last, in fact the wharf
has been rebuilt, and is now one Of the best
docks on the front. The wharf lies TO the
south of Market street, and splendid ac-
cOmmOdatiOns for the Oakland Creek ferry
steamers and the Sacramento River boats
have been made TO the satisfaction OF all
parties concerned.
One Of the latest contracts let by the
board was fer the construction of new slip
al the foot Of Second street for the accom-
mediation OF the Southern Pacific Railroad
COmpany's freight steamers. and the piles
10 be driven are now receiving a covering
OF Paratilne paint, and as soon as they have
been prepared the work Will be commenced.
On either side Of the slip will be wharf to
make berth room for light vessels.
Improvements are also being made on
Clay-street Wharf, where slip No. is now
being put in. A new bridge and an apron
will be built there, and the concrete piers
are now being put in for their support In
addition to these improvements under way
a contract Will shortly be let for rebuilding
Section g.