The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-06-21
RENTS ON COAL-BUNKERS,
Beginning of the Equalization
of Rates on the Water
Front.
On a Business Basis-A New Wharf
niger Appointed-The Belt
Road Grievance.

The Harbor Commissioners did consid-
cradle work at their meeting yesterday,
most of which had been cut and dried
before the public was taken into the conf
dence of the board.
The most important feature OF the pro-
ceedings was the raising of rents on the
coal bunkers. 1t had been announced that
the proposition to equalize the rents along
the waterfront would come up at the
meeting and it was intimated that the
coal men would be the first to feel the
effect of the movement. Manager Jewett
of Dunsmuir & Sons and Louis Rosenfeld of
John Rosenfeld's Sons, were present to
argue the coal mems side of the question,
and the following letter was received by
the board:
SAN FRANCISCO, June 20, 1895.
Honorable State Board of HarbOr Commission
ers, San Francisco, Cat-GENTLEMEN: With ref
erence to the matter OF raising rents of the
wharves, we beg to call your attention to the
following:
That should it become necessary in the
opinion of your honorable board to raise rents
in order to have sufficient income to meet ex-
pense of keeping wharveS in good state of re-
pair we think the burden should be equally
borne by all occupying these wharyes under
rental. AS ii stands now the wharves occupied
by coal bunkers already paying a much
nlE1er rental IMAM tnOS0 occupied DIV steam
ship companies and for other purposes. We
find we are already paying nearly double the
rental for less than half the space occupied,
which means that compared 10 space the coal
bunkers charged four times as much rental
as the steamship companies.
We believe the low rates made to the steam
ship companies were made long time ago
when there was no occasion to raise more
revenue, and they have never since been ad-
justed. The wharves occupied by them are
covered with expensive sheds, which add to
the cost of maintenance bV the State 8 we'll q c
erection. AS to ability to stand the charge for
rental on the comparative amount of business
done both in tons and the value of merchan-
disc handled, we are certain that upon investi-
CATION you viii find that such increased
charges could be better borne by other products
than coal.
While we have no desire to have rates in
creased on others, as long as your honorable
board has signitied its intention TO readjust
rents we think 1t would only be fair to first
raise others TO the basis we are paving and if
the revenue is then still deficient we can only
consider 1T fair to stand our pro rata of in
crease. The discussion OF this matter has
brought to our notice the fact that the coal
bunkers are paying a long way higher rents
than other concerns which we know can as
we'll or better afford TO lay for the accommoda-
lions as the coal business. Upon a thorough
investigation are convinced your honorable
board will find what we claim borne out by
facts. Very respectfully,
JOHN RosENFELD's Sons.
President Colnon read the letter and said
that the board had been misunderstood.
There was no desire, he said, to raise rents,
but to put all on an equal footing accord
ing to the space occupied and the amount
OF profit accruing therefrom.
I'VE PROPOSE said Mr.. Colnon, s'to con-
duct the City front as business PROPOSE
ton as nearly as possible. We desire to
lessen the cost OF maintenance of the
wharves so that we will have more money
to repair them and for other work.
A comparison of charges on the various
Nc nrxrcS Oh tlor -,
Steamship Company is paying S125 a
month for a wharf 100x590 feet and $62 so
for another dock of the same size. The
Spear-street dock of about the same dimen-
sions is yielding rental of SIPS a month.
Kosenfeld was paying $225 a month for
Mission-street wharf No. 2, occupying 40x
$50 feet.
President Colnon said that the subject
had been carefully considered and that 1t
was proposed to raise the rent at first