The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-09-11
THE FERRY DEPOT PLANS,
Architect Percy Suggests
Changes to the Harbor
Commissioners.
RULES OUT NEEDLESS DETAIL.
recommendations to Enable Call
fornia Ironworkers to Fur
nish Material.

Architect George w. Percy has been as
busy as whole hive of bees ever since he
was employed as an expert by the Harbor
Commissioners, ten days ago, and to-day
he will submit report that is good read
ing.
1t will be good reading not only to
Architect A. Page Brown, whose ferry
depot plans are on the gridiron that Mr..
Percy dextrously turns. 1t ought to be
good reading to all the Harbor Commits
sioners, who, as servants of the public, will
be told how many dollars can be saved by
not following the Brown plans as closely
as at first proposed. 1t will certainly be
good reading and good news to all tax
paying citizens, for the report points out
way by which the big depot can be built in
a reasonable length of time, and within
the amount of bonds upon which all these
same tax-paying citizens are now paying
interest.
There is no nonsense about Architect
Percy. He believes in going to the bottom
of things. and in hitting nails on their
heads. He does this in the report, over
hauling and keelhauling those 1ong-slum-
bering ferry depot plans. just as his ship
maker father, down in Maine, used. to do
when he watched over a crafts construc-
ton.
It's long report and full of technical
terms and abstruse figuring, about as in
teresting to the average citizen as Box
Royce's latest definition. The gist of it is
that if alterations in the plans are made as
recommended the ferry-depot structure can
be built within the $500, 900 for which the
State has issued bonds. If the plans are
altered as recommended all the ironwork-
and there is tremendous amount of it
can be done here and not in the East,
as the original plans contemplated. These
are all telling points. That concrete and
cement island at the foot of Market street
designed as the foundation of the ferry
depot has already cost over $4,000 OF
course, that has come from the Harbor
Commission fund and not from direct
taxation, but it all comes from the general
pocket of the public, just as much. ii the
depot superstructure can actually be added
for enough more to make up the round
81, 100000 as the total cost it will certainly
be much better than to have another con-
tract on hand-twin to San Francisco's
City Hall.
The principal changes suggested in the
report relate to weight and material. APP
parently the original plans were drafted
with an idea in mind that elephants or
mastodons or the owner of those famous
Nevada footprints might any day step
ashore from Cuc upper ueCh VI d Terry -DOdt
and shock the depot floor with their pre-
historic weight. All the iron girdefs and
piers called for were heavy enough to up
hold the Colossus of Rhodes or the bronze
angel that now guards New York harbor.
A floor pressure in the wai.ing-room of the
second floor of the depot of $50 pounds to
the square foot was calculated upon. The
present report says that any such estimate
is entirely unnecessary; that an estimate
of half that amount is more than enough
to meet all possible exigencies.
The possibility of using lighter material
as now recommended not only simplifies
the whole construction, but keeps the cost
down, and gives California ironworkers
some sort of a chance.
Other changes are recommended, but
those revising the weight and strength of
material form the principal features of the
report.
Architect Percy's report will cost the
Harbor Commissioners $1,000, but the Com
missioners are not worrying about that.
The awkward thing about the matter is
that Architect Browns plans have already
cost about $4,000 and as much more will
be due Mr.. Brown in case he supervises
the construction of the depot. Mr.. Percy's
services do not end with reporting on the
original plans. He will give the Com
sioners any further advice desired, but he
will not superintend the building of the
depot. A special expert-no one yet
knows who-will be employed for that
purpose.