The San Francisco call., 1896-04-23
Harbor Commissioners Will Be
Enjoined From Using
ColuSa Stone.
IRON FRAMEWORK WON'T WAIT
With the Laws Delay a Skeleton of
Steel Will Be the Ferries
Station for Years.

The prospect of a great frame of steel
and iron rising far above the sheds that
now constitute the ferries depot. That is
among the possibilities of the near future
A huge, gaunt thing. with upright col
umns and row after row of horizontal
girders and steel beams. A skeleton of
iron on the verge of the bay. And worst
OF all in this prospect 1T may stand for
years-a monument to the laws delay.
For the grand new structure is mena ced
by legal complications, and since there is
no telling how long it may be until the
process through Superior and Supreme
courts is concluded, two or more years
may pass with the metal framework still
staring people from all points of view in
and about San Francisco
This may be but mere possibility after
all, although in the opinion of more than
one Harbor Commissioner it will be a re-
atty.
The trouble which makes it so comes
from conflict in opinions over the stone
to be used in the depot building. Moth
ing short of lawsuit will settle the diff
Guilty, and the beginning of this contest is
already at hand.
Proceedings looking to the enjoining of
the Harbor Commission from using Colusa
stone will be begun to-day, tomorrow, or
at least as soon as the necessary documents
shall have been prepared for filing in the
Superior Court of this City and County.
notification o. the contest was given
yesterday to the attorney of the Harbor
Com mlssioners, who in turn informed
Commissioner Conon.
When the specifications were drawn up
| In accordance with the architects ideas it
was practically decided that Oregon gray
n tyt haf dn nff h0
Parrott building should be employed in
facing the depot structure. The Commits
sioners, however, entertained different
views of this particular matter.
They though. that California could fur
nisn stone quite good enough for State
building. OF course, relative merits Of
building stone was one thing, the patrl-
otic Californian spirit another. But the
Commissioners we're specially cautious.
They retained an expert and had him
examine several varieties of building
stone, including the importation from
Oregon, with the result that Colusa stone
was found to be most desirable 1t had a
nice soft color, qualities of great endur-
ance under the action of air and rain, and
in fine, the attributes of building stone
that should last through ages. Colusa
stone was selected by the commission as
the material for the facade OF the ferries
depot.
When the decision was made member
of the law firm of Reddy, Campbell &
Metson appeared before the board in the
capacity of citizen. He entered his
protest as such against the boards action,
and argued that Oregon stone should be
used as required by the specifications.
This protest was the first inkling of
suit at law over the stone for the building.
1t was all but forgotten until a represen ta-
tive of the same firm announced yeste r
day that injunction proceedings against
the Harbor Commission would be started
at once in the interest OF the Oregon
people.
The commission might look for it to-
day, or Friday.
Meanwhile the contractors for the iron
framework are busy manufacturing the
columns and girders. Their contracts
make 1t imperative that the iron shall be
delivered and constructed before a date
net far off now, and no matter what takes
place to delay progress of erection in the
departments, the iron men are determi ned
TO lose no time in com pieting their part of
the work. Already several loads of col
umns have been delivered at the foot OF
Market street, and others are expected to
follow daily. Then, as soon as enough
material is upon the ground, force of
men will begin 30 raise the iron skeleton.
few months more and the last rivet
will have been closed on the top beam and
the sound OF the hammer may cease upon
the depot for long time.
With the dispute over the stone in court
| and an injunction in effect against laying
Colusa stone, it is feared that obstructive
methods may be resorted to. Delays can
be secured on one pretext or another in
the Superior Court that would easily cause
proceedings to drag for year or more.
After that would come the trial, then n
appeal, more delay in preparation of the
case to the higher tribunal, and, with
docket far in arrear, it might be two years
more before decision would be handed
down.
The Commissioners dread the delay
which now seems inevitable, and look to
the Manufacturers Association and other
public bodies to create n sentiment which
would tend to expedite the case in the
courts.
To Become Benedict.
John E. Heilman one of the County Clerks