The San Francisco call., 1896-12-21

pany did not appear across the bay for
obvious reasons, and in this city it proba-
bly, paid for lighting the house. but no
more During the past week an opera
company has been at the theater, but it
was very sparsely patronized; but such
patronage as 1t was accorded was certainly
all that it deserved. In strong contrast to
these occasions must be mentioned the
visit of Nine Zeissler, Miss Helen Beach
Yaw, the Della Fox Company and Loie
Fuller. All these attractions were legiti-
mate and Oakland showed its appreciation
of them. When such artists as De Wolf
Hopper, Nine. Nordica, Modieska, Ada
Rehan, Wilton Lackaye and others of SIM
liar caIiber occupy the boards they never
have the dissatisfaction of seeing empty
seats.
While it is not to be supposed that there
will be subway beneath the estuary for
several years, there can be no doubt but
that such method is the only legitimate
solution of the problem of travel to the
further shore of that body of water. In
foggy weather, and with shaky bridges,
there will always be some likelihood of an
accident to passing trains, not only those
crossing the bridges, but those that cross
at right angles to each other on First
street.
1t required some very serious accidents
on the Mersev before the immense tunnel
was built between Liverpool and Birken-
head, and there are no more foggy days in
Worcestershire during the winter than on
the bay of San Francisco. At the present
time there is not the travel between Oak
land and Alameda or Oakland and San
Francisco via Alameda that there was be-
tween the Two cities on the Mersey when
that subway was built, but each year is
seeing marked increase in local travel,
and sooner or later tunnel will be a
necessity.
An argument equally as forcible in favor
of a tunnel is the enormous inc rease of
Oakland's shipping interests. More car
goes have been handled within the past
month at Oakland wharves than in any
three months of the citys history. At
the present time an average of about
twenty ships per day pass through the
bridges, and this mum Der is gradually in
creasing. As the narrow-gauge trains
cross every half hour, and as it takes
nearly that time for large vessel to be
safely navigated through the draw, the
time is not far distant when a narrow
gauge time BILE will be useless mass of
figures.
Colonel Bridges, who is considered an
authority on such matters, has prepared
plans which are based on knowIege of
The conditions, and it is the wish of every
person living on either side OF the estuary
that they may soon be followed out. If it
can now be shown that the building of the
tunnel would not cost more IN proportion
to its incre eased value as regards traffic
than an adequate steel d:awbridge, the
main point in its favor will have been
gained.
hn inn hof nrty hos
been actually commenced on the proposed
electric road between this city and Liver
more will be received with marked satis-
faction by the farmers who live along it's
route, which is north of the county road
and south of the foothills. The success
which has attended the Haywards electric
road is sufficient guarantee that when a
new road to LlvermoTe is in operation it
will develop much territory now lying
idle and add largely to the productive ele-
ment of the population. Before the Hay
war DIS line was opened, the county road,
except where the town of San Leandro is
situated, was practically deserted be-
tween Fruitvale and Haywards. At the
present time little settlements are to be
found everywhere; the thriving town OF
Elmhurst has been incorporated where
formerly was not single house, and there
is not stretch of more than few blocks
along the whole distance that is not in
habited. Undoubtedly the same result
would follow the opening of road to
Livermore With the developments al
Corral Hollow and the gradually increas-
ing population in that tneighborhood. such
a line has bright future. Should the
project of Mrs. Cunningham of the Liver
more League of Progress to establish a
produce exchange in this city be carried
out, the ranches south OF the foothills
would most certainly take advantage OF
such a opportunity to place their prod
uce in good market.
STUART w. BGoTH.