davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-07-08

tie way Of accommodating tile truckmen
who were under the necessity of driving
their heavy vehicles over the deranged
roadway. True, it was being done at the
request Of the railroad company. but Pres
ident Towle of the City Council had given
orders to see that the Southern Pacific un-
derliDgS did not attempt TO relay the rails
which had been torn up. Indeed, the
plauks were nailed in the very place the
rails had formerly occupied.
The edge of the wharf was lined with
the curiosity seekers, who looked good
naturedly down at the two ugly mud
scows which the Southern Pacific had
pulled up alongside to prevent any opposi-
ton ferry boat from landing there. The
tug Rival. belonging to the company, was
on guard, and whenever the Rosale or
the Silva would approach up the creek, it
would steam into the Alameda's slip to
prevent the two rival craft from effecting
any landing at what the company still
claims 10 be the Southern Pacific wharf
The Rosalie, therefore. had to go on to her
old landing at the Franklin-street wharf
This holding down, as it were, the water
front where the street is abstractedly sup
posed to run. and the keeping guard over
The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-07-08

1t was as calm which usually follows
a storm at Oakland yesterday, but such a
suspension of hostile manifestations as
sometimes indicates that the fierce fury Of
the elements is not all spent-a sort OF lull
which might DE more omiuous perhaps
than a casual observer would think
There was no commo.icn. because there
was no provocaton. and doubtless it was
some cause for congratuation that no
movement on the part Of the Southern
Pacific was made in the direction of assert
ing its asserted rights. for it looked as if
the intense bitterness felt toward that cor
poration needed only a slight preteXt TO
vent Itself. AS it was. however. all the
people could do was to relieve their pent-
UP feelings in such harmless ways as
modern society permits.
The waterfront episode Of the day and
night previous was about the sole topic of
street conversation, and many were the
Civilizations over the discontinue of the
The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-07-08

be sort of legendary one by Portois.
which nobody now living seems to have
seem was that made by Julius Kellers-
berger. This map was made for Carpen-
tier. Adams. Moon and other settlers, who
were subsequently, dispossessed by the
Spanish title which had been acquired by
Hays and Caperton. The latter denomi-
mated Carpenter and Adams as squatters,
but adopted their map. and it was formally
flied Of record In 1858 In this Kellers-
berger map the blocks are marked out as
far south as First street, but no further.
except as to three streets.
Broadway, franklin and Webster are
set down as extending across First street
to the water line, and three blocks. 203. 204
and 205, are delineated south of First street.
This goes to show that Broadway was
open to the water front, as we'll as Web
ster and franklin. They were the only
three streets so marked. Franklin and
Webster are still open, and Broadway is
the only one that appears to be closed.
Referring to Mr.. Harrison's refusal to
tear up the track, his attorney. George E.
de Cola, said that he is the attorney for
Mr.. Harrison, personally, and for the firm
of Harrison apSs Hoyce; has been for five
years. and is ns4 concerned in any way
with the Southern Fa!i6c read.
Wherefore" said he. when Mr.. Harri-
son came to me for advice l told him that
the Mayor had no authority by the charter
or otherwise to order him about as he VIZ
doing.
''The Street Superintendent comes under
the authority of the Board of Public
Works. 1 told him that he would be liable
as codefendanr with the Mayor. and
that. if he regarded his personal inter
ests, it would be better for him to stop.
also told him that he could not move a
house without permit.
The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-07-08

the Alameda's slip, neitled some of the
loungers little. but as no stop, it seemed,
could be put to the monopoly's tactics, the
monarchs of creation standing on the
city-invaded wharf and leaning upon the
piles of redwood plank had to endure the
blockade.
They got even. though, by gnyng the tug
hands and making witty remarks about the
company. The two men in charge of thr
scows contributed not little also toward
the general exuberance OF humor by their
assumed stOicism.
Once the crowd was on the verge, it sup
posed, OF seeing the blockade broken. The
Rival had Just pulled out Of the big freight
boatS slip in anticipation of the approach
ing Alameda and at the very same moment
the smoothly gliding Rosale appeared al
the turn of the creek. Every eye was
directed toward her. and for the nonce an
almost breathless experience of suspense
took possession of the spectators. Would
the Davie cnmpany's boat attempt TO take
advantage Of this opening? was the COM
mon query written in every animated face
To their great disappointment she did not.
but kept right on to her berth at Franklin
street instead, her decks black with pas
sengers.
The only occurrence that anywhere ap-
preached a inishap was when lot OF men
rushed down the incline of the Alameda's
slip. and the more daring. going little too
far, got ont upon the drop-apron of the
gangway, narrowly escaping brinv wet
ting. They were saved by the Rivals
prov being run under the heavy frame.
This occurred at one of the times the little
tug steamed into the slip as before ex-
planned.
Il was a little difficult now and then for
the officers on duty to keep the passage
clear for the teams hauling heavy loads of
freight to and from the railroad company's
warehouse. The men would assemble in
the roadway regardless Of the contention
The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-07-08
AT FOURTH AND TOWNSEND.

In the camp of the Southern Pacific, at
Fourth and Townsend streets. yesterday
there were evidences of unmstaka bic per-
turbatiOn.
1t is true that in nervous way one off,
cial attempted to belittle the Oakland
waterfront episode as a tempest in a
TEAPOT" but his words, as an indication of
the railroad sentiment. were belied by i'm
portant acts.
In the first place the law department was
in serious consultation until late in the,
afternoon and the board of directors of
Nevertheless participants in both meetings
presented a bod front to the public.
Vice. President Crocaer said after the
meeting the Oakland people had made q
mistake. They evidently thought the piece
of land they had captured belonged to the
water front company. As a matter Of fact
it belonged to the Pacific Improvement
COMPANY. which had leased it to the South
ern Pacific. The land did not fall under
the same category AS that affected by the
recent Illinois decision. 1t would not have
been less surprising if the Mayor and
Sheriff had torn III the rails, ETC., at the
mole where the railroad ferry-bnats arrive
and depart
The Pacific Improvement Company, he
said, would Immediately take legal steps to
recover its own. The property first stood
In the name of Charles Croker. who after
ward transferred it to the Pacific Improve
ment Company. consisting of himself, c.
=. Huntington, Leland Stan ford and Timo-
thy Hopkins. The Pacific Improvement
COMPANY was formed to cover all property
not meant to be permanent. i. e. which
should not be mortgaged. First the land
The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-07-08

to rather exultingly uphold Oakland's
ability to assert herself whenever fully
aroused.
During the night and until day. dawn
Police Captain Fletcher. with squad Of
five officers, had held the fort. and with
the morning watch he was relieved by
Captain Wilson AID relay OF four
guardians of the peace. Thisnforce Of
police remained on duty all dan so that
it was very evident that the city proposed
TO keep all the advantage it had gained.
The city had got possession of the street
and proposed to keep it.
at one time during the forenoon some
workmen with heavy sledges were dealing
lusty blows at the heavy spikes by which
they were fastening down 2 few plants
right in tho rut which the tearing up OF
the railroad track had made, and this at
tracted morbidly curious crowd. II was
ascertained that the work was simply In
The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-07-08

out. but those few people were the men
on whom the eyes of Oaklanders are
turned to just at this moment with more
than usual interest. Mayor Pardee was
there muff1ed in his greatcoat moving
quietly from group to group. The talking
was all in a low tone as there were few
railroad spoilers on the ground.
1t was reported that Councilmen Bar
nard, Barstow, Dalton. Dow, Capell, Presi-
dent Towle, City Attorney johnson and
Engineer Morgan were also on hand.
Chief Schaffer was on the scene, too, and
he had doubled the police force under
Captain Fletcher.
1t had been reported that the railroad
company had built good. strong. high
fence in sections and had it loaded on
freghtcars in the West Oakland yards.
and were going to run gang of men in to
put it up during the night.
The Mayor announced to the newspaper
The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-07-08

sitting in bank n0nsuited them. We
leased our piece of water front from
Doane. Cameron & May for the very pur-
pose of provoking y fight with the South
ern Pacific. Last Monday the Davie
Ferry and Transportation Company ap-
piled to The City Council for the privilege
of landing at Broadway. We pre-
sumo that what up to 1868 was public
street ought TO be 30 still, and it would,
too, but that the Southern Pacific. by
bribery and corruption, induced certain
Council of this city, one unfortunate time,
to serve its purpose.
"Our petition was referred to the COM
mittee on the water front and harbor with
power to act. There were a number of
petitions also from business men, and 1t
had been intended to have some petitions
from the several wards sent in at the next
meeting. but the presentation of these has
been postponed now that the Council has
acted in the matter. The city has now got
possession OF the street, and all it has to
do is to hold it"
Councilman Richard B. Smell is chair
man of the committee mentioned by Mr..
Bassett, and Messrs. Barnard. Barstow,
Manuel and Heitmsn are the other men,
bers.
There is no doubt" said Mr.. Bassett.
that the city has n legal right to open up
the street. Carpenter mentioned in
Judge Sawyer's order. copy of W hich the
Southern Pacific attorney. Harvey S.
Brown. served upon Mayor Pardee). built
the wharf for the city, but in 1868. when
the railroad was put through, the Southern
Pacific. claiming that it was their private
property, took possession of the foot of
Broadway. They contend that they have
built n slip and added to the wharf. but if
they have. they have collected as much as
$1,000 a month dockage. and they hayc
never paid cent of wharfage to the city.
Il was figuring it over with the wharf
niger. with the result that he estimated the
wharfage they should pay as amounting to
about So 80 daily. They have not even
paid for permission land their own
boats. and vet they won't allow any one
else to land there.
Their defeat in the courts led up to the
establishment of our ferry. and the estab-
lishment OF our ferry brought us up in
time to request for landing at the foot
Of Broadway. Now the city has declared
it public street there, and I guess we
will land there right along pretty soon."
The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-07-08

"Mr. Harrison took my advice as his
attorney. He did not take up the rails.
and don't know who did"
When Councilman Dalton was asked,
jokingly, by a bystander why he did not
pull down the Southern Pacific warehouse,
too. he replied. with good wit. that the
building might yet serve for city ware
house. Only portion of the building,
though. stands upon the so-called street.
The law department OF the Southern
Pacific Company make this statement:
1--WE intend to proceed lawfully, but not
violently. We are in conference. but have
not yet decided as to our future course"
The lawyers directly interested on behalf
of the railroad company are j, c. Martin.
A. A. Moore and Harvey S. Brown. They
were In San Francisco all day.
All Twas quiet at the city front last night
at II o'clock. but it was that Qhlet which
forebodes storm. But few people were
The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-07-08

big railroad corporation. The people
city of Oakland had the best of the con-
troversy because OF their faith in their
city's right, and they were now prepared
TO defend that right in the courts, seeing
that the .djlroad company had selected
that battle-ground for future hostilities.
1t would have been luckless job for any
one to have resorted to the tactics of force
on behalf Of the railroad. though. The
people were ready and, it might be added,
rather willing to meet their old foe with
such warfare.
All day long crowds loitered about the
foot OF Broadway, on the disputed prem
ises, which. but twenty -four hours before
had been fenced in as private property
There was great deal Of expectancy APP
parent, which was amusing enough In its
way. too. because along with an almost
eager looking forward to another collision
between the city authorities and the rail-
sad company. there was a consequent
disappointment. People wended their way
in the direction of the Broadway wharf,
only TO find the same monotonous Quie-
tude; if they returned little later Oh, as
many-very many-did. it was still to ex-
perience the same disappointing lack of
exciting incident. 1t finally dawned upon
tile minds of the most philosophical at
late hogr that the lawyers had got hold of
the matter, and the tedium of legal dis
cUssion. though the much more reasonable
way if properly followed, would render
unnecessary any further scenes of com bat
Under the circumstances tho best thing
to DO was TO feel good over Mayor
Pardee's prompt and decisive action and
divide the time between prasng the
Mayor and denouncing the railroad cor
poraton. There was universal tendency
The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-07-08

on the one hand that it was a street, and
on the other that it was private property.
and talk the thing over, and the policeman
had to constantly but automatically dis
perse these argumeDtative groupings.
''Sconchin" Maloney Of some notoriety
was conspicuous figure, until called to
order by the police captain in charge.
Captain Wilson was determined to pre-
vent anything that might occasion dis
play of dsorderlness. for. as he said,
there was no Hing what they would do
if they once got started" Maloney is re-
garded as sort of railroad champion in
small way, and his popularity with the
Oakland people just now is not great.
AS either of the two boats, the Alameda
or the Rosalie, would arrive, the crowd
would oscillate between the Broadway
and Frankl.n-street docks. But as no
repetition Of the latter boats experience of
Thursday. when 1t landed at the disputed
The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-07-08

wharf. assumed any likelihood Of realiza.
ton, the pedestrians. back and forth, had
only their pains for their trouble.
j. l.. Davie. the man who has, perhaps,
done more than any other one man in
Oakland toward procuring for the city its
waterfront rights, and whose reduction
Of the fare between Oakland and San
Francisco to o nickel each way has won
for him public gratitude, was frequent
figure upon the Rosalie's decks. What he
was up to nobody but himself and his cap
tain probably knew. 1t might have been
OWNED. though, and had the Southern
Pacific taken its tug and mudscOws TO
some other part of the cty's extensive
water front it might have been made most
decidedly plain. But the mudscows stayed
right there, and across the estuary were
several more, placed there. no doubt, by
the railroad company as preparation for
the first opportunity of getting them in
alongside the Broadway dock. stern and
bow with the two already there.
These big barges looked very suspicious
to keen observer. and the possible
coincidence between their evident read!-
ness and the unloading OF the scho oner
Signal at the coal bunkers was suggestive
enough. Possibly before the sun rises
this morning the schooner will have given
place to the barges, at least such was the
apprehension of j. Nj. Basset', the secre-
tary of the Davie Ferry and Transporta-
ton Company.
There were some rumors that force OF
deputy United States MarsIaS would APP
pear at any moment and take possession
of the dock on the ground that the contro-
versy involves questions of Federal juris.
prudence, but no such minions of the law
assumed tangible shape. Their nearest
approach to naturalization were the con-
jured phantoms of an apprehensive i'm
agery shared in by those who had pen
chant for fancying all sorts OF fictitious
things. Evidently the conflict had not
actually got TO the Federal courts.
"What can the railroad people do ?"
asked Mr.. Bassett. How can they 90
anything in the Federal court?"
Il suppose the matter now rests with
the city. then?' he was asked.
Yes, sir. 1t now lies with the CITY," he
replied. eve have doue what we did to
bring this very fight on. Davie and l. 1t
was year ago on the Goth of May that
we had our first con flict with the railroad
company. Then Davie and myself and Il
hired man with two Winchesters and a
shotgun stood off forty-seven of the COM
pany men at the foot of Harrison Sweet
The matter went into the courts and we
got the best OF it. The litigation lasted
from August until january and the court
The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-07-08
''Why doesn't the Resale land there TO-

"Why doesn't the Resale land there TO-
day?"
"Well, as you have seen, the Southern
Pacific blOckaGed the wharf with scows
last night after the Rosalie pulled ont for
San Francisco. The city wants to--and l
guess it can lind legal way to have the
barses moved. Some way will be found
to rid the dock Of the boats, and when that
is done we propose to 0ccu by tie slip as
we did last night. Then. when the Rosa
lie returned from the other side, it was
suggest ted that it would be better for US TO
have her 90 to our regular wharf, and SO
she has been locked there ever since"
j. l.. Dayie said: 1.-The Rosaie has re-
sumed her old landing-place in order TO
await further action of the City Council. l
think the Council has authority to grant
US a berth at the foot Of Broadway, and we
told them we would take all responsibility
if they would let us land there. We would
establish the legality of the Councils
action and will take it into the courts if
necessary"
do you think the Council will call a
SPECIAL session TO act on this matter in
particularly
Il don't know yet. However, if we are
granted a berth there we propose to take
posse ssion of 1t, and we could clear the
place now if the word was only given.
There are plenty OF people ready to do the
work, but we will await the Councils
next move"
DR.. George c. Pardee. the spirited
Mayor. was the hero of all Oakland yester-
day, but, Notwithstanding that he has sue
ceeded in getting the little one-story brown
frame ticket and freight office of the rail
road company right up on the corporation
grounds, at the City Hall, where 1t nestles
in the shade Of the Oakland Library, and
can be fondly gaZed upon out of the
Mayors window as thing of peculiar
beauty for the time being. the Mayor did
not lInger long in his Office Yesterday 10
indulge the pleasure, for he was very
tired man. Once he drove down TO the
scene of Thursday nights excited pro-
ceedings. but his back was soon turned TO
the 1ence.eSS CLEARING, Wherever he
went he was The object of city's appreci-
alton.
Good for you," said one of two citi.
zens whom he met: "we're all with you.
Go on and win" Up at the City Hall he
learned from Chief of Police Sch aeffer
that all was quiet at the seat of war. This
seemed agreeable news for his Honor, at
least just at that time.
lis the foot of roadway seized under
the city's title to the water frOnt?" he was
asked.
mot at all. he answered; sit was sim
The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-07-08

called the White House stood on the west
side, where the waiting no ON is now stu
ated."
w. Lair Hill of Davis & Hill said that
they had done no more than to advise the
city officials that If Broadway had been an
open, travelled street to its end in former
years it was legally an open street now.
They Davis & HID had not themselves
investigated the question Of fact. but it
had been reported to them on very good
authority that the street had been an open
one in former years.
j. p. Cameron was on the water front
Ee said that his Shoal Water Bay Com
psny did not claim any land at the foot Of
Broadway, but was interested in that lying
between Webster and Harrison streets.
II lhok upon this action OF the city with
favor" said he. THAT land belongs to
the city and l am glad that this action has
been taken. 1t should have been done
long ago."
The earliest map of Oakland except it
The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-07-08

the Rosalie land at Broadway wharf. The
petition was not a general one. but was Of
the nature Of an individual request.
There were seven petitions. one for each
Councilman, and according to the ward in
which the OakIander resided he signed his
name Fully 1000 names were attached to
the seven petitions to-day and before the
next meeting of the Council at least Is, 900
signatures will be obtained.
The Mayor admitted the ordering of
Street Superintendent Harrison to tear up
the rails. but denied any personal partIci-
patton in that work.
The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-07-08

ply because it was public street. l fished
ana bathed off the end OF that street my
self when l was boy. Carpenter built
three wharves altogether, and gave them
to the city, and this was one of them. The
other two are at the foot of Clay and Grove
Streets"
''Do you propose to take possession of
those wharves, too"
Give us little time. We cannot do
everything at once"
Oakland signatures were attached on
every trip of the Rosalie to petition call
ing on the Oakland City Council to pass a
favorable vote on the proposition to have
The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-07-08

had been leased to the Central Pacific and
latterly to the Southern Pacific. and, alto
gether, the railroad people had owned it
twenty-three years.
Harvey S. Brown of the law department
denounced the capture Of the property as
"a highhanded and monstrous outrage"
He thought that this would afterward be
acknowledged. and in the meantime every
opportunity would be given the Oakland
people to justify their action in the courts.
1t was definitely stated that no papers
had been flied yesterday in the case.
Other officials declared that the war
would be nearly altogether legal one on
the railroad side.
I'VE shall use sufficient force. if neces-
sary," said director, ito keep our boats
the Alameda. Ell Captain, etc.-running
and using the Broadway slip in the crock
route as before. hut that is ALL"
The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-07-08

reporters that such an emergency had been
prepared for. THE moment such a move
is made" he stated, "every bell and
whistle in the city will be sounded. and
we will have 500 men here in short order.
Turn out when you hear the alarm"
The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-07-08

THE only first.class family Sunday resort free
from dancing or any disagreeable feature isnow
FL Campo. Last sunday demonstrated Its emf
nent respectabllity under the new MANAGE
meut.