The San Francisco call., 1895-12-20
PRESSED BY GOVERNMENT,
Why the Railroad Fights the
Opening of Harrison
Street.
The Secret of Why the Piece of Marsh
Land Suddenly Became
Valuable.
OAKLAND OFFICE SAN Francisco CALL
9OS Broadway Dec 10.

90S Broadway, Dec. 10.
The strength of the opposition to the
opening OF Harrison street has Just been
made apparent. 1t is explained in a
letter recently received by Mayor Davie
from the War Department.
That the Water Front Company should
pay so little attention to the opening of
Broadway and should show such concern
regarding Harrison street, was proof that
some powerful incentive existed. Harri-
son street is highway that if it was once
open to the water front, would not be used
by more than one team day, and the
knowledge of this made the opposition
more inexplicable.
"The story dates back nearly year."
said the Mayor to-day, land involves the
building of bridge across the estuary.
Last March the bridges across the estuary
were found to be in a very unsafe con-
dition, and Secretary Lamont and
Colonel Mendell had some correspondence
regarding the building of a new bridge to
take the place of the two old decayed
structures. Unknown 20 the railroad COM
pany and Colonel Mendell, photographs of
the bridges were taken at low water, show
ing how thoroughly insecure they were.
''In fact some of the piles we're hang
ing from the strlngers, and hundreds OF
others would have fallen apart but that
their upper ends were fastened. Well, the
railroad company. rather than 90 TO the
expense OF rearranging their tracks and
paying their proportion OF new bridge,
spent several thousands OF dollars in re-
pairing the two old wrecks of bridges.
Having done this, they thought they were
safe, and would have been but for those
photographs.
Now, the only place where bridge
can be built across the estuary that Will
answer all the purposes to which it will be
put is from the foot of Harrison street. 1t
is the natural point for a bridge and is SO
viewed by the Government officials. But
of course the land at the foot OF Harrison
street could not be used II it be private
property without lengthy condemnation
proceedings. II the property can be in
any manner tied up the building of that
bridge will be delayed.
1.-THE War Department is anxious to
have the bridge built and is pressing the
matter rather hard. 1t knows that the
temporary repairs are not much to rely
upon in the face of the photographs on
file at Washington, and to prevent against
any possible accident the bridge is con-
sidered to be a necessity. When it was
found that the repairs TO the two bridges
did not stop the Governments activity
something else had to be done. 1t became
necessary to stop up Harrison street.
The land was leased to Smile, who piled
lumber right across it. Then petition
was circulated against the opening of the
street. 1t was represented that the open
ing would cost lot OF money, and SO the
majority of the property-owners signed it.
Then | went down and opened the street,
and it did not cost the property-owners
cent. That was far too radical move for
the railroad company to tolerate, and so
they sued for an injunction, and, to our
great surprise, it was granted.
1.-THE question of title was not proven
and the city, which vas made party to
the suit, was not even served.
"Yet | was restrained from doing any
thing further at the foot of Harrison street.
do not wish to criticize Judge Ellsworth,
but ] must confess that he greatly sur
prised me. Now the street will probably
be tied up for months and nothing can be
done in the interval.
This explains why no fight has been
made to have Broadway closed and only
the Harrison street opening is being SO
strongly opposed"
The City Council held special meeting
tonight to consider the Harrison street
opening. The city, being made party to
the suit, decided to defend it, and Attor-
neys Hill and Davis were employed for
that purpose. The whole matter hinges
upon that portion of the street that is in
cluded in the Peralta grant. If it were
ever dedicated to the city for a street
Mayor Davies action is legal. If not, then
the present lessee cannot be disturbed.