The San Francisco call., 1896-01-10
Professor Davidson Tells of Them
and Suggests Their Re-
moval.
SOME NECESSITIES OF TRADE
The Federal Government NeglectS to
Remove Distractions to Coast
Navigation.


rocks in and about San Francisco Bay,
and the necessity OF their removal. He
also, as chairman OF a subcommittee on
unspeeifed matters, spoke of other things
of importance to commerce.
There were four other sub-committ
These were on plan of campaign, pilotage,
taxation Of shipping and harbor property
and harbor charges. All asked for further
time.
1t was decided to have Professor David
sons report printed in full in order that it
might be more carefully considered. 1t
was also decided to have a special meeting
to consider the matters he had treated, and
decide what action should be taken on
each.
In his report, Professor Davidson said
there were twenty-four separate and dis
tinct dangers threatening vessels on the
coast of California near San Francisco
Bay. These were: MONDAY Rock ?,
Bonita Channel l, Fort Point 5, Anita
Rock 1, Arch Rock l, Shag Rock l,
Blossom Rock l, Mission Rock 8, Irwin
chile Rock l, Whiting Rock l, Fifteen-feet
Rock L, Commission Rock l, Mile Rock
q visible), Mare Island and Nayy-yard l.
Two of these are newly discovered, hav,
ing been observed by Lieutenant Leary OF
the United States Coast Survey steamer
Macarthur during the last season. One
rock lies three fathoms deep just inside
the fairway line through Bonita Channel.
Three steam vessels are known to have
struck on this rock, but IL has not been To-
Gated before.
Professor Davidson explained that he
had spent much time searching records of
wrecks. His list, he said, was not COM
plete, as some of the insurance companies
objected to telling him the losses they had
RT,r h,ah haH 10 Cf
item in it was correct in every particular
Between Bodegs Head and Santa Cruz
there have been 34S wrecks. From Point
Reyes to Half Moon Bay there have been
317. In San francisco Bay and within
five miles north and south OF it there have
been 224 wrecks. Yet the Government
has spent only 800 900 in the last forty
five years in abating dangers, and not a
single cent since 1874. And lately it has
announced that there was no immediate
necessity OF removing these menaces TO
commerce
On Arch Rock, Fort Point and Mile
Rock in San Francisco Bay there have
been seyenty-four wrecks. The loss to
the Pa ckard alone on Mission Bay rock
would have paid for its removal.
In speaking OF Bonita Channel he said
il was always passable as the sea never
broke in it. The cost of removing the
rock discovered by Lieutenant Leary
would not exceed $4,000. This, as the
committee recommended should be done.
1t also recommended the placing of prop
erly marked fairway signals on the south
shore of the Golden Gate for the vessels
entering or leaving the Bonita Channel.
OF the proposed discontinuance of the
telegraph line from Point Reyes TO this
City he said:
The committee has heard with much aston
ishmeut and uneasiness that the Government
has contemplated disconunuing the telegraph
line from san Francisco to Point Reyes, now
used by the Weather Bureau and for reporting
vessels in danger. The committee learns from
an authentic list of wrecks and disasters at
Point Reyes head and the immediate vicinity
that there have been sixteen total wrecks and
fifteen disasters 10 vessels ashore.
The report then gave a list of fourteen
disasters off Point Reyes, the losses on
which footed up $685., 300. As San Fran
cisco is the nearest place to obtain relief
tugs, q telegraph line in case of a wreck
would often mean the saving of lives and
treasure. Therefore the committee recon-
mends that the line, which cost only
$40 year, be retained, and Congress be
asked to give $1,000 for q house for the
operator at Point Reyes.
1t also recommended that Congress be
petitioned to lay a cable between the
shore, near Lake Merced, and the south
east Farallones, with station at the sum-
nit of the island at the lighthouse, and
that a telegraph operator be detailed to
This would enable news of disaster on
the Farallones to be sent to the City and
help secured, whereas in heavy weather a
wrecked vessel might be a week in COM
municating with the main land.
In emphasizing the importance Of this
request Professor Davidson said there had
been four great ships totally lost on the
Farallones. One of them, the Lucas, was
lost with twenty-five lives. Another, the
Franconia, lost $3l5,OOO.
In urging q fog vessel for the San Fran
cisco bar he said:
The wreck and disasters al the bar have been
%, and possibly more. Among these no less
than five p1lot-bosts have been lost. On the
outside of Point Bonita IL vessels have been
wrecked, of which II were total One OF these
cost $3.50, 900, and one was damaged to the
extent of SS3, 900. On the outside OF Point
Lobos there have been 80 wrecks and disas-
ters OF which % were total.
The committee recommended that the
Superintendent of the United States Coast
and Geodetic Survey be requested to place
upon the entrance sheet of the bay the
lines of cables that cross the bay, and also
to mark the area wherein vessels cannot
anchor.
Professor Davidson explained that he
had consulted United States Engineer
VI ajor Heuer in regard to the ship chan
mel TO Stockton. From HIM he learned
that the official maps do not represent the
actual condition of the channel as to
depth. An attempt was made by dredg-
ing TO maintain a depth of at least nine
feet at low water, but sometimes only six
were found.
Owing to the fact that Stockton is the
terminus of the new railroad it was
deemed of special value to SO enlarge the
channel as to allow such vessels as could
lie IN Sulsun Bay to go up to Stockton as
we'll c. r, Grunsky, a civil engineer well
acquainted with the matter, had assured
Professor Davidson that this is possible.
Therefore, the committee suggested:
That Congress be petitioned to grant the ap-
uropriation necessary to carry out the recon-
mendaton Of the United States engineer who
mas haq IN charge the dredging operations for
the deepentng OF the channel between Stockton
and SuIsun Bay.
Another subject touched on was the
dumping OF refuse in the bay. Professor
davidson reported that vessels were In the
habit of dumping their ballast in the deep
channel near Goat Island. Not only that, |
but the Harbor Commissioners dropped
the refuse Of their dredgers in the same
spot and thus filled up that portion OF the !
bay. The committee recommended that
llo-4 i 4 a.