The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-03-30

suggested in that report, and many of
them are such as will not admit of delay.
Some OF these needed repairs are urgent.
Certain wharves are pronounced to be in
dangerous condition by the engineer, and
of course this work will have to be at
tended TO at once. The State will be held
| responsible for any damage to shipping
that may be caused by the insecurity of
the wharves and the rottenness of the pill
ing along the approaches. There is plenty
of money with which to pay for the work.
Mr.. Colnon turned to the engineers re-
port and showed that among the items
designated as urgent is the Clay-street
wharf 1t is characterized as being Sin
very shaky condition. The inner end is
not actually dangerous, but the remainder
is in very serious condition" Mr..
Holmes suggests that the entire wharf
should be rebuilt.
The approaches to ferry slips l and are
in very bad condition and need immediate
attention. The inner end Of Howard street
wharf is in a very bad condition, and
Howard-street wharf is shaky. The inner
end of the Steuart-street wharf is reported
to be In dangerous condition.
The engineer has divided the work into
three classes, as follows: That which re-
quires immediate attention, that which
will admit of temporary delay, and that
where repairs are not imperatively required
for some time to come.
1AcIc 10 d great Qedl VI important work
confronting this board" continued Mr.
Colnon, ''and some of it is of a nature
| that requires the utmost care and the most
careful del1beration. For instance, there
is the granting of lease of China Basin to
the San Joaquin Valley Railroad Com
pany. That is piece of work that must
not be hastily executed, because there is
future as well as present, and we cannot
tell just what the future may bring forth
Conditions change with the times lust as
men come and men go. 1t is our solemn
duty as Harbor Commissioners to think of
the future as well as to draw conclusions
from the past and act in the present. I
am heartily in favor of the San JOAQUIN
Valley Railroad, and will do all I can to
promote its success.
''The granting of a lease to China Basin
is a necessity for the success of the new
road. 1t is a good thing and matter of
great importance, but the interests of the
State should not be forgotten or neglected.
Fifty years, whichis the maximum of time
allowed by the statute for the term of the
lease, is long time. 1t looks all right
and proper now, but after ten years people
may look upon it differently. 1t might
even be considered as another grinding
monopoly. Who can say? What is now
loudly and heartily applauded may in
time be as loudly condemned For these
reasons l say that the number of years for
which the lease is to be made should be
most carefully considered from all points
of view and in all its bearings
81 have not been in office and on the
ground sufficiently long to become thor
oughly familiar with all the needs of San
Francisco's harbor, but so far as I have
gone have found that there is plenty of
room for improvements in various direc-
| tions. Improvements are needed. not
only in the matter of harbor structures on
the front, but in the general workings of
the harbor management
1.-THE passenger depot at the foot Of Mar
ket street, ii constructed according to the
plans and specifications, will be thing of
beauty as well as usefulness and will be
just cause of pride to the people of San
Francisco. East street should, of course be
beautitied In every possible way and kept
In repair SO as to present neat, clean and
attractive appearance to travellers who
come here from other lands.
sit is very unfortunate" continued Mr.
Colnon, 'that the Legislature did not pass
the bill to permit the Harbor Commission
ers to exchange certain reclaimed land on
East street for portion of the corner at
Sacramento, Market and East streets on
which to make a landing for the proposed
passenger bridge across East street to the
new depot building.
AS the matter now stands it is doubtful
If we can build that much-needed struc-
ture. The ground in question is absolutely
necessary. In order to secure landing for
the bridge. understand that at present
the property brings in a rental OF $1,000
month. That being the case it would prob
ably be valued at something like $4,000
to 100000 under condemnation proceed
ings, and the Harbor Commission has not
that much money at it's command. 1t is
possible, however, that the next Legisla-
ture will pass law which will enable us to
make use of the reclaimed land referred to
fQ r he n NV he
posed bridge is an urgent necessity for the
safety of human lives and limbs and the
convenience of the public
The ground desired for the upper or west
landing of the bridge is a portion of the
Joseph Frank estate, being the corner of
Sacramento, East and Market streets. The
ground in question, as we'll as the States
rpnlaiuad and unancupiad