The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-03-09
REQUEST OF PROMOTERS.
The Assembly Considers a
Proposal for the Leasing of
Fifty Acres of Flats.
ACTION TAKEN.
Excepting a Few of the Members,
the House Is Enthusiastic in
the Matter.

SACRAMENTO, March s. A new factor
was introduced into the politics of Califor-
MIA to-day. The San Joaquin Valley road
has made its first request. Men from all
parts of the State greeted its representa-
tives with delight. They recognized in
their presence the beginning of a new
epoch-an epoch of growth and prosperity.
All day it was known that some move was
to be made for the benefit of the new road.
Claus Spreckels and his son, John D., with
Colonel Preston met their friends on the
floor of the House. There was a long con-
sultation with the Attorney General early
in the morning. Later it became known
that an amendment had been drafted to
Senate bill zoe, which would give the Har-
Dor Commissioners power to lease fifty
acres of the mud flats in South San Fran
cisco to the new railroad for term of fifty
years for depots, warehouses and other
terminal facilities.
Hardly dissenting voice could be found
to the proposition when it came up before
the House. The Southern Pacific has
many firm friends, but even they were not
prepared to fight from the start this prop
osition, which every man in the House
entire State as the only hope for the de-
velopment of the industries of California
There were few evidences of unfriendli-
ness.
The original bill authorizes the Harbor
Commissioners to lease for term of
twenty-five years seawall lots l to 16 in
elusive. The amendment drawn up by.
the Attorney General increases their power
by allowing them to lease for fifty years
not more than fifty acres of any State land
Lying adjacent or contiguous to any pub
lie streets" to a railroad corporation not
having terminal facilities in San Fran
/ cisco and desiring the same. The rental
! is made merely nominal The amendment
| is as follows:
| EProyided further, that the Commissioners.
| except as hereinafter provided, shall have
| power to lease for period not exceeding fifty
/ years, at a rental not exceeding $1,000 per an
mum, TO any corporation incorporated in this
State, and not having at the date of the pass
| age of this act any terminal facilities in the
| city and county of San Francisco any land
belonging to the State which is required for
! said purposes, which lies adjacent or con-
| tiguous to any public street or streets desig-
mated upon the official map of the city and
| county of San Francisco; provided that but
one pdTCel OI ldUu Slldll De IeuSeQ 10 any one,
! nor shall said parcel exceed in area fifty
| acres, with access thereto and right of way
through one or more convenient street
| or streets, forming, however, but one contin-
uous right of way with double track; provided
| that condition shall be inserted in said lease
| that said corporation or corporations shall
| proceed within six months from the date of
| said lease to improve said premises for said
| purposes and proceed thereafter with reason
and in event of failure to improve the same or
some part thereof within the time specified
| said lease shall be forfeited. Provided,
further, that none of said. leases shall be
approved or executed unless by consent of
| majority of said Board of Harbor
Commissioners, and for said purposes last
named the Governor of the State and the
| Mayor of the city and county of San Francisco,
! ex-officio. Members of said board are hereby
constituted members thereof with like powers
| and rights as other members of said board.
| The amendment was introduced by Pow
ers of San Francisco when Senate bill roo
came up for its second reading this after
noon. Powers, in presenting the amend
ment, said that it might make it possible
| for all roads to obtain terminal facilities in
the future. The only lands that would
! come under the provisions of the amend
| Ileub, ne SdlO, WSIC bi1c uu udJS dlOIR
! the southern portion of the city. To make
this property available at least three-quar-
ters of million dollars would have to be
spent in improvements that would increase
the value of the neighboring properties i'm
mensely. Not only that, but employment
would be given to many men in the State.
He continued:
''The rental of $1,000 year is only an ap-
parent rental At the end of fifty years the
improved property with its enormous in
crease in values will revert to the State.
The property which to-day is valueless
will then be worth millions and the differ
ence in the two values will be the real
rental. But the subject of rents should be
the last to be considered. The question
involved is really the development of the
State. We are to face the query as to
whether we are willing to encourage and
facilitate legitimate enterprises that will
bring to our State, wealth, population and
power.
at is impossible now for railroads to
receive municipal county or State aid.
There are no more land grants to be hoped
for from the Federal Government If the
State is to be relieved from its present state
of depression, it will only be by the money
of its own citizens l think. then, that as
legislators we should lend our aid, now
that it lies in our power to render posi-.
BILE and assist in the completion of rail
road that means so much for California. .
Cutter of Yuba thought the lease of the
land should be made to the highest bidder
Dinkelspiel of San Francisco asked
which of the sixteen seawall lots it was
proposed to rent to the railroad. He was
not in favor of letting any private corpora
ton build warehouses on the lots north Of
the States warehouse.
Powers stated that no particular lots had
been chosen. The only land that would
satisfy the conditions of the amendment
however, were not improved seawall lots
but the mud fats of South San Francisco
At this iuncture Dixon, chairman of the
Committee on Commerce and Navigation