The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-04-28
LEASE OF CHINA BASIN,
An Important Conference at
the Harbor Commission
erS' Meeting.
FINAL ACTION POSTPONED
Mayor Sutro Guarding Against a
Combine-Commissioner Coles
Amendment.

A meeting of the Harbor Commissioners
was held yesterday morning for the con-
sideration of the lease of China Basin to
the San Francisco and San Joaquin Valley
road. John D. Spreckels was the only one
present representing the interests of the
road, Attorney Preston being out of town.
Mayor Sutro was on hand accompanied by
his private secretary, Colonel Rogers, and
in addition to Harbor Commissioners Col
non. Cole and Chadbourne there were pres
ent Attorneys f. S. Stratton and TREY L..
Ford.
Commissioner Cole opened the proceed
ings by introducing resolution to strike
out that part of the lease which read:
Also that it shall construct and have in opera
ton not less than 100 miles OF road within i've
years from the date OF the execution hereof,
and actually use said premises in connection
Herewith as its railway terminal.
The Commissioner proposed to substitute
the following:
Also that within five o. years from the date
Of the execution OF this lease SAID party OF the
second part shall construct and have in opera
ton not less than one hundred Q00) miles of
continuous road one end or terminus of which
said one hundred 400 miles must be at some
point on the bay of San Francisco, and actually
use the premises hereby demiSed in connection
with the such road as its railway terminal.
At this point Mayor Sutro called atten-
ton to the amendment to the lease made
by him at the last meeting. Mr.. Sutro
stated that while every concession should
be made to the Valley road he for one
wanted to prevent the possibility of the
competing road passing into the hands of
the Southern Pacific. II believe that the
gentlemen who are now at the head of the
road, said Mr.. Sutro, "have the interest
OF the project at heart, and that the rail
way will never cease to be a competing
one by any voluntary act of theirs, but the
stock may pass from their hands into those
of less desirable people,
Mr.. StrattOn said that the Mayors
amendment had been boiled down and in
corporated in the lease, and read the fol-
lowing extract from the instruments:
Provided that ii said demfsed premises
should ever during the term herein named be-
come subject to the control or dominion of
any person, company or corporation now hay
ing railway terminal facilities on the bay of
San Francisco, then thereby and in that event
this lease shall forthwith terminate and all
rights hereunder Immediately cease.
Colonel Rogers, on behalf of the Mayor,
stated that the provision was not strong
enough.
well" said Mr.. Chadbourne, "the
Mayor is a member of the committee on
the lease, and l move that his amendment
and that of Mr.. Cole be referred to the
committee. In the absence of Governor
Budd and Attorney Preston, we can do
nothing to-day which can be considered
final. The committee it appears, has not
yet completed its work, and l think that
they should be given further time"
Mr.. Chadbourne's motion prevailed and
the meeting then adjourned to the call of
the chair. The date of the next meeting
of the committee was fixed for Wednesday
afternoon, May l, at o clock, in the office
of f. S. Stratton IN the Croker building.