The San Francisco call., 1896-01-16

that the cost of Transporting a cargo of
beer from San Francisco to Fresno was
81 50 barrel; and to Los Angeles, to
which point there was water connection,
the cost was 81 barrel. To San Jose it
cost 81 90 ton on wheat, and to Co.
lusa 81 80.
LAS to the necessity OF giving aid to our
delegation in Congress, there should be no
question about it" said Mr.. Rose "Our
| Representatives should be backed up by
! the people,
| a. Grenninger of San Jose gave some
valuable statistics as TO the output OF
! Santa Clara County. He also submitted a
memorial which the Alyiso Channel COM
mlttee had sent to Congress. 1t is as fol-
! lows:
| We, the undersigned. the Board of Trade of
San Jose, the Board of Trade of Los Gatos. the
| Board of Trade of Santa Clara, the Board of
| County Supervisors, the Mayor and Common
Council OF the city of san Jose, the Mayor and
| Common Council OF the city of Gilroy, the
| Board of Trustees of the town of Santa Clara,
! The Board of Trustees OF the town of Los Gatos,
! the Board of Trustees of the town of Palo Alto
and the faculty of Leland Stanford Junior Uni
Yerslty, al residents ana citizens OF the county
OF Santa Clara, in the State of California, re-
specttully represent as follows:
Ffrst-That Santa Clara County, California,
has population of about 90 900 and an area
OF 1904 square miles, and contains within it's
limits the most extensive prune and apricot
beltin the whole world. Its annual shipments
of its trees and vines alone, amount to go, 900
tons, and of the approximate value of 5,0O0,-
600, and that our lntrastate commerce is more
than three times this amount.
Second-That all, or nearly all, of this i'm
mense tonnage has to be shipped over the lines
OF the Southern Pacific Railroad Company, il
being the only line OF railroad that has so far
tapped the county.
Third-That the only other feasible means of
transport is by way Of one or more of the
sloughs that connect the Qplands of our county
through the estuaries with the bay of San
Francisco
Fourth-That the principal one of these
SloughS and the one large enough to allow
transportation by means OF light-draft sailing
craft and lght-draft steamers is the Alviso
Slough, having length OF about $4,000 feet
from the wharf at the town of Alviso to its
Bay.
Fifth-That the business carried on over said
slough since 1850 to the present time has been
considerable and of great benefit to this coun-
tY, and for six months OF the present year,
from May to october l, represents the follow
ing figures:
Lumber g 100000 feet) 500 500 tons
All other freight .27 800
Total. .53, 600 tons
sixth-That an independent line of railway
IS about TO be constructed by the Santa Clara
valley Railway Company from the city of San
Jose to the wharves at Alviso, distance OF
ABOUT seven miles, the right-of-way being
nearly all secured, and the steel rails and
fastenings are now afoat, en- route to this
point.
Seventh-That your petitioners. in view of
tne volume OF present business and the fact
tnat our business is increasing rapidly from
year TO year, the output of dried fruit, per ex-
ample OF 1898, being double that of 1890, and
vast areas are now planted to fruits having
Darely come into bearing, and firmly believing
tnat tnat such increase will continue as rapidly for
sehls 10 come, and considering the great bene-
hts 10 be derived in that case from a free,
open, deep and uninterrupted waterway, Civ
1ng 9irect communication to the countries of
al! clIIhes, ana believing it 10 be for the best
interests OF the State well as for our county
therefore your petitioners earnestly request
a 1iias four honorable body take steps and ap-
proprlate the necessary moneys to make said
waterway navlgable for deep-sea vessels and
large craft.
blgntn-Ihat as near as your petitioners can
aseert tain now without detailed survey such
Improvement as is necessary, for the present
ana immediate future business will REQUIRE the
removal OF about 100000 cubic Yards of
earth lat cost OF about 500 00O1 one-half of
IT being soft river mud ana the other half a
blush clay, readily handled by dredgers, to
obtain an average depth of twenty feet at high
water and diminish the curvature in said
channel. These estimates are sufficient for the
improvements required at the present time
and are based upon the reports of our lecai
engineers, men who by large experience are
qualified 10 advise on such improvements
Ninth-That the present average depth of
said Alyiso Slough Is only about twelve and
one-half feet at high tide, which, in connection
with the abrupt bends therein, renders very
difficult the entry of sailing vessels, except at
times of high water and fair winds, and effec-
tually prevents its navigation by coastwise
craft not particularly built for that trade, and
excludes US entirely from the great benefit
which otherwise would accrue from having
the fuel for our industries delivered at our
wharves by the coal-carrying vessels of the
North Pacific Coast.
Tenth-That we believe that If this improve
than double its present volume the first year
thereafter; that manufacturing, now imprac-