The San Francisco call., 1896-02-19
MORE FERRY FACILITIES.
A New Gangway for the Broad
and Narrow Guage
Steamers.
Harbor Commissioners Will Build a
Shed Over the New Pacific
Street Wharf.

The new upper-deck gangway for the
Oakland steamers was formally opened by
Harbor Commissioners Colnon, Cole and
Chadbourne yesterday afternoon. After
the regular meeting adjourned the mem
bers walked to the ferries and at 3:15 Chief
Engineer Holmes explained that every
thing was in readiness.
A few minutes later the steamer Pied
mont entered the slip, and when all the
passengers had left the boat President
Colnon gave the word and the gangway
was lowered. 1t acted perfectly, and when
the gates were thrown open the people
thronged in, many of them wondering
when they found themselves on the upper
deck of the steamer without anv trouble
Others were not at all sure but that they
were on the wrong boat and the deckhands
were kept busy answering questions.
Everything passed off successfully and the
Com mmissionerS pronounced the innovation
a complete success.
The old waiting-room used by the pas
sengers of both narrow and broad -guage
lines is entirely too limited in space, and
there was always great crowding and
squeezing on the trips from 4 TO 6 80 P. NJ.
The upper-deck eangway gives two en-
frances TO the boat, and i'll this way the
congestion is relieved. Chief Engineer
Holmes has made great success of the
venture aud many of the contrivances in
use are OF his own invention.
Before adjourning to open the new
upper-deck gangway, the Commissioners
held their regular semi-weekly meeting
The Labor Commissioner sent in com
munlcatlon setting forth that his office
would be $4,000 short this year, owing to
his having done an enormous amount of
gratultous work. During the period men,
toned free labor bureau had been main
tanned which had secured employment
for 5000 men and women. Not a cent had
been charged for this work, and if the
charitable do not assist it cannot be car
ried on. Comm issioner Chadbonrne re-
marked that State funds could not be do
mated and Commissioner Cole coincided
with him. The matter was finally laid
over, but Labor Commissioner Fitzgerald
is determined to try the Commissioners
individually.
The question of supplying the commits
sion with piles for repairing the various
wharves came up. Several bids were sent
in. but the work was let to Darby Leydon
& Co., as that firm offered better facilities
for the handling of the lumber Leydon
d Co.'s bid was, for Pinch piles, II cents
l4-lnch. 121z cents, and 15-inch, 1877 cents
per foot.
DR.. Peckham, the United States Quaran.
tine Officer, stationed at Angel Island. ap-
peared before the board and asked for a
stay of proceedings in regard to the charg-
ing OF wharfage for the docking of the
Sternberg. He explained that the steamer
might be put i'll commission for continuous
service shortly, and then the United States
Government would pay wharfage. As mat
tiers are at present, however, the tug only
comes here once or twice week, and there
IS no appropriation for the wharfage
charges. The board decided to allow the
matter to lie in allegiance until Congress
shall make an appro opriation 70 put the
Sternberg in commission.
Chief Wharfnger Root asked that shed
be placed over the Pacific-street wharf.
which is now being conn pleted He pointed
out that there were rot enough covered
wharves on the front and that during the
winter rains vessels were often detained
two weeks in discharging for want of
sheds. Commissioner Chadbourne was of
the opinion that the Oceanic Steamship
Company might want the wharf when it
was finished and if so covering would be
absolutely necessary. Commissioner Cole
thought the wharf should be kept free in
order to accommodate the fruit vessels
when the season comes in. Just the same
covering would be necessary. The chief
engineer was instructed to prepare plans
Tor shed and at the meeting tomorrow
the N after will be settled