The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-08-20
Pictures of Bridges in Air
Were Forwarded to
Washington.
oAKLAND's STEEL STRUCTURE.
Passengers VIII Be Accommodated
Overhead and Steam Cars
Beneath.
OAKLAND OFFICE SAN Francisco CALL, |
0OS broadway. August 10.

$40 DIOauNav, august lS.
Secretary of War Dan Lamont has
brought about very interesting acquaint-
ance between Colonel Mendel and Mayor
Davie. The commencement Of the affair
dates back some months and will termi-
nate with handsome steel bridge across
the estuary to take the place of the two
shaky wooden structures that now connect
Oakland with Alameda. The Mayor has
Just received letter from the War De-
partment containing very encouraging
news and when the bridge is built, as it Ger
tainly will be, the citizens of the two cities
will be indebted in a measure to the luck
that permitted John L.. Davie and Dan
Lamont to be born in the same town and
brought up as boys together.
A year ago Colonel Mendels method of
experimenting the dredging of the estuary
did not altogether please Mr.. Davie. The
channel was deepened nearly up to Davies
wharf and was also deepened some dis
lance beyond it. For some technical reason
the intervening distance was not dredged,
and the wharves betweenW Webster and Alice
streets could only accommodate vessels
of limited draught. But as the whirligig
of time rolled on Davie became Mayor of
Oakland and his brother was appointed to
a Government position in New York.
Davie told his brother of his troubles, his
brother advised direct communication
with Dan Lamont, and his advice was fol-
lowed.
Mayor Davie went out in boat one
morning several months ago and was &C
companieG by a photographer. Pictures
of the two shaky old bridges were taken at
low water, and some of them looked as
though the bridges were floating in the
air. Then petition was signed by all the
tugboat firms and ship-owners on both
navigation of having to pass through two
draw-bridges to get to the basin at East
Oakland, and asking for some relief, as
both the old wooden bridges have been
condemned, The pictures and petitions
were forwarded to the War Department,
and little later Mayor Davie received a
very courteous letter from Colonel Mendel
asking for the Mayors practical opinion,
as steamboat owner, of the requirements
of bridge that would do the work now
done by two. Colonel Mendel made no
mention of the fact that he had been fg-
nored in the premises, and that the Mayor
had communicated direct with Washing
ton, and the Mayor has not yet asked
Colonel Mendel why the channel was not
dredged past John L. Davies wharf.
sit will not be long before the bridge is a
reality" said the Mayor to-day. ~ have
advised that the bridge be built so as to
provide for foot passengers on top and
steam and electric cars and teams beneath,
and believe that plan will be followed; in
fact have substantial reasons for believ-
ing as do. The bridge should be across
from the foot of Harrison street, as that
will aud considerable wharfage to the city
property and give three wharves and slips
line. There are now but two. OF course
the railroad may be able to get it at the
foot of Webster street, but that will not be
so good place as Harrison street. Colonel
Mendel is pushing the project with I'M
usual energy and is taking great pride in
the structure. The Government, the Su-
pervisors and the city all have interests at
stake, and all will consult together before
the final plans are adopted"