The morning call., 1893-01-07
DIVISION OF ALAMEDA COUNTY.
Expressions For and Against 1t.


nublic meeting has been called in Oak
land for to-day TO consider the question Of
tna division OF Alameda County and the
.sreatlon of the site OF new city and
copptv Of Oakland.
TIE proposed new county line runs along
the bearing Of Mills Seminary road. and
ineludes the present townships Of Alameda,
Oakland, the greater portion Of Brooklyn,
the two Berkeleys, Temeseal, Piedmont.
Golden Gate. Lorin and Fruitvale.
The next move after the creation of the
new county is the proposed consolidation of
ali the existing communities in the said sec
ton to form a municipality to be known as
the city and county of Oakland, sec)rd O.
that class in the State, the first being San
Francisco.
It is stated that there is much dssatsfae-
ton with the present Oakland charter,
which provides fer too great expenditure
for clerical services, and also an excessive
rae of taxation. The advantages claimed ior
the new system of government are the
. single instead of dual system Of taxation,
and an averaging of property values bene-
fetal 10 the entire community and to the
advancement of Oakland's interests.
The benefit to the community is quoted
in the shape of a metropolitan system OF
administration in the matter of schools, fire
and police, street and sewer systems.
It is claimed that Oakland is still run by
2 ring. the logical successor to that inaugu-
rated during the regime of Horace Carpen-
tier. first Mayor of Oakland in 1853"
1t is said the amalgamation of these now
separate towns would inaugurate public
spirit quite different from that which now
prevails in the various county communities
The territory proposed to be divorced is
port OF Br ooklyn ana the entire townships
of Eden, Murray and Washington.
The latter is said to be inadeQuately
represented in the Board of Supervisors at
present, having but one member in body
of i've.
It is proposed TO locate the new county
seat al Niles or Newark, and, as nearly all
the county buildings, save the County In
Urinary, are located within the limits OF
Oakland. compensation would have to be
made to the old county OF AianiedR-an
estimated cost of $500, 600.
Petitions are being circulated in the east
ern portion of the county asking the Legis-
lature 10 promote this divorce, and PROM
inent feature Of to-day's meeting will be the
app0intment of q committee TO arrange Tor
q county convention.
Ii is thought il may be also necessary to
ask tie Legislature TO provide code OF
government for municipalities OF the city
and county class having population OF De-
tween $1,000 aud 100,CO0.
Some attorneys CONTEND that it viii be
necessary only for Oaka ct ais. TO organ
izeas a city and county under laws now IN
force.
Again. it is held by others that the county
divided Oakland can frame new charter
which VIII be SO attractive that all the other
communities in the new county viii gladly
unite and ssSimlate.
f. r. Porter is the most active agent IN
bringing together the latest agitation on this
subject, which was considered previously in
1926 without cemlng 10 head.
The following gentlemen are taking active
measures in this matter: Nelney ID. Moody,
{ c. Nordhausen. Z p. Taylor, J. W. Lay
nance, Ii. c. Capweh. }. c. Ainsworth.
Wallace EYersOn ana some thirty other
prominent property-owneTs and citizens Of
Oakland.
The following opinions were gathered on
the subject;
5. P. Hail, attorney-I think it a good
time to bring The matter under public dis
cuSsi0n.
Z. Delger. capitalist am thoroughly in
favor Of the scheme if 1t will provide for
central government and Oakland as the city
and county seat
a. W. Patliani, builder-If the projectors
can prove their claims by figures l am fully
ia favor Of the scheme If Alameda is lett
out OF the new county.
J. A. MeKinnOn Of Brown and Mekin-
n0n-Yes, ] favor the scheme. Il would
lower taxation and benefit Oakland City
ali round.
). l.. Dave-I an heartily in favor OF the
scheme, more particularly as the county
government up 10 now has been used as a
subordinate Of the Southern Pacific system
Charles McCleyerty OF the Fashion stables
was opposed II the scheme think 1t too
soon for the division. II is 10 the business
interests Of Oakland to remain IS she IS.
R. 3. Smell was heartily in favor of the
scEeme-It viii reduce our election ex-
penses ard settle the question OF annex
alton Of Oakland suburbs. IL will be a
grand stride in the progress Of Oakland, and
many suburban property-owners besides
myself are strongly in Its favor.
H. A. Luttrell-I am not in favor OF the
scheme do not think we are ready for it
or that the voice Of the people is in favor
Of the scheme.
W. ". CamroB, real estate dealer-I am
in favor of the idea, but ] don't think it
can be DONE We are the parent city and
cannot cast of any Of cur children. When
they grow big enough TO start for them
selves il Will then be ia order for them to
create new counties.
Z c. Chapman, attorney-Yes, l favor
the scheme in every way. 1t will give US a
commercial standing which we do not pos
Sess now, and we can abolish our expensive
charter and substitute the provisions OF the
municipal corporations bill Of 1888. which is
worthy of study in this connection.
William r. Davis. Attorney DO not be-
lieYe the people are ready to carve them
selves of or be carved of, nor viii II lead
TO harmonious cooperation between our
towns.
Hon Ben Morgan OF Berkeley-Spea king
for Berkeley, L am in full favor Of the scheme.
Il viii benefit Us in every conceivable way
conducive to our municipal comforts.