The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-10-24
MILLS ON HOME LABOR,
SUGGESTS THAT IT BE EMPLOYED
ON ALL GOVERNMENT
BUILDINGS.
VIEWS ON THE FERRY DEPOT
He WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT
MAGNIFICENT PILE OF CALL
FORNIA GRANITE.

II believe that in the construction of all
public buildings, whether municipal, State
or Federal, in this City, every effort should
be made to utilize home labor and home
material to the fullest extent"
Thus spoke W. H. Mills, land agent of
the Central Pacific Railroad Company,
yesterday, his text being drawn from a
sample of beautiful white granite which
had been brought to his office by Andrew
G. Myers of Fort Jones, Siskiyou County,
from whose quarry it had been taken.
Nowhere is a specimen of as fine quail
ity of granite as have ever seen. Note its
pure whiteness; there is not blemish in
it. That denotes the absence of iron
pyrites, and there is also a remarkable
lime, showing the stone is of igneous for
nation, and, therefore, a fine building
material"
Then, to make local application of his
idea. he referred to the proposed ferry de-
pot to be built under the supervision and
authority of the Harbor Commissioners
THAT building" he said, "should be built
OF the best and most substantial material
obtainable in the State. They have asked
for bids on two separate sets Of specifica-
tions-one for a brick building and another
for one of stone. Some objections have
been made to the latter on the score that
the ferry foundations are not strong
enough to sustain it. Well if it is not it is
the fault of the Harbor Commissioners
for 1t should be strong enough to sustain
any kind of structure that may be decided
upon. If the character of the foundation
prevents the erection of a suitable depot
there should be an investigation at once
as 10 the manner in which contracts have
been executed.
However, if the foundation will sustain
q brick editce it will also allow of stone
building being erected, for the increased
thickness of the walls of brick depot will
make its weight equal to that of one con-
structed of stone.
"If brick is used this granite would make
q beautiful trimming in its pure whiteness,
and an entire edifice of it would be the
handsomest architectural pile on the
coast. Now, there is a general and mis-
taken impression that the railroad COM
pany is DESTROYS of having the State put up
as handsome a structure at the foot of
Market street as the full appropriation will
allow. The fact is that it will make no
difference to the railroad company what
kind of q depot is provided for She people
at the ferries, for il will not benefit them
in the least; it will neither increase traffic
to have a fine and handsome structure
there, nor will it lessen it to allow things
to remain as they are. We might just as
well attempt to increase the volume of
travel bv using ferry-boats that are twice
as expensive as those now employed, or by
putting new and handsome carpets in the
parlors of these boats.
II anything the erection of an eX-
pensive structure will be against the finan-
Clal interests of the company, for the
more money this will cost the greater
amount will we have to pay for rent, and
we will of course be the most important
En&A
made clear L believe l will not be misun-
derstood in my expression of opinion that
the State should make this building some
thing for the people of the City and the
State to be proud of. 1t will be the first
thing seen by people coming to the City
and the last thing they cast their eyes
npon leaving it, and will have a great in
fiuence in determining for many the ques
tion as TO whether or not they will return
and settle in the State.
Il understand that the Harbor Commits
sioners contemplate bringing sandstone
from Yaquina Bay to be used in the new
ferry depot. This indicates that stone is
TO be used at least in the trimmings
Whether The stone to be used comes from
Yaquina Bay or from Siskiyou-though II
my opinion the latter should be given the
preference because of being a home prod.
uct-it should be brought to this City and
worked up here, for several reasons.
MY most urgent argument for this
course is that the idle labor in this City
should be given the preference on all the
work possible to be done here. We have
had-and may have again-great destitu-
ton among the laboring classes here, and
the employment on Government work
would tend in some degree to relieve the
distress. Then the freight on the raw
material would undoubtedly be cheaper,
as less care would be necessary in handling
it, and there would be less likelihood Of
serious damage in transportation to raw
than to finished material.
another reason why l believe the depot
should be a fine substantial building is
that it will be an income property to the
Government and not like the State Cap
itol. dead investment.
This structure is to have an upper
story through which incoming passenger!
will have to pass. Somewhere on thi
nent California exhibit of large proper
tons and most varied character be placed
under the care of some one or more of GU,
semi-public commercial and industrial or
CARNATIONS, and it be kept fresh and inter
esting by frequent additions and removal
of the supply. Its value to the State as al
educator of the newcomer can easily b.
perceived.
What have said relative to the State
well applied to the proposed Federal build
ing to be used as the Postoffice. Tn
$1,000, 900 appropriated should all be KEEP
in this State, or as much of it as possible
1t should be somebody's business to lool
after this for the benefit of our people
otherwise much of the morey to be useC
in these buildings will certainly go out O
the State. If we don't look out for our
selves nobody else will"